Email: Ernie Martinez

303-946-8069

An extremely versatile musician, Ernie plays just about every instrument that has strings, and more. He started out in the late 1960's playing guitar and drums. Then, when Foggy Mountain Breakdown and The Dueling Banjos came out, he was inspired to learn 5-string banjo. Soon afterwards, he took up the mandolin, resophonic guitar, and pedal steel. He started his first bluegrass band in 1971, while he was in high school. He also plays fiddle, piano, and bass. He has played in numerous bluegrass bands since high school and is one of the leading go-to sidemen in Colorado.

He has played on over 150 albums as a studio musician in both Colorado and Nashville, including those of Tom Paxton, John McEuen, Jimmy Ibbotsen and many more. He is in demand as an album producer, song-arranger, and co-writer.

Ernie is a brilliant musician, inspiring teacher, recording artist, songwriter, and producer. He teaches private lessons at Swallow Hill Music Association and Olde Town Pickin' Parlor, where his specialties are bluegrass and country, beginning through advanced levels. In addition, he teaches various classes at Swallow Hill, including bluegrass singing. He has taught at Pete Wernick's banjo camps.

Ernie at the Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Golden, CO, January 20-22, 2012 (photos by Bill Patterson) with Dave Stamey with Pop Wagner, Gary McMahan, Jon Chandler, Dave Stamey with Jeff Graves, Marlene Estrada, Al "Doc" Mehl with Gary McMahan         \/ with Jeff Graves, Patty Clayton, Barry Ward, Jon Chander, Liz Masterson \/     Ernie with Dakota Blonde at the Little Bear, Evergreen, CO, January 8, 2012 (photos by Bill Patterson)     Ernie's 55th Birthday celebration at America's Soul Live!, Arvada, CO, December 20-21, 2011 (photos by Bill Patterson) Their high school photos and band photo 55 nickles         Sheabeen's Pub, Dec. 2, 2011 (photos by Sandra Culter)   with Steve Pierce, Bob Cooke, Sandy Reay     Ernie with Baxter Black and Gary McMahan at the Heber Cowboy Gathering Heber City, Utah November, 2011   (photo by Fred Wolking)           Ernie playing with everybody at the 2011 High Peaks Music Festival. (photos by Bill Patterson)                           Ernie's CD release concert and party, Swallow Hill, July 16, 2011 (photos by Bill Patterson)         Loose Cannon Bluegrass White Fence Farm July 1, 2011   (photos by Bill Patterson)
Ernie Martinez (center) with Gary Barker, Lisa Astrella, Jim Fischer (back) and Marte Meyer Loose Cannon Bluegrass at IBMM ROMP, Owensboro KY, June 2011
At Red & Jerry's, May 19, 2011 Benefit for Aaron & Katherine Lamana Banks   (photos by Bill Patterson)     Ernie at Tagawa Gardens & Nursery with Dakota Blonde Parker CO, May 7, 2011 (photos by Bill Patterson) Ernie at Tagawa Gardens & Nursery with Reckless Abandon Parker CO, May 7, 2011 (photos by Bill Patterson)   Loose Cannon Bluegrass, Acoustic Alley at Miner's Alley, Golden, April 29, 2011 (photos by Bill Patterson)     at America's Soul Live! April 19, 2011, with Liz Barnez, Rebecca Folsom and Jon Chandler (photos by Bill Patterson) With Dakota Blonde and special guest Gordon Burt Acoustic Alley at B'nai Chaim, April 16, 2011 (photos by Bill Patterson)     with Loose Cannon Bluegrass at the Durango Meltdown, April 2011     Ernie with Mary Huckins (left) and Pam Hawkins (right) at the benefit for Locke Hamilton, March 29, 2011 (photos by Bill Patterson)       Ernie with Reckless Abandon at White Fence Farm, March 26, 2011 (photos by Bill Patterson)
Ernie with Jon Chandler at the Colorado Cowboy Gathering, Ranum Auditorium, Denver, Jan. 22, 2011 (photos by Reggie Barrett)
Ernie Martinez with Loose Cannon at the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society Pow'r Pick, Nov. 13, 2010: (photo by John Schmidt)
Ernie joined Dakota Blonde and Sons and Brothers Band for a charity performance at Florence High School on Saturday, November 6, 2010. The event raised funds for the Sangre de Christo Hospice and Palliative Care. This is the hospice where Frank Wolking spent his final days before succumbing to cancer. His sons (Mike, Aaron and Joe), plus his brother Fred wanted to repay the hospice for its care and kindness. (photos by Bill Patterson)
Ernie Martinez with Dakota Blonde at Acoustic Alley October 2010 (photos by Bill Patterson)
Ernie Martinez with Loose Cannon at White Fence Farm September 2010 (photos by Bill Patterson)
with Mom  >
The Loose Cannon CD release concert at Swallow Hill January 30, 2010 (photos by Bill Patterson)
The Music to Benefit Haitians concert at Acoustic Music Revival with Jim & Salli Ratts, Timothy P. and Scott Bennett January 30, 2010 (photos by Bill Patterson)

