Rick

My name is Rick Rossi. I am originally from Wilmington, Delaware but have spent most of my professional life working and living in Los Angeles. Music was something I fell in love with at a very early age and I formed a band with the neighborhood kids almost as soon as I could get a sound. I played my first professional gig when I was 12 and by the time I got to high school I was simultaneously playing in 3 working bands (not including the school bands) and was gigging two or three times a week. Up until college I learned most of what I was playing on the street, ie very few formal lessons which forced me to rely on my developing my ear by listening to other players to learn how to play. IN retrospect I think it was a blessing for my jazz and R&B playing. It wasn't till my first year of college that I realized the value of also having formal training to fill in some of the cracks in my knowledge and skills. I went to The University of Delaware and Philadelphia Academy of Performing Arts for my undergrad work and then continued on to the University of Akron for a Masters in Woodwinds Performance. After playing many Vegas and Broadway type shows in Cleveland, I toured with a few bands and then headed to California and studied a little further working on composition and arranging at The Grove School of Music, in Los Angeles, which has been my home for 20 years. During those years, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some amazing musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Caldwell, Cher, Shakira, Bobby Womack, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Stanley Clarke and currently with Gregg Karukas. I have composed and arranged music for both film (Wedding Crashers, Monster In-Law) and television (Friends, Wayan Bros, Entourage), I've played saxophone and other woodwinds for many Films, TV and Commercials. I've been nominated for 3 Grammy Awards and won one in 2000. My band features some of the finest players on the West Coast whose individual credits are far to numerous to list. Go to my website at rickrossi.com for more detailed info and credits and to check out some videos of some of my bands. Also, if you're a great musician and great singer I would be interested in knowing about you and hearing a demo. I run a music agency with my very talented wife Rebecca Kyler Downs (she is a singer songwriter and actress) and we book bands for corporate and special events. We need exceptional musicians that sing for Jazz, R&B and Dance Bands. Go to rossimusic.biz to see videos to see the level of musicians and singers and to contact us if you think you're someone we should know about.