Ernesto Pérez (born in Badiraguato, Sinaloa) better known by his stage name El Chapo de Sinaloa (Spanish: The Shorty from Sinaloa), is a Mexican norteño/banda singer.He first played with local groups at age 11 as a clarinetist. Later, he learned to play bass, and found work as a session musician with regional Mexican labels. In the 1990s he signed with EMI Latin and launched a solo career.