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Interview with DJ Ricardo - Nottingham |
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Written by JoJo
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Friday, 29 June 2007 |
 How, why and when did you get into salsa?
I first heard salsa music way back in about 1988. I was in Cuba on a work assignment at that time; and everywhere I went, I heard Salsa and Son being played.
I used to sit there with a drink and a cigar and watch theses guys playing for hours. The talent of these people is simply awesome.
From then on, I started to collect bits of music here and there, and the rest is history as they say…. I now have a rather large collection.
Who first taught you to dance salsa?
I never to this day ever took part in a lesson, so I’m a non-dancer. I can do a little kind of jig around and a Mambo step, usually off time. People always ask me “Why don’t you dance?” You know, I really don’t know why I never learnt. Maybe one day I’ll go for a class….
Tell me a little about your company. When, why and how was it set up?
I set up Salsa and Latin gigs in Nottingham some years ago with DJ Steve (Henry Vina’s Brother In Law), we’ve been running them together ever since. We now do gigs as “Salsa Frog” at various venues such as Isis Nightclub Nottingham, and The Approach Bar every Wednesday night….
How, when and why did you get into DJing?
I first started DJ’ing in Nottingham at Cuba Libre, many moons ago. I had all this music which I only played at home. The collecting was, and still is my greatest passion, so I thought about playing it out and using it.
I’ve been involved in DJ’ing now for about 10 years….I don’t like the way salsa has changed around the world for all this Reggaeton, R&B style salsa…This kind of music does nothing for me, and for me has spoilt the Genre of Salsa… I do understand, that people have to progress, but all this kids stuff sends me to sleep…It is only a matter of time before this music disappears. The quicker, the better…
Where do you get your inspiration from?
From many DJ’s here and around the World. I really like hearing the American DJ’s at work; like Nelson Torres, Henry Knowles from NYC, DJ Mambo-Nik from Frisco. I also get a lot of inspiration here in UK from DJ’s like - Lubi, Mauricio, Sizzla, Chris Mee, Emma Moore, Mike Parr, Dave F, Steve, El Brujo, Ian Finch, Dr. Salsa, Maverick.… I could keep going and mention many more.
I’ve been inspired and learnt from ALL of these guys. Each and everyone one of them play some great music and are a credit to the salsa scene of today, as well as being good friends.. J I also think there are a few so called “DJ’s” out there who are very poor – But we’ll leave it at that I think.!!
Who do you admire?
Many people. All the Dance Teachers / Promoters / DJ’s who keep the salsa heart beating into the future, and bring in new people to salsa…
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
I don’t have a favourite track. I enjoy so so many of them. I suppose my fav. track is the one I happen to be playing at the time – especially to see a busy dancefloor…
What are your all time favourite tracks?
Wow, again; there are so many. I like Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, Sonora Poncena, Tito Rodriguez, Orlando Marin, Eddie Palmieri, El Gran Combo - plus a lot of stuff that people have never heard of from vinyls….
What was the last CD you bought?
I can’t remember that right now. I buy LP’s (Vinyls) now. I get loads of Promo CD’s sent to me every month of many of the new and latest releases.
There’s some CD’s I’ve had laying about for ages, but haven’t had the time to listen to them yet….I do pick a few out at times and sample them, and will often play them out...
If you were not a successful DJ, what would you be doing instead? Or if you also have a full-time job, what do you do?
I’m an Optician, and have been for many years. I really like what I do, and wouldn’t choose to pack it in…
What’s your all time favourite salsa club/event that you have played?
Oooohhh that’s a tough Q: I don’t really know, I always enjoy all the things I’m doing at the time. I’ve always liked to play in more intimate / smaller venues, where you can really feel the music and see the dancers at close range. The atmosphere factor is a lot more rewarding in smaller places.
I have been very lucky with how the DJ’ing has taken me so far afield. I’ve played here at the UK Congress, NY Salsa Congress, Boston Congress, and a stack of Countries in Europe, plus lots of European gigs still to come. I think the Congress in Poland in September will one of the big gigs this year…
I now focus all my attention on gigs abroad, and have chosen to DJ less and less here.
What are your favourite artists / albums?
They’re all my favourites. It is so hard for me to pick out albums as there’s so much great music and talent out there… If I did HAVE to pick an Artist, it would probably be Hector Lavoe…
What music is in your car/cd player/tape player at the moment?
Today, I was listening to Classic FM, I love classical music. My favourite classical artist is Yitzhak Perlman a Jewish Violinist. I often grab a pile of CD’s from my case and listen to them. So it could be anything. I’ve always preferred driving to more soothing music.
Tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you?
Well… I used to Photograph Ladies for underwear and swim wear brochures for a living (No joke), I used to travel to a lot of overseas locations to shoot these pictures. No I wasn’t the perv who stood there playing pocket billiards…lol…
I was also a very good friend of the Footballer Justin Fashanu who passed away a few years back. He was a great guy who I still think about a lot, despite all the stories written about him…
BTW, I am not, nor was never Gay, LOL…
What has been your most memorable moment?
I have many memorable moments; one of them was the very recent Lyon Salsa event I played at. I was there with Slap (Serious Music Collector) and our very own Norman aka DJ Sizzla. We were treated SO well by people there. Everyone was generous, friendly, and it was a fabulous weekend. (see Sizzla’s Blog pages). Lol.
Have you had any embarrassing/nightmare-ish moments in salsa?
Sometimes you get the odd moment, e.g. when a track stops of it’s own accord, or the sound system shuts down. They’re freaky moments, and everyone looks up and cheers like you don’t know what you’re doing…..Well I don’t half the time…. But I think every DJ has this kind of thing happen at times.
I was recently talking to Henry Knowles on the phone, and he mentioned about a few corrupted tracks in his Laptop which caused problems….Sh*t happens from time to time….
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes, I’d like to say… Thank you to Salsa Central for wanting to interview me, I think this site is long overdue, and will be a great success.
All the very best to Mel C, Steve, JoJo and one of my best buddies “The Sizzla”
Thanks again…
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