Ettienne Fuentes Jr.
South Florida drummer; Chayanne’s drummer and road musical director, 1996–2006BM Studio Music & Jazz
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ettienne Fuentes Jr. studied with Rudy Regalado, Freddie Santiago and Tony Sánchez Sr. and at Puerto Rico’s Conservatory of Music before earning his bachelor’s in Studio Music and Jazz at UM, where he studied with Steve Rucker, Steve Bagby and Fred Wickstrom. For a decade, 1996 to 2006, he was the drummer and road musical director for Latin superstar Chayanne, including the 2005 “Amigos” world tour with Marc Anthony and Alejandro Fernández.
One of South Florida’s most in-demand drummers, Ettienne has also performed, recorded or toured with Chuck Mangione, Arturo Sandoval, Nestor Torres, José Luis “El Puma” Rodríguez, Dom Um Romão and Ira Sullivan. He co-founded the rock-Latin-funk band Outcast and the bluegrass-rock-Latin group Yerba Blue, and today plays in the 11-piece horn band The Brass Evolution and the fusion trio R.I.F.F. (Rarely In Four Four). He is a Paiste, Pearl, Evans and Vic Firth artist.