Ricky Gonzalez

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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 U.S. 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: 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 Gonzalez has been a musician all his life – playing drums by age three and consequently teaching himself piano at age thirteen. The young prodigy began touring with Latin-jazz legend Ray Barretto’s band as pianist at age sixteen. 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 commercial Salsa, Hip-hop and world rhythms, this incredible project brings together the sounds of traditional and contemporary music with appeal to a broad and diverse audience.
Television
Television appearances include: Saturday Night Live, American Idol, MAD TV, Good Morning America, Today Show, CBS Morning Show, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, the Rosie O’Donnell Show along with award shows: the Grammy® Awards, Latin Grammys and several Billboard Awards ceremonies. He can also be seen on the live HBO special, “Marc Anthony – The Concert From Madison Square Garden”.
Film
His brilliant piano and keyboard work can be heard on many film soundtracks and underscores, most notably “The Mambo Kings”(1992), “My Blue Heaven”(1990). He has also contributed his orchestration and arranging skills to countless major and independent films.
DISCOGRAPHY
Below is a partial listing of CD recordings featuring Ricky Gonzalez - as producer, arranger or session player (in many cases, all three).
• JENNIFER LOPEZ
J.Lo........................................................ .....................(Sony)
• TITO NIEVES
I Like It Like That........................................................ ..(RMM)
Dale Cara a La Vida.......................................................( RMM)
• GILBERTO SANTA ROSA
De Corazón.................................................... ...(Sony Tropical)
Eséncia.................................................... ..........(Sony Tropical)
Live From Carnegie Hall......................................(Sony Tropical)
De Cara Al Viento...............................................(Sony Tropical)
A Dos Tiempos De Un Tiempo..........................................(Sony)
• CELIA CRUZ
Tributo A Ismael Rivera...................................................(Fa nia)
• CELIA CRUZ/RAY BARRETTO
Ritmo En El Corazón (Grammy® Winner, 1990).................(Fania)
• RAY BARRETTO
Soy Dichoso..................................................... ...............(Fania)
Irresistible (Grammy® Nominee).....................................(Fania)
Aqui Se Puede....................................................... ..........(Fania)
Todo Se Va’ Poder....................................................... ....(Fania)
• JOSE ALBERTO "El Canario"
On Time........................................................ ..................(RMM)
Llegó La Hora........................................................ ...........(RMM)
Back to the Mambo....................................................... ....(RMM)
Herido...................................................... ..............(RykoLatino)
El Canario..................................................... .........(Viva Discos)
Then and Now.........................................(Universal Music Latino)
• JUAN LUIS GUERRA
Bachata Rosa........................................................ .........(Karen)
• BRENDA K. STARR
Atrévete A Olvidarme...................................(Boss Entertainment)
• MECANO
Bailando Salsa....................................................... ...........(BMG)
• OBIE BERMUDEZ
Confesiones................................................. ...(EMI International)
• ROSELYN SANCHEZ
Borinqueña................................................. ...(RCA International)
• CHEO FELICIANO
Motivos..................................................... ...........(RMM Records)
• DOMINIC
Soy Como Soy......................................................... ...(Prestigio)
Mi Gran Sueno....................................................... .....(Prestigio)
Niégalo Todo........................................................ ........(Caiman)
• MICHAEL STUART
Retratos.................................................... .......................(RMM)
Sin Miedo....................................................... ..................(RMM)
• GEORGE LAMOND
Un Mundo Diferente/A Different World...........................(Prestigio)
• LOS SONEROS DEL BARRIO
Remembranzas................................................ .....(Rumba Jams)
Siguiendo La Tradicion...........................................(Rumba Jams)
• TONY VEGA
Hoy Quiero Cantarte.................................................... ......(RMM)
