Edwin Bonilla was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, but he moved to New Jersey, USA with his family when he was three years old. He fell in love with the timbale work of Orestes Vilato on Ray Barretto's album Hard Hands. "I knew his solos before I ever had any timbales, just playing them in my bed," recalls Edwin.



A versatile percussionist, Edwin is familiar with rhythmic patterns from around the world, and has performed and recorded rock, soca, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Indian and Brazilian music. He has participated in over one thousand recordings, has performed in various videos, and has worked continuously in the studio for more than a decade. His own recordings, Edwin y su Son, and Soy la candela, released in 1999 and in 2002 respectively, have won critical and popular international support. Edwin plays djembe, tambourine, pandeiro, repenique, surdo, and congas. Cuban and Brazilian instruments like the pandeiro and shekere are also part of his arsenal.



He has been playing since 1973. At age 11 he took drum lessons before switching to percussion in high school. When Martin Cohen interviewed him for MPR, Edwin recalled the beginnings of his musical career:

"I got into timbales listening to Ray Barreto back in the 70's. Orestes Vilato was one of my inspirations, Nicky Marerro, and Tito Puente definitely. I started listening more and more to Latin music and not so much to the Motown. From there I got into congas, bongos and everything else. I started playing in bars when I was 13, 14, playing timbales. My first gigs as a timbale player were with Puerto Rican trios. I also played Latin rock. Whatever bands were in town, I'd get my gear and go rehearse with them. And that was mainly my practice."

Bonilla names Motown, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, The Beatles, Cal Tjader, Orestes Vilato, Ray Barratto, Mongo Santamaria, Patato, and Tito Puente as his musical influences.



Edwin Bonilla has worked with an impressive list of musicians, including Gloria Estefan, Bellamy Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, Ricky Martin, Madonna, Quincy Jones, Jennifer Lopez, Gypy Kings, Marc Anthony, Frank Sinatra, John Secada, Arturo Sandoval, Tony Bennett, Manhattan Transfer, Patti Labelle, Thalia, Cachao, Stevie Wonder, Tito Puente Jr., and Shakira. Charanga Casino, the 80 year old Cuban bassist and living legend, frequently calls Edwin for studio sessions.



He has also performed on numerous movie soundtracks, including those for Evita; Walt Disney's Anastasia, Something About Mary, in which he also appeared; Make Me Dance; and The Perez Family to name only a few.