Erben: three, the one I use is the one Marc gave me for one of our anniversaries.

Kat: That one must be very special to you!

Erben: That bass is very special. It was given to me by a special person in my life..one of the best gifts, other than my children and my wife, that God ever gave me

Kat: How often do you play?

Erben: I play my bass for a couple of hours a day.. it varies.

Kat: Do you read music or play by ear?

Erben: Yes I read music. When I first started, I played by ear; through the years I studied here and there, took a class or two. The best experience a person can get is playing your instrument with heart.

Kat: How long have you been playing Bass?

Erben: Well, I started when I was 14 years old, I used to play at church with my family.

Kat: Wow, that's a long time, is your family musical as well then?

Erben: Yes, some of us played a couple of instruments but I kept on playing through the years and started playing in local bands until I got my break with Willie Colon.

Kat: What was the experience like working with Willie Colon?

Erben: Well, with Willie it was kool. I didn't stay there long because I received a call to go and audition for Marc Anthony. He was just starting out in the Latin business. I met him and I said to myself, this guy is going to make it big..... I mean REAL BIG! So, I decided to leave Willie and take a chance with Marc; that was the best thing that could ever happen to me.

Kat: You were certainly right about Marc! What is the experience like working with him?

Erben: Marc is the best. You know he was my best man at my wedding? That's how close we became. Working with Marc is an experience of a lifetime; he is so down to earth and he's a great person. We have done a great deal together and there is still more to do. Because of him Latin music is growing all over the world which is good for us. Now people all over the world can actually enjoy what we do.

Kat: The entire band as well as Marc seem to be very close- do you think that helps with the music?

Erben: Of course it does, that's what we are all about.

Kat: Family :-)

Erben: I have been in the band for 9 yrs, and it is basically the same group of guys - yes, we are a family.

Kat: That is one of the things that I think is remarkable about Marc; he is surrounded by people who are as a whole - a family

Kat: What are some of the CDs that you appear on?

Erben: My first salsa CD was the soundtrack for Carlito's Way - Parece Mentira. Then I started producing low -budget CDs and then I got a break to do Michael Stewart's first CD with some of the guys from the band; Angel Fernandez and Juan Gonzales. Jomar A. Young, a singer from Puerto Rico and Domingo Quinones. I have also done stuff for the Salsa group from Japan. Marc's latest CD was the best for me.

Kat: Who has been the biggest musical influence on your career?

Erben: GOD.....for real - no one better.

Kat: Is there a particular musician that has influenced your style of playing?

Erben: Yes, Mr. Jaco Pastorius.. was the greatest bass player that ever lived. He was killed, in Florida, in September 1986 . There is a book on his life titled, Jaco ; it's an autobiography. It is a great book, and a very sad book. I also adopted his style along with a couple of great Salsa players and sort of came out with my own style.
Jaco was the greatest, but the best experience in my whole entire career has been Marc Anthony.

*see footnote1

Kat: What inspires you on a day -to- day basis?

Erben: Music inspires me and the fact that I play for thousands and thousands of people; without music this world won't exist...our souls need that stuff we call music.

Kat: I'm with you on that one :-) Aside from music, what other interests do you have?

Erben: My children, my wife, my dog Denver and my new home....that is all I do and of course my BASS...

Kat: Sounds like a full life :-)

Erben: That's all I need....I have been blessed.

Kat: How many kids do you have ?

Erben: I have son and a daughter.

Kat: Are your children musical as well?

Erben: Yes. My daughter plays a little guitar and sax; my son likes percussion and singing.

Kat: Can you describe for me, how you feel when you are on stage?

Erben: The feeling is unexplainable, you have to experience it to understand it. It's a good feeling that you are taking place in Latin music history; especially playing with the most talented singer in the world.

Kat: What is one of the most memorable experiences you've had on stage?

Erben: Oh one on the most memorable things on stage is a concert in Peru, SA when the crowd was yelling so loud and Marc called me to the front of the stage with him. I felt the energy of the crowd. It was crazy I nearly peed my pants LOL

Kat: It must have felt like a million volts of electricity running through you!

Erben: Yeah, it did.

Kat: Do you have any causes that you support?

Erben: I support a couple of groups- AIDS foundations, FEED THE CHILDREN, mostly groups that support the well being of humanity. If I were the richest man on earth I would help everyone that needed help.

Kat: If you weren't a musician, what do you think you'd be doing as a profession?

Erben: A doctor.. I wish I could cure all kinds of diseases.

Kat: I think being able to help people is a great gift.

When you are at home relaxing, whose CDs do you listen to?

Erben: Oh I listen to some jazz like Jaco Pastorius, Mike Stern, and some Latin stuff; AC/DC, Guns and Roses, Ozzy Osborne, etc. basically every kind of music.

Kat: What would you most like to convey to people about yourself?

Erben: That I'm a sweet and kind person no matter what I do for a living and that I am human like everyone else.

Kat: What's the nicest thing a fan has ever done for you?

Erben: Sent me letters.. a couple of them sent flowers.. letters, yep I had a couple of nice ones and it makes me feel appreciated.

Kat: Do you have a message for the fans that support you in your career?

Erben: I have a message for the fans... I want to thank everyone that has been around the Marc Anthony clique and for supporting each and every one of us in our careers.. If it weren't for them I'd be pumpin' gas at a gas station somewhere in a desert..LOL

Kat: LOL! A talented gas bar dude. Erben, it's been a pleasure, thank you for taking the time :-)

Erben: I wish you all luck, with the web site and thank you very much for your time and effort . We really do appreciate it.