RICARDO SCALES

A man with the genius and vivacity of Ricardo Scales was born to be noticed. It wasn't long after he began playing piano at San Francisco's historic Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel that Ricardo attracted the attention of critics, musicians, and concert-goers alike. Artists such as Billy Joel, Harry Connick, Jr., Liza Minelli, and Joe Cocker are among the many who visited Ricardo at the Redwood Room during his 14-year tenure there to join him on a number or two. For the next 23 years, he performed at another historic venue, the Top of the Mark in San Francisco, and remains to this day the performer who provides the entertainment for their special events.

Ricardo has performed for five United States Presidents, as well as our current Vice-President, Kamala Harris, countless diplomats, heads of state, and foreign dignitaries (including a private concert requested by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair). He has shared concert billing with such diverse notables as Debbie Reynolds, The Commodores, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls, Tom Jones, Eddie Fisher, Jerry Vale, Nelson Rangell, Jeff Linsky, SpyroGyra, The Temptations, and Kenny Lattimore, just to name a few. He is the preferred pianist of former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who raves that Ricardo's dynamic performance will surely "cement him and his orchestra into classical/smooth jazz history."

Ricardo has also recorded thirty-one CDs to International critical acclaim including his recent 2022 release “My Piano Dances With Me.” In 2008 his CD "I'm Here" brought him a nomination from Billboard Magazine's Music Awards for "Album of the Year" in the Latin Jazz category, a testament to his versatility as an artist. His CDs contain his arrangements of highly recognizable favorites and his own original compositions, many of which are in regular rotation on national & international radio stations. His television work includes "The Top of the Town" (Theme Song), "People Are Talkin" (KPIX), and "Parenthood" (Ron Howard’s Production, Pilot Episode). Also accomplished as a producer and arranger, Ricardo owns and operates his own studio and has produced many of his own recordings, as well as those of other artists.

Ricardo's musical education began at the age of 5, with his mother, renowned music teacher Patience Scales (California Who's Who, & founder of the “Parade of Youth”) as his first teacher. He continued his musical studies through the public school system from the 4th to the 12th grades, performing in the concert band & orchestra, playing piano, trombone (1st chair), and baritone horn. During that time, he also marched in the Boys Club of America Band. Ricardo also attended the San Francisco Conservatory on scholarship for 8 years, (4 of those years under the tutelage of one of the founders, Mrs Lillian Hodgehead). He studied Jazz under John Handy at San Francisco State University and was a music accompanist for the Modern Jazz Dance, Ballet, and Gymnastics Departments.

Perhaps Ricardo's versatility is connected with his popular success. Able to deliver smooth background jazz for museum openings, party-starting funk for fund-raisers, elegant classical for political forums, or danceable favorites for weddings, wine festivals, or nightclubs in which he instinctively knows just the note to hit for different audiences. This impressive repertoire, in combination with talent and tenacity, cinches Ricardo as one of today's most exciting performers and composers who will surely earn him a seat among San Francisco's very finest musicians of all time. Conservatory-trained, Ricardo has mastered practically every genre of music, including classical, jazz, gospel, funk, and R&B. He is a tireless and riveting performer who never lets his audience down!