ABOUT US

Crazy Gringos is a four-member cover band providing live music at clubs, restaurants, private parties, fundraisers, and corporate functions. Playing various genres of music—from jazz, rock, blues, and Latin to pop and country—the band likes to gear their concerts to the crowd and event. In addition to occasionally doing some of their own original music, the Crazy Gringos cover many of the newer artists as well as older favorites. On occasion, the band even does full-blown stage shows with comedy routines.

MEET THE BAND

The band features Eric Tilson on lead guitar, harmonica, saxophone, and vocals; Steve Tilson on lead guitar; John Erlsten on bass; and Steve Erlsten on drums.

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Eric Tilson—Lead Singer/Lead Guitar

Eric is not only the lead singer of the Crazy Gringos--he also plays a smoking lead guitar, which he took up as a teenager after starting out at a young age on bass and saxophone. He is one those uniquely talented individuals who can play almost any instrument, including harmonica, which he adds to the band's blues mix of songs.

His wide range of musical interests leads the band into several genres. He loves to write music and travel.

Eric proposed to his wife, Heather during a Crazy Gringos stage show.

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Steve Tilson—Lead Guitar

Steve plays lead guitar and does the sound for the band. He was born and spent most of his childhood in Nashville, TN. His father, Everett, was a professor at Vanderbilt University.

Steve has a broad musical background, including orchestral cello and blues, jazz, bluegrass, country, folk, rock and pop guitar. He has played with a wide variety of bands and has performed with notable musicians including Buddy Miles (drummer for Jimi Hendrix) and Phillip Walker (blues Grammy Winner).

Steve and his son Eric, have been playing together for over twenty years, mostly in the midwest but as far away as Quito, Ecuador.

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Steve Erlsten—Drums

Steve is the drummer for the Crazy Gringos. His musical background in percussion and piano goes back to his early childhood. He started his first band while still in middle school.

Throughout the years, Steve has played with numerous bands around the country, including many styles from square dance and polka, to small combo jazz, concert symphony percussions, and tympani. He worked his way through college with the "Steve Erlsten Trio", playing mostly small combo jazz in clubs and venues around Chicago and the Valparaiso University area.

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John Erlsten—Bass

John plays bass for the Crazy Gringos.  He has become more serious about his music since graduating from Galion City Schools where he now teaches and tries to pass on his love of music to future generations.

John was born in Eureka, California and is a graduate from Ohio State University. He holds a B.S. in Natural Resources and an M.A. in Education from OSU.