Ricardo Marrero

US latin salsa pianist, arranger, composer, music director and band leader (1951 NYC).
Born in Harlem, he grew up in a family where music played a significant role. At LaGuardia High School of Music and Art he began to put a band together. Through word of mouth the group gained a fair amount of fame and began playing in clubs and especially at weddings. Toward the end of the 60s Marrero made a few recordings with Latin jazz legend Bobby Marin, issuing a single under a name Richie And The PS 54 School Yard. In 1975 he decided to go into business for himself by founding the label "Yu Qui Yu Records" and an outfit called Ricardo Marrero & The Group. In the same year he signed a licensing deal with the label of Don King, the legendary manager of Muhammed Ali, who re-released "Babalonia" for the fourth time achieving a certain success. But despite this, after 3 albums Marrero dissolved the partnership due to the usual internal conflicts. In the 80s he became founding member of Ruben Blades' famous and highly successful Seis Del Solar outfit.