Ernie found out he could sing at eight years old, beginning his musical career as a soloist in his Houston, Texas, church and later as a soloist in the All City Choir. In high school he sang in the mixed chorus and in an award-winning barbershop quartet, "The Varsitones." At fifteen he got his first guitar and began writing songs. He hasn't stopped.

 

His first high school band, "Little Sheba and the Come-backs" was loud and thankfully short-lived. Moving to Austin, Texas to attend college, to his parents dismay he joined his first professional band, "The Fabulous Chevelles" and has been at it ever since, earning him a place in the Texas Songwriters Association's Texas Music Legends Hall of Fame.

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Ernie says "I like to rock," but his heart in firmly in the rich soul and R&B music of the 60s. Hearing Otis Redding's first single, Pain In My Heart, blasting out of radio station KCOH on his car radio, he wheeled around and headed to the King Bee Record Shop, a combination barbershop and record store in one of Houston's so-called "wards" to buy a copy. It changed his life. Soon after he could be found ringside at the Jimmy Menutis Club hearing the likes of Jimmy Reed, King Curtis and Bo Didley. It was a magic time: entertainment at his high school's post-graduation party included Freddie King and Bobby "Blue" Bland and the Joe Scott Orchestra. Lordy!

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Along the way Ernie's written, played on, produced and released 45s, LPs and CDs, performed on countless stages, large and small, toured Europe, recorded delightful radio jingles, and appeared twice on the PBS TV show, Austin City Limits. Never a household name outside of his home state, he's nevertheless produced a prodigious amount of music, much of it available here on the Music Videos and CDs pages.

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Along the way he became a driving force in the development of Austin's music industry becoming president of the Austin Industry Music Council and the Texas Music Association in the 1980s. While Austin still struggles to find its footing in the national music industry, it continues to receive acclaim as an incubator for talent. 

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No slave to a single genre, Ernie's written, produced and performed songs in virtually every genre including at least one of his own making, Guacalypso. As song writer, vocalist, bassist, and producer, his musical journey continues and you'll find almost all of it on these pages. Enjoy!

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