Elvin Cartagena grew up in the inner City of Brooklyn, NY, listening, learning and absorbing the sounds of Latin music, R & B, Funk (Motown, Stax, Philly Sound, MFSB), Blues, Country, Rock and Pop music of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Elvin's next door neighbor was Little Ray Romero, who played for Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria and would tag along as a little kid, to the studio and watch them rehearse, which was an education in Latin music.

Elvin attended the The Brooklyn Academy of Music Program, and have studied guitar with Matt Smith.

Elvin's influences are: Steve Lukather, John Jorgenson, Brett Mason, Leslie West (my BB King), Paco de Lucia, Armik, Strunz and Farah, Michael Schenker and Dave Meniketti.