Ricardo Griego

Ricardo Andrés Griego is a native of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Passionate, exciting, and versatile are words that describe this incredible Latin guitar sensation. A master of the classical and electric guitars, as well as the distinctive Puerto Rican cuatro, “El Gato” blazes in a number of musical styles including Classical, Latin and Flamenco. Ricardo is descended from Spanish settlers who came to New Mexico over four hundred years ago, who also blended with Native Americans of the region. As Ricardo grew up as a typical American teenager he was sustained by this rich cultural heritage, including its music. After early training on the electric guitar, he took up the classical guitar at age 14, which Ricardo credits with giving him musical discipline and a new inspiration. He went on to study classical guitar at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a scholarship student. Upon graduating, he proceeded to earn his master’s degree from the University of Southern California. He stayed in Los Angeles after USC to play with a variety of groups and he further internalized the sounds and rhythms of a broader spectrum of Latin music, including salsa and flamenco. While in L.A., Ricardo played with Sangre Sabia, Francis X, actor/singer Valentina Vargas, Michelle Greene (L.A. Law), Alfonso Johnson (Santana/Abraxis). Ricardo returned to Albuquerque to get in touch with his roots and he formed two Nuevo Flamenco/Latin groups. During this period, “Mírame”, a vocal composition by Ricardo and Valentina Vargas, enjoyed national radio play. Also, Ricardo’s instrumental composition “Spanish Rice”received the MIC Award for Best Latin Production. “El Gato” self produced “Sombras”, an instrumental CD containing his original music. Seeking broader musical experiences, Ricardo moved to Las Vegas in 2003. Since then, he has created a buzz as a soloist and in producing a full scale show, complete with singers, flamenco and salsa dancers, and featuring his hot band Zorro. Ricardo Griego has enjoyed sharing the bill with a broad variety of acclaimed artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Tower of Power, Esteban, Los Lobos, Malo, Charlie Zaa and Elvis Crespo.