Ernesto Ferro, a Venezuelan native began playing the guitar at the edge of eleven. Despite the urging of his father, an Italian violin-maker, to pursue a classical music career. Ernesto rebelled by teaching himself to play the guitar. His association with several different bands began in with his own musical group called ERA – he later joined Krysthos and after the band became very popular in the local circuit Ernesto separated from Krysthos to join an old friend, Paul Gillman, in 1983 he recorded his first album entitled "Levantate y Pelea"(Get up and Fight) – all the themes from this musical production were from Ernesto Ferro and Paul Gillman. A short time later Ferro and Gillman are made a strong offer under the label " Sono Rodven", that for that time was the most important record label in the country. The first exposition of the band under the new label is made with a collection titled "Los Duros del Rock" where, together with Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Helix, Quensryche and others appear the first theme written by Ernesto Ferro. The LP was supported by a video clip broadcasted on television for the promotion of the album.
Gillman and Ferro was associated for almost ten years – Ernesto Ferro was the lead guitar and the director of the group – Gillman was the lead figure – Ferro and Gillman were always in charge of the production and preproduction of each album. During the same year another production was made titled "El Guerrero" and at the same time the band participate in a commercial campaign which had great acceptance. Also the first single "Las Nenas", composed by both, Ferro and Gillman became a huge hit. The first live appearance of the band was at the Miss Venezuela Pageant 1986. The same year the band makes a series of sold-out concerts and quickly returns to the studios to work on their next production "Sigueme". They become part of the motion picture titled "Inocencia Mortal" where two video clips of the band appear on the film.
Heavy Metal and Hard Rock were the band's best sounds-they remained in first place of popularity for seven weeks next to Jose Luis Rodrigues (El Puma) and Maria Conchita Alonso, well known Venezuelan artists who at the time enjoyed great popularity at international level. The band joined concerts and shared stage with famous like "Soda Stereo" and "Reo Speed Wagon". Their long concert tours and performances begin in different television programs next to Paloma San Basilio. Eros Ramazzotti, Ricky Martin, Celia Cruz, Chayanne, Ricardo Montaner and many others and consequently the band the band is invited to a part of the soap opera "Mundo de Fieras" – a telenovela which was broadcasted through one of the largest Hispanic television in network in the United States and their affiliated stations, also in different European's TV stations, begin aired from Monday through Friday, in one-hour episode each bringing the group a lot more international exposure throughout television audiences.
Ernesto Ferro and the famous American singer and guitar player Georges Benson were interviewed together in a television program regarding rock and jazz. Ernesto met and mingled with great personalities such as Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin, Jason Newsted from Metallica, Billy Squier, Lemmy from Motorhead, Brian May from Queen, John Hammond, Al di Meola, who was named thirteen times the Best Jazz guitarist of the world and many others who escape our minds at the moment. Ernesto's popularity was internationally established – the 90's brought international touring contracts and studio recording in places such as New York, Washington DC, Florida, Italy and Aruba. He received important nominations and awards while he was an active member of Gillman, but the tropics and recognitions always stayed and were kept by Paul Gillman, the leader of the group.
At the beginning of 1992 after working with Gillman on the album "El Regreso del Guerrero" as a co producer, director and musician, he leaves the band to dedicated himself to the musical productions as a soloist – but before RODVEN launches a collection entitled "Gillman 15 years" containing different themes composed by Ernesto. In 1995 in Milan, Italy Ernesto recorded the guitar solos for an after hours music production, having great acceptance in the European circuit of this genre. Upon his return to Venezuela he forms the musical group titled "The Misery Blues Band" which opened an alternative to many other musicians in his country to express his instrumental music lives.
With the passing of the years he successfully moves to Aruba and begins his career as a guitarist solo show, reaping much success for years in the circuit of big hotels like The Radisson, Wyndham, and others. He also produced his album "Reflections" containing influences of jazz-rock-Latin pop. His musical enrichment has expanded and has generated unique manner in executing guitar which he himself names (an elegant and subtle way of expressing through the guitar the aggressiveness and sweetness of the soul and the instrument), mixing rock, jazz, classic, flamenco and Venezuela folklore music, this has given him a great acceptance before his audience in each of his presentations. In year 2005 Ernesto produces a concert " The first annual Wine Food & Art Festival" where the closing of the event was a tribute to the rock band "Queen" – it tock place at the big ballroom of the Wyndham Hotel in Aruba . At this event he was accompanied by well know Venezuelan musicians and Ernesto performed as a Producer, Director and Musician – for this commendable work Brian May, guitarist of the famous group "Queen" vested him with a personal recognition.
The following year Ernesto Ferro finished the construction of his first prototype of an electric guitar, following his father's footsteps as a violin-maker, calling this instrument "the perfect tone" He showed this guitar to Tommy Shaw, guitarist to the popular American band STYX, interchanging opinions.
In Gillman's last three productions several musical themes were written by Ernesto in a simple demonstration of how important Ernesto's participation as a musician represent to Gillman.
Ernesto during his long career in the world of music has had the honor of sharing stage and TV shows with musicians like Al Di Meola, Joe Perry ( Aerosmith), Eddie Van Halen, Les Paul, Brian May, Eros Ramazzotti, George Benson, Ricky Martin, Soda Stereo, Paul Rodgers, Styx and many others.
At the beginning of 2007 Ernesto finished a new cd production named "All Day Dreams" which included music he was composed in the last two years, and showing an open variety of sounds into each ones of the songs places on his new cd production.
Since Ernesto moves to USA, California, he has been working in the local circuit on his solo act also with different musicians.
ARUBA WINE, FOOD & ART FESTIVAL 2010 present An Evening With: JOHNNY FARINA, ERNESTO FERRO, DURBAN LAVERDE, HILDWARD CROES & JEREMY BONARRIBA.
The 50+1 Anniversary of the Legendary Grammy song ¨Sleep Walk¨ by Santo & Johnny Farina.
Saturday June 5 Big Ballroom THE WESTIN RESORT ARUBA
