First-call pianist, keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Ricky Gonzalez maintains perfect balance between the worlds of tradition and innovation. Whether it's R&B with Jennifer Lopez, pop salsa with Marc Anthony, jazz with Dizzy, Latin-Jazz with Puente or hard salsa with Barretto, Ricky moves seamlessly through each genre with the greatest of ease. His work has garnered several GRAMMY® Awards through the years and he shows no sign of slowing down.
Ricky currently tours with Latin superstar Marc Anthony, Pop diva Jennifer Lopez and Salsa legend Willie Colon. When not traveling, he is a first-call session player in New York and works steadily as a producer and arranger.
Noted for producing the mega-hit dance track "I Like It Like That" for Tito Nieves, the chameleon-like artist makes the blending of musical genres seem effortless. His production and performing credits include legends Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz, Mongo Santamaria, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, the Fania All-Stars, George Benson, Dave Valentin and a long list of others. Many of the salsa hits of the last two decades bear Ricky's stamp as arranger, performer or producer – and in many cases, all three.
A driving force behind many of the hits by Latin artists for well over two decades, artist-producer Ricky Gonzalez defines the word "versatile." The young veteran moves fluidly between genres, always exploring new ways to bring together the worlds of traditional and contemporary music. In recent years, he enjoyed a new kind of fulfillment when he produced Tito Nieves' blockbuster hit "I Like It Like That." It wasn't so much that the single from the album of the same name went gold on the Latino charts. More importantly, major mainstream corporations like Burger King and the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) adopted the stylish beat and catchy lyrics to use in their national promotional campaigns.
A first-call pianist and multi-instrumentalist on the NY session scene, Ricky can be heard on hundreds of recordings. Currently, as the touring keyboardist/vocalist with Jennifer Lopez, Ricky crosses seamlessly between dance, pop and Latin genres. He can also be seen on tour with Latin superstar Marc Anthony, covering keyboard and vocal duties – a position he's held for over a decade.
With other artists, he has been a feature at the most prestigious jazz festivals in the world, as well as all major venues in the United States. He has even performed in the White House for former President Bill Clinton. A short list of other artists he has performed or recorded with include: Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Gilberto Santa Rosa, George Benson, Dizzy Gillespie, Juan Luis Guerra, Spyro Gyra, Dave Valentin, Willie Colon, the Fania All-Stars, Mongo Santamaria, Fat Joe, Spanish rock group Mecano, and many, many more.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Ricky has been a musician all his life – playing drums since the age of 3 and subsequently teaching himself piano at age 13. The young prodigy began touring with Latin-jazz legend Ray Barretto's band as pianist when he was 16. Almost immediately, his arrangements and playing style became a key ingredient in the band's updated sound.
He studied classical composition at New York's prestigious Juilliard School and went on to graduate from the City College of New York. There, he studied with jazz great Ron Carter and with Pulitzer Prize-winning classical composer David Del Tredici. He graduated with several honors and awards, including the Sidney Zolot Award for Composition and Pro Musica honors. He is considered among the most respected music directors in his field.
September 2004 saw the release of his debut CD as an artist, Oasis, featuring an all-star cast of music greats including Grammy® award-winners Dave Valentin and Ray Barretto, along with other legends of the salsa and jazz scene. An eclectic mix of pop, salsa, Hip-hop and world rhythms, this incredible project brings together the sounds of traditional and contemporary music with commercial appeal to a broad and diverse audience.
Ricky has been on a number of television shows, including Saturday Night Live, MAD TV, Good Morning America, Today Show, CBS Morning Show, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, and American Idol. Awards shows he's been on include the Grammy® Awards, Latin GRAMMY Awards and several Billboard Awards ceremonies. He can also be seen on the live HBO special, Marc Anthony – The Concert from Madison Square Garden.
Ricky's brilliant piano and keyboard work can be heard on many film soundtracks and underscores, most notably The Mambo Kings (1992) and My Blue Heaven (1990). He has also contributed his orchestration and arranging skills to countless major and independent films.
