Jose Cabrera is currently a guitarist at Grace Family Church, as well as the lead guitarist of the Video Game Music band CREDIT: 0. He is also an audio engineer, composer, and one of the Guitar/Bass instructors at Music Showcase. His interest for these instruments started at age 14, back when he lived in the Dominican Republic (D.R.). After a year of being self-taught, he decided to pursue music seriously by taking private lessons from the local guitar instructors, such as Grammy Award winner Socrates Garcia, and later gigging semi-professionally in a couple of the local rock bands. Besides the Guitar, he also played Bass and Drums at his high school’s church.
At age 18, he was accepted into the National Conservatory of Music of Santo Domingo (D.R.), were he studied classical guitar for two years under the tutelage of professor Rafael Scarfullery.
In 1998, he moved to the United States to expand his musical horizons, first studying at Hillsborough Community College (Ybor City, FL), with author and educator John Demas, and later graduating Cum Laude with a B.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida (UNF), where he had the privilage to learn from world-class guitarist, Barry Greene.
After graduating from UNF in 2003, he began gigging professionally with several of the local wedding/club bands in the Tampa Bay Area, playing everything from Bossa Nova, Jazz, Rock, Country, Reggae, Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, R&B, Funk, etc. Some of the bands he has performed with include Son Salvaje, Bay Kings Band, Evangel, Bossamba, The Amanda Keller Band, From Me to You, and more.
In 2010, Jose joined the Music Showcase roster. As a Guitar/Bass instructor, he aims to help his students reach their goals. His musical versatility, combined with the skill to communicate in an easily understood manner, are key components that enables him to teach practically anyone willing to put the effort needed to learn this amazing instrument.