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Ricardo's versatility in musical styles and strong abilities as a singer, pianist, and guitarist have given him the opportunity to work with top blues, country, rock, and salsa bands. His credits include sharing the stage with blues legends such as Koko Taylor, Charlie Musselwhite, and Robben Ford. He has performed showcases, concerts and other club dates with numerous acts in Buffalo, Rochester, Nashville, New York City, San Francisco, Denver and many midwestern cities.
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| Ricardo's music training
began at the early age of five in Mexico City, where he grew up. Over the
next eleven years he studied piano with several teachers and attended the
National Conservatory of Music. At this time, he began learning guitar and
singing on his own. After moving to the United States (1985), he received
classical training in piano performance at the State University of New York
in Buffalo, under Russian professor Frina Boldt. During that time Ricardo
also had the opportunity to learn from the world reknowned Russian classical
pianist, Vladimir Feltsman.
After college, Ricardo furthered his training by immersing himself deeply
into the blues. He learned more piano, guitar and singing through endless
hours of studying artists such as Ray Charles, B.B. King, Robben Ford,
Eric Clapton, Dr. John, as well as many old boogie woogie players. Although
Ricardo already belonged to several amateur rock & roll bands, he began
his professional career as a pianist playing blues.
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All of his training combined with
many years of experience
playing clubs, concerts, and
studio sessions, have made Ricardo
a very capable and refined musician.
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| As a struggling musician in need
of more gigs in Buffalo, Ricardo also joined a salsa band, which put him
back in touch with his Latin roots. Thus began his journey to explore a
great diversity in musical styles. Ricardo has always been heavily influenced
by rock artists such as The Beatles, Billy Joel, the Eagles, and Santana,
by classical greats such as Beethoven and Chopin, and the Latin American
music he grew up with, including Los Panchos. As a professional musician
expanding his interests, he studied and performed the music of such great
jazz artists as Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis,
Latin artists Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Ruben Blades, and country artists
such as Vince Gill and Albert Lee, to name a few. |
| His time in Buffalo was the formative
stage for him as a musician. He had the chance to play with top local artists
and gain invaluable experience. After nine years, he was ready to move on.
Although places like New York or Nashville were obvious relocation choices
and definitely professionally appealing, his finances as a full time musician
were extremely tight, and Ricardo had something else inspiring him. As a
child, he was taken on a hike to Popocatepetl, a 17,800 foot volcano overlooking
Mexico City, and has loved mountains ever since. |
Ricardo climbing Liberty Ridge, (Mt. Rainier)
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Ricardo moved to the Denver area
in 1996 because of his passion for mountaineering. He saw that Colorado
would be a great place to pursue both music and mountaineering. Since then,
he has climbed extensively in Colorado, and many parts of the world. He
has climbed the highest mountain in South America (Aconcagua 22,843'), North
America (Denali 20,320'), Europe (Mt.Elbrus 18,510'), Mexico (El Pico de
Orizaba 18,405') the 54 highest peaks in Colorado and 19 other state's high
points. Besides music, Ricardo currently guides expeditions to the Mexican
volcanoes, Aconcagua, and other peaks. Visit Alpine
Expeditions for more information
on his mountaineering. |
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While in Colorado, Ricardo's musical career
has flourished. He partnered with Alfonso Murillo and formed the band Milestone.
Ricardo sang lead, played guitar and keyboards, and Alfonso played guitar
and they both wrote songs. They decided to explore what they called "Latin
rock", Afro-Cuban rhythms with elements of rock and blues. The original
line up included Ace Rodriguez on bass and Danny Cresap on drums. The band
went through changes while playing extensively in the area, and eventually
recruited Paul Marchetti on drums, Danny Olaizola on congas and Mickey Donofrio
on bass. With this strong line up, Ricardo produced Milestone's album Our
Truth in 1997. He contributed greatly to the CD. Not only did he
produce the CD, he wrote and arranged the majority of songs on the album,
he sang lead on all the tracks, played organ, piano, requinto, a bit of
percussion, some bass, back up vocals, and spotlighted some of his own lead
guitar playing. |
| Throughout the years, Milestone
players and its repertoire have evolved to cover a wider range of music,
including Jazz and Afro-Cuban music. Ricardo reformed Milestone with
guitarist Chris Malley, percussionist Eric Robnett, and back-up vocalist,
Rebecca Folsom. Ricardo and Rebecca formed a successful working relationship
that lasted many years- Rebecca sang back-ups for Milestone, and
Milestone backed Rebecca (and was the beginning of the Rebecca Folsom
band). It was during this time that they recorded Many
Miles, produced by Ricardo. Ricardo sang lead and backup vocals,
and played some lead guitar as well as piano and hammond organ on this album.
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| "Peņa is a wonder on lead guitar, piano/keyboards and vocals." ~The Southern Mirror
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| Ricardo and Milestone (now more
commonly billed as the Ricardo Peña Band) have become regarded as
one of the best bands in Colorado. Ricardo has also worked with many bands
on the side including the Rebecca Folsom band, La Candela, Quemando, Maynard
Mills, Lionel Young, Sam Mayfield,The Denver Jazz Orchestra, Mark Diamond
and the Heavy Cats, Raising Cain and many others. |
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Ricardo has become well known by many of Colorado's
top musicians. He has developed a reputation not only as an extremely versatile
and talented musician, but also as an accomplished producer and studio musician.
He has produced more than 20 CD's, demos and recording projects over the
last 12 years. His latest album of originals, entitled The Future Is
Here, was released in April of 2003. The CD was reviewed in the internationally
distributed magazine Musico Pro- Peņa's "voice projects... strong and clear....
(and) his lyrics flow in both languages while his music is solid with a
tight band that sails through different styles with ease." The CD has sold
very well since then. |
| Ricardo has been recognized with many honors, including nominations for Western New York's Best Blues Keyboardist, Best Country Keyboardist, and Best Local Band. Westword's The Best of Denver 1997 awarded the Lionel Young Band, for which Ricardo was playing keyboards, the title of Best Blues Band.
Music critics and fans alike have always been impressed with Ricardo's talent. The Buffalo News called Ricardo's performance "energetic and appealing" and applauded his display of "outstanding musicianship and vocal talent." To quote The Southern Mirror's Entertainment Review, "Peņa is a wonder on lead guitar, piano/keyboards and vocals."
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| Ricardo's current band is his best
line up ever and features some of the best musicians in Colorado. On guitar
and vocals: Ed Edwards, bass: Mickey Donofrio, Vocals and percussion: Amy
Biondo and drums: Ben Makinen. This band has been and continues to be very
successful in the private scene performing for weddings, corporate parties
and private parties. When the band does public appearances audiences are
always blown away to see such talent in the local scene! |
| Besides being active as a music
producer Ricardo can be found playing in many public and private events
and venues. Denver's La Voz wrote, "Peņa fits into these environments
like a musical chameleon, equally at ease playing rock, salsa or Latin jazz...".
Check his online performance schedule for details.
He is available and has extensive experience playing concerts, private parties,
corporate events, and weddings. |
| For more information, call (303)516-4845, or E-Mail: bookings@ricardopena.net
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