Fortino Contreras González, known as Tino Contreras, and born on April 3, 1924, in Chihuahua, Mexico, was a Mexican musician. He came from a family of musicians and began playing the drums professionally at age eight. At 17, he formed Los Cadetes del Swing with his brother Efrén. Two years later, Contreras moved to Ciudad Juárez and started La Orquesta de la Juventud, gaining popularity on local radio. In the early 1950s, he joined Luis Arcaraz's orchestra, touring Latin America. He participated in the first Mexican jazz record, Jazz en México (1954), and subsequently focused on jazz and blues with his own ensembles. Notable works include Volado por los Merengues (1953) and Misa en Jazz (1966). Contreras toured extensively, performing in countries like France, Spain, and the United States. He released over 47 albums, including Generaciones (2013), and authored two bilingual drumming methods. Tino Contreras passed away on September 9, 2021, at age 97.
