Smiley LIVE! Presents: Cougar Estrada
Wednesday, September 18, 7:00 PM
The Contemporary Club
Cougar Estrada is from Camarillo, CA, and was born into a musical family: The Estrada Brothers Band, (1996 Milestone Jazz Recording Artists) which included his dad and uncles. Most notably he was the touring and recording drummer for Los Lobos from 2002 to 2012, playing live performances on all their studio and live albums during that time (including the 2010 Grammy Nominated album, Tin Can Trust), DVDs, and radio and television appearances, culminating in a performance at the White House for President Barack Obama.
Cougar plays piano, composes, produces, and records for others as well as releases his own albums, which can be found at CougarRecords.com. Cougar began private drum studies at the age of 13, with renowned jazz drummer from Kansas City, MO, Frank Butler. By age 14, Cougar was playing professionally with local musicians in Ventura County, CA.
Cougar’s early music education included courses at Oxnard College, Moorpark College, and Dick Grove School of Music (Los Angeles, CA.) where he studied piano, melody, harmony, ear training, sight-reading, rhythmic dictation, arranging, composition, percussion, and big band drumming. “Jazz is where I started my learning, although I’ve been fortunate to play in different musical situations…Jazz is where I feel I’m at my best.”
Cougar Estrada is currently the Music Instructor for Youth Jazz Ensemble at Claremont Community School of Music, Claremont, CA. and pursuing a Singer Songwriter career performing original music from his self-produced albums: Conga Punks “Music’s Genre Defiance” 2003, Firefly “Cougar Estrada” 2007 and Camarillo Social Club “Let’s” 2009.
This free public event is part of the Smiley LIVE! concert series. It’s family-friendly, with a Q&A segment where young and old alike can ask the performers questions about their music, their performance, and anything else they may be curious about.