Julio Ernesto Estrada

Best known as "Fruko", Ernesto Estrada (born: Julio Ernesto Estrada) is one of the most influential players of pachanga, the rhythmic Latin dance music successor to the mambo and chacha. Although its roots can be traced to Cuban-born composer Eduardo Davidson, who recorded the hit single, "Pachanga," in 1959, the popularity of the style was sparked by the playing of Charlie Palmieri in the late-1960s. Playing with his band, Los Tesos, Estrada has resurrected the spirit of the pachanga with a lively, heavily-percussive, approach. Estrada's greatest impact has come, however, as a producer and arranger. Known as "The Quincy Jones of Latin music", Estrada has been involved with a lengthy list of hit recordings. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi