TALENT

Ricardo Peña's Milestone:
Ricardo Peña: Lead vocal, piano and guitar
Ed Edwards: Guitar and vocals
Micky Donofrio: Bass and vocals
Michael Berry: Drums
Emily McKay: Vocals and hand percussion
Pascal Valcasara: Sax, Keyboards and vocals
*We also perform with different Conga players when we do more Latin material.

Biography
Ricardo's versatility in musical styles and strong abilities as a singer, pianist, and guitarist have given him the opportunity to work with top blues, country, rock, and salsa bands. His credits include sharing the stage with blues legends such as Koko Taylor, Charlie Musselwhite, and Robben Ford. He has performed showcases, concerts and other club dates with numerous acts in Buffalo, Rochester, Nashville, New York City, San Francisco, Denver and many Midwestern cities.

Ricardo's music training began at the early age of five in Mexico City, where he grew up. Over the next 11 years he studied piano with several teachers and attended the National Conservatory of Music. At this time, he began learning guitar and singing on his own. After moving to the United States (1985), he received classical training in piano performance at the State University of New York in Buffalo. During that time, Ricardo had the opportunity to learn from the world-renowned Russian classical pianist, Vladimir Feltsman.

After college, Ricardo furthered his training by immersing himself deeply into the blues. He learned more piano, guitar and singing through endless hours of listening to artists such as Ray Charles, B.B. King, Robben Ford, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, as well as many old boogie-woogie players. Although Ricardo already belonged to several amateur rock ‘n’ roll bands, he began his professional career as a pianist playing blues.

All of his training combined with many years of experience playing clubs, concerts, and studio sessions, have made Ricardo a very capable and refined musician.

As a struggling musician in need of more gigs, Ricardo also joined a salsa band, which put him back in touch with his Latin roots. Thus began his journey to explore a great diversity in musical styles. Ricardo has always been heavily influenced by rock artists such as The Beatles, Billy Joel, the Eagles, and Santana, by classical greats such as Beethoven and Chopin, and the Latin American music he grew up with, including Los Panchos. As a professional musician expanding his interests, he studied and performed the music of such great jazz artists as Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, Latin artists Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Ruben Blades, and country artists such as Vince Gill and Albert Lee.

His time in Buffalo was the formative stage for him as a musician. He had the chance to play with top local artists and gain invaluable experience. After nine years, he was ready to move on. Although places like New York or Nashville were obvious relocation choices and definitely professionally appealing, his finances were extremely tight, and Ricardo had something else inspiring him. As a child, he was taken on a hike to Popocatepetl, a 17,800 foot volcano overlooking Mexico City, and has loved mountains ever since.

While in Colorado, Ricardo's musical career has flourished. He formed his band Milestone with then partner Alfonso Murillo. Ricardo sang lead, played guitar and keyboards, and Alfonso played guitar. They decided to explore what they called "Latin rock," Afro-Cuban rhythms with elements of rock and blues. The original line up included Ace Rodriguez on bass and Danny Cresap on drums. The band went through changes while playing extensively in the area, and eventually recruited Paul Marchetti on drums, Danny Olaizola on congas and Mickey Donofrio on bass. With this strong line up, Ricardo produced Milestone's album Our Truth in 1997. He contributed greatly to the CD. Not only did he produce the CD, he wrote and arranged the majority of songs on the album, he sang lead on all the tracks, played organ, piano, requinto, a bit of percussion, some bass, back up vocals, and spotlighted some of his own lead guitar playing.

Throughout the years, Milestone players and its repertoire have evolved to cover a wider range of music, including Latin jazz and Cuban music. Ricardo reformed Milestone with guitarist Chris Malley, percussionist Eric Robnett, and back-up vocalist, Rebecca Folsom. Ricardo and Rebecca have since formed a successful working relationship that has lasted and grown over many years- Rebecca sang back-ups for Milestone, and Milestone backed Rebecca. It was during this time that they recorded Many Miles, produced by Ricardo. Ricardo sings lead and backup vocals, and he plays some lead guitar as well as piano and hammond organ on this album.

