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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. In 2013, he performed with Camptown, winning third in the RockyGrass Band contest.
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.
He plays regularly with Runaway Express, Jon
Chandler & the Slingers/Wichitones, Dakota Blonde, Timothy P. Irvin and the Stocking Stuffers, Reckless
Abandon, Last Sheets on the Roll, Dustin Divine and the Real Deal, Junction 5-12. In November, 2017 he performed with the San Louis Valley Co-Op at the Western Music Association Annual Festival in Albuquerque, with his long-time friends Bill and Fred Lovato and Carol Mayberry.
After many years as a finalist for the International Western Music Association Instrumentalist of the Yera, he won in 2018! And was nominated again in 2019.
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with Last Sheets on the Roll
Nissi's
Littleton CO
May 3, 2023
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Mark Cormican & Starwood
Nissi's
Lafayette CO
Apr 16, 2023
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Dakota Blonde
Swallow Hill Valentine's Day Show
Denver CO
Feb 10, 2023
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Doug Figgs
Western Slope Cowboy Gathering
Grand Junction CO
Nov, 2022
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Last Sheets on the Roll
Alibi's Bar
Littleton CO
Oct 6, 2022
(photos by Sandy Reay) |
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with Mary (a fan)
The Stagecoach
Franktown CO
Sept 30, 2022
(photo by Sandy Reay) |
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with Dakota Blonde
Littleton Historical Museum
Littleton CO
Aug 3, 2022
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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(photo by Cindy Davis)
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with JJ Fraser and The Pynedrops
(L to R): Mike Edmondson, Spencer Pyne, Ernie, Brian McClure, JJ Fraser, (Ed Skibbe sound), Stacy McClure |
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Jon Chandler
Lakewood Cultural Center Amphetheater
Lakewood CO
June 15, 2022 |
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Mark Cormican & Friends
Anthem 55
Broomfield CO
June 14, 2022
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Dakota Blonde
Pink House Concert
Colorado Springs CO
June 12, 2022
(photos by Sandy Reay) |
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At Swallow Hill in Denver CO
with Dakota Blonde
Feb 12, 2022
(photos by Sandy Reay) |
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With Dustin Devine and the Real Deal
At Alibi's in Littleton CO
Feb 9, 2022
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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With Dustin Devine and the Real Deal
At Dougie G's in Thornton CO
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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With Dustin Devine and the Real Deal
At Lulu's Inn in Watkins CO
Jan 15 2022
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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With Jon
Chandler at Swallow Hill
Denver CO
Oct. 9, 2021 |
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with Spencer Pyne  , Eddie Roswell / Ed Skibbe  , and Dan Navarro
(photo by Terry Georgia) |
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with Dakota Blonde
in Georgetown CO
July 2021
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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With Mark Cormican & Starwood at a house concert
Oct 2020
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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With Mark Cormican & Starwood in Cheyenne
Aug 2020
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Dakota Blonde
Swallow Hill
Demnver CO
Feb 14, 2020
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Golden, CO
Jan 16-19, 2020
with Carlos Washington
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Carlos Washington and The High Country Cowboys
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Memories:
Trigger Finger
L to R Back: Tom Gould, Ed Church, Ernie Martinez
Middle: Suzy Lewis, June McHugh
Front: Chris Whitebread, David Rodriguez
(photo courtesy of June McHugh) |
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Timothy P and the Stocking Stuffers
Nissi's, Lafayette CO
Dec. 2019
L to R: Jerry Mills, Jon Chandler, Timothy P Irvin, Mary Huckins,
Ernie (as Elvis), Pat Rossiter, Dana Vernon
(photo by Farmer Streisand) |
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Chuck Pyle Tribute Concert
Swallow Hill
with
Jerry Faires, Molly Watson, Jim Ratts, Jon
Chandler, Jack Williams,
Tom Munch, Jeff Troxel, Don Richmand, Gordon Burt
October 12 2019
(photos by Bill Patterson)
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with Butch Hause and Trinity Seely
Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering
October 2019
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Georgetown Cultural Heritage Center
with Dakota Blonde
September 21, 2019
(photos by Bill Patterson)
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High Peaks Music Festival
September 14, 2019
with Dakota Blonde,
Runaway Express,
Harry Tuft and Jack Stanesco,
Butch Hause,
Gordon Burt
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Swallow Hill
Teacher Feature
Summer, 2019
"Come Learn With Ern"
click on image to see larger image |
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4 Mile Park
July 24, 2019
with Dakota Blonde
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Dan Navarro
Swallow Hill
June 22, 2019 |
watch video of Ernie Martinez with Dan Navarro
(photos below by Sandy Reay) |
(photo by Ann Schmechel) |
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Dakota Blonde">
with Dakota Blonde
Clement Park
Littleton CO
June 6, 2019
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Dakota Blonde, John Erlandson
Boogie at the Barn
May 12, 2019
Evergreen CO
(photos by Bill Patterson)
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Check out the interview with  Ernie Martinez 
in The Western Way, "In the Crosshairs," page 6. |
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with Steve Pierce
at Sheabeen
Irish Pub
Aurora CO
March, 2019
(photo by Joanne DiBenedetto)
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The 2019 Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering
January 17-20, 2019
Golden Colorado
(photos by Bill Patterson)
With: Barry Ward, Jon Chandler, Kristyn Harris, New West (Raul Reynoso, Mike Fleming, Dave Jackson) |
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An article about the Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering |
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The 2018 Western Music Association Awards Show and Festival
Albuquerque, NM, Nov 8-11, 2018
< < < Winner of the Instrumentalist of the Year
