Pepe Ébano


José Luis Ganoza Barrionuevo, known as Pepe Ébano, was a Peruvian-Spanish percussionist who accompanied the main figures of Spanish music. He was the lead percussionist, playing the Bongo on the single Entre dos aguas, a flamenco rumba created by guitarist Paco de Lucía and considered a flamenco masterpiece. He was one of the introducers of the Cajón in flamenco music.

Biography

José Luis Ganoza Barrionuevo, known as Pepe Ébano, was born in Lima, Peru on December 12, 1935, son of Valentina Barrionuevo, owner of "La Peña Valentina", in Lima, where he promoted Peruvian Creole music, and in his honor the dance contest "La Valentina de Oro" was organized.
Pepe Ébano arrived in Spain in 1956 with singer Alberto Cortez 'El Original', who has played in the TVE orchestra and with the most important Spanish and Latin American musicians. He is mistakenly identified as 'José Sánchez' and is sometimes attributed with Cuban or Puerto Rican nationality.
He died in Madrid on July 8, 2022, aged 86.

Discography