"Peña is a wonder on lead guitar, piano/keyboards and vocals."
~The Southern Mirror

During his time in Colorado, Ricardo and Milestone have gained a faithful following of fans. "They're great – the best rhythm I've heard in a long time," said Lisa Hatch, a listener who was quoted in Denver's La Voz magazine in December, 2003. He can also be heard as a featured player with other popular acts in Colorado including Rebecca Folsom, La Candela, Maynard Mills, Lionel Young, Sam Mayfield and many others.

Ricardo has become well known by many of Colorado's top musicians. He is developing a reputation not only as an extremely versatile and talented musician, but also as an accomplished producer and studio musician. He has produced more than 15 CD's, demos and recording projects over the last 8 years. His latest album of originals, entitled The Future Is Here, was released in April of 2003. The CD was reviewed in the internationally distributed magazine for Spanish speaking musicians and professionals in the music industry- (translated) Peña's "voice projects... strong and clear.... (and) his lyrics flow in both languages while his music is solid with a tight band that sails through different styles with ease."

Ricardo has been recognized with many honors, including nominations for Western New York's Best Blues Keyboardist, Best Country Keyboardist, and Best Local Band. Westword's The Best of Denver 1997 awarded the Lionel Young Band, for which Ricardo was playing keyboards, the title of Best Blues Band. Music critics and fans alike have always been impressed with Ricardo's talent. The Buffalo News called Ricardo's performance "energetic and appealing" and applauded his display of "outstanding musicianship and vocal talent." To quote The Southern Mirror's Entertainment Review, "Peña is a wonder on lead guitar, piano/keyboards and vocals."

RICARDO PEÑA & MILESTONE
SONGLIST SAMPLER
These are partial lists only. Many more selections are available in the repertoire.

JAZZ
All of Me
All The Things You Are
Anthropology
As Time Goes By
Autumn Leaves
Blue in Green
Blue Monk
Equinox
Giant Steps
God Bless The Child
Green Dolphin Street
How High The Moon
It Had To Be You
Lady Bird
Lover Man
Misty
Round Midnight
Scrapple from the apple
So What
Song For My Father
Straight No Chaser

SALSA / LATIN JAZZ / LATIN ROCK
El Cuarto De Tula ~ Buena Vista Social Club
The Girl From Ipanema ~ Jobim
Oye Como Va ~ Tito Puente
Juan Pachanga ~ Ruben Blades
Estoy ~ Ruben Blades
Guantanamera ~ Cuban Traditional
Café ~ Eddie Palmieri
Palo Pa Rumba ~ Eddie Palmieri
Vive Y Vacila ~ Ray Barretto
Black Orpheus
Besame Mucho ~ C. Velázques
Blue Bossa
How Insensitive ~ Jobim
Waking Up On Isla ~ Ricardo Peña
Evil Ways ~ Santana
Jingo ~ Santana
Smooth ~ Santana
Corazón Espinado ~ Maná/Santana
Black Magic Woman ~ Santana
La Bamba ~ Ritchie Valens
Sangre Mexicana ~ Ricardo Peña
One Note Samba ~ Jobim
Samba De Orfeu
Sin Ti ~ Los Panchos
Sin Un Amor ~ Los Panchos
Europa ~ Santana
Son De La Loma ~ Miguel Matamoros
Lagrimas Negras ~ Miguel Matamoros

SWING
Breaking up the house
Between the devil and the deep blue sea
Don’t Get Around Much Any More
Is You Is or Is You Ain’t my Baby
I’ve got Rhythym
Satin Doll
Take the A Train

R&B / BLUES
Ain=t No Sunshine ~ Bill Withers
Before You Accuse Me ~ Eric Clapton
Chain of Fools ~ Aretha Franklin
Further On Up The Road ~ Eric Clapton
Georgia On My Mind ~ Ray Charles
Hard Times ~ Ray Charles
Hard To Handle ~ Otis Redding
The House Is Rockin= ~ Stevie Ray Vaughn
How Blue Can You Get ~ BB King
I Feel Good ~ James Brown
Let The Good Times Roll ~ BB King
Love Her With A Feeling ~ Freddie King
Midnight Hour ~ Wilson Pickett
Mustang Sally ~ Wilson Pickett
Pride & Joy ~ Stevie Ray Vaughn
Respect ~ Aretha Franklin
Rockin= Pneumonia ~ Johnny Rivers
Scuttle Buttin= ~ Stevie Ray Vaughn
Think ~ Aretha Franklin
Talk to Your Daughter~ Robben Ford
Tore Down ~ Eric Clapton
What=d I Say ~ Ray Charles

