Throughout his career, Bobo has been known for recording and performing with a large variety of leading artists including The Black Crowes, 311, Gnarls Barkley, Rage Against The Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, Soulfly, Ella Fitzgerald, Fort Minor (feat. Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park) and Psycho Realm. "I'm very chameleon-like," Bobo explains. "I feel comfortable playing in a lot of different settings. I can do a hip-hop album but also play with The Black Crowes on something very rootsy. Or I can play with Soulfly, a heavy metal group. To do all these things, it has really opened me up musically."
Bobo made his first public appearance at the age of 5, performing on stage with his father, Latin jazz legend Willie Bobo. When Eric was 15, his father passed away and he took over Willie's Latin jazz band for a full year while still in high school. But as the jazz scene evolved through the 80s and hip-hop became a dominant force in music, Bobo found his calling. With a recommendation from a friend, Bobo got an audition with the Beastie Boys and before he knew it, he was on their national "Check Your Head" tour.
Bobo ended up recording with the Beastie Boys for both their acclaimed 'Ill Communication' and 'Hello Nasty' albums. He is name-checked on several Beastie songs, including the instrumental "Bobo on the Corner." While on tour with the Beasties, Bobo met Cypress Hill and joined the group as their percussionist for their world tours, splitting time between both groups. As the Beasties began taking major touring breaks, Bobo became an official full time Cypress Hill member at the historic festival Woodstock 1994 and has toured and recorded with the group ever since.
Cypress Hill, the first Latin hip-hop group to become a platinum artist, is notorious for their live show. "It's crazy to be in such a iconic group," Bobo says. "When I joined Cypress, there was no one in a hip hop setting with a DJ and percussionist. It's usually just a DJ. But I'm adding a true dynamic element to the live show. Since the beginning, they've really given me free reign to experiment and incorporate my style into the overall Cypress Hill sound."
In August 2005, Bobo entered the studio in Tucson, Arizona to record his debut album, 'Meeting of the Minds'. The album is an eclectic collection of songs that represent what Eric Bobo is all about. "I am really excited to be able to make an album that has songs with artists from Ill Bill, one of most dope MCs in underground hip hop, to Toy Selectah, whose group Control Machete were influenced by Cypress. That was the concept of 'Meeting of the Minds', to put all these different worlds together. Making some of the most oddball combinations and seeing what comes out."

Band Members

Eric Bobo & friends

Influences

Willie Bobo, Tito Puente, Parliament/Funkadelic, Led Zep, Public Enemy, James Brown, Fania All-Stars, Earth, Wind & Fire, Weather Report, Beastie Boys, Miles Davis.

Website

www.ericbobomusic.com