V V V With Johnny Neill and 3 Trails West |
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Chuck Pyle Tribute Concert
Swallow Hill
Denver CO
Oct 6, 2018
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Quickdraw Homegrown Music
Sept 2018 |
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High Peaks Music Festival
Westcliffe CO
Sept 7, 2018
with Dakota Blonde, Molly O'Brien, Rich Moore
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Farm Concert
Berthoud CO
August 27, 2018
with Runaway Express & Acoustic Eidolon
(photos by Bill Patterson)
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with Dakota Blonde
Aug 19, 2018, Colorado Springs
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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 Dakota Blonde, Pink House Concerts, Colorado Springs, August 19, 2018" height="225"> |
with Reckless Abandon
August, 2018
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Stage Door Theater, Conifer, August 10, 2018
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with The Incontinentals
including Gavin Maurer (guitar) |
with Jon Chandler and The Slingers
including George Lourkouliotus (drums), Lindsay Brown (bass) |
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with Jerry Grannell and Robin Jo Leady
Gunnison July 2018 |
with Jim Jones at The Crystola
Woodland Park Aug 2018 |
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with Dakota Blonde at Buffalo Bill Days
Golden CO July 2018
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Dakota Blonde and the Broomfield Children's chorus
March 16, 2018
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Dakota Blonde, Swallow Hill, annual Valentines Day show
Denver, Feb. 11, 2018
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Dakota Blonde, Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts
Palmer Lake, Nov. 17, 2017
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with a reunion of the San Louis Valley Coop
Western Music Association, Albuquerque, Nov. 2017
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with cast of Chuck Pyle Tribute Concert
Swallow Hill, Oct, 2017 |
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At High Peaks Music Festival, Westcliffe, Sept 2017
with Harry Tuft and Dakota Blonde
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Country Road 1, August 2017
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Junction 5-12 at America's Soul Live!
June 20, 2017
with Bob Cooke, Mary Gifford, and Johnny Neill
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Valentines Concert at Swallow Hill, Denver
with
Dakota Blonde
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Concert at Miners Alley, Golden
with
Dakota Blonde
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Concert at Swallow Hill October 29, 2016
with Jon
Chandler, Mary Huckins, Dana Vernon
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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2016 High Peak Music Festival
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Dakota Blonde |
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with Smythe & Taylor |
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with Dakota Blonde, Littleton Historic Musieum, August 2016
(photos by Bill Patterson)
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with Dakota Blonde at Roxborough Park
August 20, 2016
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Mountain Melodies,
Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave,
Golden CO, August 7, 2016, with Dakota Blonde
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Solomon Cook CD release party at Swallow Hill, Denver CO
April 15 2016
with Jim Ratts, John Magnie, Jock Bartley
(photos by Bill Patterson)
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Junction 5-12 with Mary Gifford "San Miguel" CD release party
March 26, 2016, Aurora CO
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Junction 5-12 with Mary Gifford |
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Buffalo Bill's 170th Birthday Party
The Rock Rest Lodge, Golden
with Dana Vernon, Timothy P Irvin, Jon Chandler, others
(photo by Bill Patterson)
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Dakota Blonde at Swallow Hill
Feb. 13, 2016
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Dana Vernon, Jon
Chandler, Ernie Martinez, Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Golden CO, Jan 24, 2017 (photo by Bill Patterson) |
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Dusty Devine and the Real Deal January 2016
(photo by Kent Meireis) |
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Dusty Devine and the Real Deal |
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America's Soul Live! November 17, 2015
with Kit Simon and Johnny Neill
(photos by Bill Patterson)
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with Dakota Blonde
Acoustic Alley at Miner's Alley
Oct. 24, 2015
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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with Jon Chandler and Dana Vernon
Swallow Hill Music Association
Oct 2, 2015
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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High Peaks Music Festival, Sept. 2015
with Dakota Blonde, Smythe & Taylor,
Kit Simon & Drew Horton
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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With Dakota Blonde
The Briarwood, Golden CO
August 19, 2015
(photos by Bill Patterson)
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at the Olde Town Pickin' Parlor, Arvada CO, August 18, 2015
see America's Soul Live! August 2015
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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Pikes Peak Cowboy Gathering
ProRodeo Hall of Fame
Colorado Springs CO
July 9, 2015 |
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singing "El Paso"
with Lee Patterson (left) and Jimmy Lee Robbins
(photos by Sandy Reay)
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Ernie with Sandy Reay and Mary Gifford
at the WMA Colorado Chapter Showcase in Greeley, April 18, 2015 |
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Ernie Martinez at the Briarwood, April 9, 2015, with Dakota Blonde
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| Dakota Blonde, St. James, February, 2015
(photos by Bill Patterson) |
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America's Soul Live!, Feb. 17, 2015
(photos by Bill Patterson)
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with Dakota Blonde at Swallow Hill, Feb. 14, 2015
(photo by Bill Patterson) |
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with Dusty Devine and the Real Deal at the Little Bear, Jan, 2015:
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America's Soul Live! Jan. 20, 2015
(photo by Bill Patterson)
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Ernie Martinez
