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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. During that time Ricardo 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 listening to 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, 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.
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| 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 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.
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Ricardo climbing Liberty Ridge, (Mt. Rainier)
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Ricardo moved to the Denver area in 1996 because of his passion for mountaineering. Since then, he has climbed extensively in Colorado, including 39 of its highest peaks. He's also reached the summits of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, and the highest points in many states. He's climbed Mexico's five highest volcanoes, and in January of 2001 he summited the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, Aconcagua (22,840ft) in the Argentinian Andes. In May/June 2002, he led an expedition up the highest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley (Denali) in Alaska. He is returning to the mountain in June, 2004. Ricardo is currently guiding expeditions to the Mexican volcanoes, Aconcagua, and other peaks. Email Ricardo for more information on joining or training for a climbing expedition.
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While in Colorado, Ricardo's musical career has flourished. He formed his band Milestone with then partner Alfonso Murillo. Ricardo sang lead, played guitar and keyboards, and Alfonso played guitar. 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.
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| Throughout the years, Milestone players and its repertoire have evolved to cover a wider range of music, including Latin jazz and Cuban music. Ricardo reformed Milestone with guitarist Chris Malley, percussionist Eric Robnett, and back-up vocalist, Rebecca Folsom. Ricardo and Rebecca have since formed a successful working relationship that has lasted and grown over many years- Rebecca sang back-ups for Milestone, and Milestone backed Rebecca. It was during this time that they recorded Many Miles, produced by Ricardo. Ricardo sings lead and backup vocals, and he plays some lead guitar as well as piano and hammond organ on this album.
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| "Peña is a wonder on lead guitar, piano/keyboards and vocals." ~The Southern Mirror
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| During his time in Colorado, Ricardo and Milestone have gained a faithful following of fans. "They're great – the best rhythm I've
heard in a long time," said Lisa Hatch, a listener who was quoted in Denver's La Voz magazine in December, 2003. He can also be heard as a featured player with other popular acts in Colorado including Rebecca Folsom, La Candela, Maynard Mills, Lionel Young, Sam Mayfield and many others.
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Ricardo has become well known by many of Colorado's top musicians. He is developing 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 15 CD's, demos and recording projects over the last 8 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 for Spanish speaking musicians and professionals in the music industry- (translated) Peña'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."
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| 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, "Peña is a wonder on lead guitar, piano/keyboards and vocals."
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| Ricardo has recently been recruited to join a national tour with the band, Edison Lighthouse. The band sold more than 15 million records in the '70s, which included top hits such as "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)". Edison Lighthouse re-formed in 2003, and with Peña playing Hammond organ, piano, guitar and singing some lead and backups, the band will begin their 2004 tour in Hoquiam, Washington on April 23rd.
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| Ricardo can be found playing in many Colorado venues along the front range. Denver's La Voz wrote, "Peña fits into these environments like a musical
chameleon, equally at ease playing rock, salsa or Latin jazz..." Peña also plays a large number of festivals and concerts. Check his online performance schedule for details. He is available and has extensive experience playing for public or private parties, corporate events, and weddings.
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| For more information, call (303)516-4845, or E-Mail: bookings@ricardopena.net
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