Biography by Thom Jurek
Antonio Vergara is a distinguished musician, educator, lawyer, and cultural worker hailing from Ecuador. He has gained recognition throughout Latin America and the Caribbean as an exceptional blues guitarist and lap steel player. In addition to his instrumental prowess, Vergara is a singer, songwriter, producer, and engineer. His extensive career spans 25 years as a sought-after sideman and musical director, noted for his expressive, emotionally resonant tone and his deep roots in the Chicago and Texas blues traditions. His clean and unobtrusive production style has contributed to over 50 albums.
In 2012, Vergara established his own production company and record label, AVA, which he named after his award-winning solo debut album. Two years later, he released Los Bufones También Lloran, one of the first blues concept albums to gain traction outside North America. Five tracks from this album were featured in the thriller/comedy film Sexy Montañita, directed by Alberto Pablo Rivera. Following this, he released Eclosión in 2017, an innovative project that blended Indian classical instruments with an acoustically rooted blues-rock sound.
Vergara's musical journey is deeply influenced by his family; his mother, dramatic soprano Angelina López, is celebrated as one of Ecuador's most cherished singers. His passion for music ignited in his adolescence when he began to play guitar and explore his own sound. This pursuit led him to acquire skills in production and engineering, which he honed while working at various studios. His career took him to Argentina, where he collaborated with a diverse array of artists. An accomplished instrumentalist, Vergara is self-taught in piano, banjo, bass, and mandolin, allowing him to transition from folk music to a wide range of genres, including blues, rock, pop, country, and bluegrass. His versatility has made him a valuable asset as both a live and studio performer.
Academically, Vergara has pursued his studies in sound and music production, earning a Ph.D. in the field, as well as another in Social Sciences. He holds a postdoctoral degree in Educational Policies and Culture from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, where he continues to teach. Additionally, he obtained a law degree with a focus on intellectual property and copyright. Alongside his musical career, Vergara has taught at universities in Ecuador and Spain.
In 2012, after a quarter-century in the industry, he launched AVA to produce and manage recordings for both himself and emerging artists. His debut solo album, also titled AVA, received widespread acclaim upon its release, earning him an award from Ecuador's Arts and Culture Ministry. The following year, he garnered another award for his engineering work with younger musicians. In 2014, after touring South America with his solo project, he released the intricate concept album Los Bufones También Lloran, which features 13 songs exploring themes of love, loss, and the importance of art, with Vergara performing all instruments except drums. His contributions earned him a master of music certification from Ecuador's Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
In 2017, Vergara presented Eclosión, a record that combined North and South American string instruments—such as charango, mandolin, banjo, and guitar—with Indian classical instruments, including tamboura, sitar, and tabla. The album achieved chart success in Ecuador and Argentina. Over the subsequent years, he continued to teach and collaborate with artists signed to AVA, including indie rock groups Catalyst and Killkas, blues-rock guitarist Hugo Metralleta, and his mother, Angelina López.
In 2020, Vergara released the double-length album IV, featuring 15 original blues-rock tracks. The album included guest appearances from renowned artists, such as Ciro Fogliatta, known as the "father of Argentine rock," and Jorge Durietz from the duo Pedro y Pablo, who contributed to the track "Renancer." The album's lead single, "Insomnia," achieved chart success. In August of the same year, Vergara surprised the South American music scene by releasing the EDM title track single for the Go Corona Go soundtrack.