• RAULIN ROSENDO
Dominicano Soy......................................................... ........(A&E)
Llegó La Ley......................................................... ..............(A&E)
Sonero Que El Pueblo Prefiere.............................................(A& E)
Mama Vieja....................................................... .......(Day Dance)
Que Se Cuiden Los Soneros...................................... (Day Dance)
• CONJUNTO CLÁSICO
Tus Dulces Labios...................................................... ...(Lo Mejor)
Clásico De Nuevo....................................................... ........(RMM)
• GRUPO TRÁNSITO
La Nueva Combinacion................................................( L&T Records)
• LOUIE RAMIREZ
El Genio....................................................... ...........(L&T Records)
• LOUIE RAMIREZ/RAY DE LA PAZ
Prepárate Bailador.................................................... ...........(RMM)
Otra Noche Caliente.................................................... .........(RMM)
•RAY SEPULVEDA
De Todo Un Poco........................................................ .........(RMM)
Llegaste Tu.......................................................... ...............(RMM)
• JOHNNY RIVERA
Paisajes De La Vida........................................................ ......(RMM)
Un Estilo Propio...................................................... ..............(RMM)
• PETE "El Conde" RODRIGUEZ
Generaciones................................................ ....................(Marcas)
•ISIDRO INFANTE
& La Elite....................................................... ...................(Marcas)
& La Elite 2........................................................... ............(Marcas)
Licencia Para Engañar.................................................... .......(RMM)
• JIMMY BOSCH
Salsa Dura........................................................ .........(RykoLatino)
• FERNANDO VILLALONA
El Mayimbe/Todo................................................ ..................(A&G)
• SON BORICUA feat. JIMMY SABATER
"Mo"........................................................ ...........................(Cobo)
• ASSORTED ARTISTS
RMM Tributo A Selena...................................................... ...(RMM)
• ROBERTO BLADES
Veo, Siento Y Canto.....................................................(C ache/Fania)
La Orq. Inmensidad.................................................. .........(Fania)
• GEORGE DELGADO
Mi Ritmo Llegó...................................................... ....(Rumba Jams)
• MICKEY TAVERAS
Mas Romántico.................................................. .................(Karen)
• DANNY ROJO
Regálame Tu Amor........................................................ (MasMusic)
• ALEX BUENO
El Jardín Prohibido................................................... ...........(Karen)
• COSTA BRAVA
De Santa Isabel...................................................... ......(HitMakers)
• YORMAN D'LEON
Caminando Hacia El Futuro...................................................(RM M)
LATIN'JAZZ RECORDINGS
• MONGO SANTAMARIA
Brazilian Sunset (Live at Birdland).....................................(Candid)
• FANIA ALL-STARS
Guasasa..................................................... ........................(Fania)
• DANIEL PONCE
Chango Te Llama.....................................................(I sland/Mango)
• LOUIE RAMIREZ
King of Latin Vibes (Winner, Premio ACE 1992)......................(Sugar)
• SEXY SALSA (Vols.1& 2).......................................................... (G&B)
• NY LATIN JAZZ ALL-STARS......................................(Alpha, Japan Release)
FILM SCORES & SOUNDTRACKS
• MY BLUE HEAVEN.....................................(SteveMartin, Rick Moranis)
• THE MAMBO KINGS..............................(Armand Assante, A. Banderas)
• Q & A........................................................... ........(Timothy Hutton)
• DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE.........................................(Bruce Willis)
HIT SINGLES
• TITO NIEVES
- "I Like It Like That"
- "Como Niño Celoso"
- "Without You"
• GILBERTO SANTA ROSA
- "Peligro"
- "Yo No Te Pido"
• JOSE ALBERTO “El Canario”
- "A La Hora Que Me Llamen Voy”
- "Lo Que Quiero Es Salsa”
- "Me Dejó Picao”
- "Clavado En Un Bar”
- "Fati Mata"
• RAULIN ROSENDO
- "Uno Se Cura"
- "Malas Y Buenas"
- "Mama Vieja"
- "Lady Laura"
• DOMINIC
- "Soy Tuyo"
- "Niégalo Todo"
- "Lloran Las Rosas"
• MICKEY TAVERAS
- "Amor Entre Tus Dedos"
• RAY SEPULVEDA
- "La Dama De Mis Amores" (feat. Tito Nieves)
- "Alguien Te Esta Hablando Mal De Mí"
• RAY BARRETTO
- "Préstame Tu Mujer"
- "No Te Quedes Sin Bailar"
For more info, visit Ricky's official website: www.rickygee.com