Ernie's alter ego:

"Elvis" with Jim Ratts (left) and Timothy P (right) at the Runaway Express "Howlin' at the Moon" CD release concert Swallow Hill, January 8, 2010.
	(photos by Bill Patterson)

with Southern Exposure at MidWinter

with High Wide and Handsome at Rocky Grass
with Patty Clayton, Liz Masterson, Sean Blackburn at MidWinter

Steve Pierce, Terry Dalton & Ernie

with Sandy Reay and Annie Phillips

Mark Mortensen, Michi Regier, Mark Merryman, Kurt Hunsinger, Sandy Reay, and Ernie: Djypsy Grass meets the Canyon Ratz and Quickdraw Homegrown Music at Las Hadas
(photo by Kim Davison)

with Djypsy Grass , October 9, 2005
(photo by Kim Davison)

He plays regularly with Runaway Express, Dakota Blonde, Jon Chandler & the Wichitones, Timothy P. (Rural Route Three and the Stocking Stuffers), Reckless Abandon. The Ouzo Project and Loose Cannon.

with Sandy Reay, Steve Pierce, Terry Dalton

March 17, 2007, at Sheabeen Irish Pub . (Photo by Andy Schmidt)

(photos by Bill Patterson)
with Sandy Reay	with Sandy Reay and Rick McGregor
at the Swallow Hill Folk Festival, September, 2007 (photos by Marge McGregor)
	(photo by Reggie Barrett)

	with Steve Pierce, Bob Turner and Sandy Reay
at the Swallow Hill Folk Festival, September, 2007 (photos by Reggie Barrett)

Ernie's CD Release Party at Swallow Hill ~ June 14, 2008
Ernie with Steve Pierce, Sandy Reay, Lisa Astrella, Gary Barker, Martin Gilmore, Eric Grace, Jeff Graves, Butch Hause, Tim Irvin, Johnny Neill, Annie Phillips, Turner Wyatt
(Photos by Bill Patterson)
Ernie with his mother, Lena Martinez Ernie with Anny Byrne
Annie, Ernie, Steve Sandy, Ernie Ernie, Ernie's Mother Lena Lisa, Jeff (back), Gary, Ernie, Eric, Martin Ernie, Martin Annie, Ernie, Tim Gary, Ernie, Lisa	Gary, Ernie, Lisa, Eric Gary, Ernie, Martin Annie, Ernie, Lisa Ernie Ernie, Steve, Johnny Sandy, Ernie, Martin Ernie's Swallow Hill Band
America's Soul Live! June 17, 2008 with Mack Bailey More photos: America's Soul Live! with Jon Chandler, Sandy Reay, Mack Bailey, and Johnny Neill   (photos by Bill Patterson)     America's Soul Live! July 15, 2008 (photos by Bill Patterson) America's Soul Live! May 2009 with Dana Vernon   America's Soul Live! November 2009 Benefit for Bob Turner, April 5, 2009, Moe's Original Bar B Que & Bowl with Steve Pierce     with Dakota Blonde, April 2009 (photos by Bill Patterson) refrigerator magnet by Bill Patterson