CLASSICAL
Fur Elise ~ Beethoven
Sonata Pathetique ~ Beethoven
Bridal Chorus ~ Wagner
Wedding March ~ Mendelssohn
Minuet in G Minor ~ Bach
Sonatina in G ~ Beethoven
Minuet in D Minor ~ Bach
Sonatina in C ~ Clementi
Sonatina in F ~ Beethoven
Avalanche ~ Heller
Solfeggieto~CPE Bach
Invention No. 8 ~ Bach
Sonata Opus. 49, No. 2 ~ Beethoven
Sonata K. 545 ~ Mozart
Nocturne in Eb ~ Chopin
Prelude in C Minor ~ Chopin
Prelude in E Minor ~ Chopin

OLDIES & 50S ROCK N ROLL
Roll Over Beethoven ~ Chuck Berry
Great Balls Of Fire ~ Jerry Lee Lewis
Blue Suede Shoes ~ Carl Perkins
Lucille ~ Little Richard
Do You Love Me
Twist and Shout ~ Beatles
Young Blood ~ The Searchers
Be Bop a Lula ~ Gene Vincent
What=d I Say ~ Ray Charles
La Bamba ~ Ritchie Valens
Long Tall Sally ~ Little Richard
Rockin= Pneumonia ~ Huey APiano@ Smith

POP / FOLK
This Masquerade ~ Leon Russell
Danny’s song-Loggins and Messina
Soak Up The Sun ~ Sheryl Crow
Lost In Love ~ Air Supply
Bridge Over Troubled Water ~ Simon & Garfunkel
The Boxer~Simon & Garfunkel
Galileo ~ Indigo Girls
Homeward Bound ~ Simon & Garfunkel
New York State of Mind ~ Billy Joel
She=s Always a Woman ~ Billy Joel
Have A Little Faith In Me ~ Delbert McClinton
Leaving On a Jet Plane ~ Peter, Paul & Mary

It Could=ve Been Me ~ Ricardo Peña
Mrs. Robinson ~ Simon & Garfunkel
Piano Man ~ Billy Joel
Your Song ~ Elton John
Angel ~ Sarah McLachlan
More Than Words ~ Extreme
True Companion ~ Marc Cohn
For My Wedding ~ Don Henley
Peaceful Easy Feeling ~ Eagles
Yesterday ~Beatles
Something ~ Beatles
Hey Jude ~ Beatles
Love Me ~ Collin Raye
Imagine ~ John Lennon
Not That Different ~ Collin Raye
Making Love Out of Nothing at All ~ Air Supply
Killing Me Softly ~ Roberta Flack
She=s Got A Way ~ Billy Joel
The Game of Love~ Michelle Branch/Santana
You Are The Sunshine of My Life ~ Stevie Wonder
The Long and Winding Road ~ Beatles

CLASSIC ROCK
Takin= Care of Business ~ BTO
Ramblin= Man ~ Allman Brothers
Take It Easy ~ Eagles
Already Gone ~ Eagles
Bring It On Home ~ Sam Cooke
Back In the USSR ~ Beatles
I Feel Fine ~ Beatles
Come Together ~ Beatles
Love Will Keep Us Alive ~ Eagles
Learning To Fly ~ Tom Petty
Authority Song ~ John Cougar Mellencamp
Can=t Get Enough ~ Bad Company
Call Me The Breeze ~ Lynyrd Skynyrd
Hard To Handle ~ Black Crows
The Real Thing ~ Delbert McClinton
Mean Mr. Mustard ~ Beatles
Polythene Pam ~ Beatles
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window ~ Beatles
Golden Slumbers ~ Beatles
Carry That Weight ~ Beatles
The End ~ Beatles
The Letter ~ Joe Cocker
Scenes From An Italian Restaurant ~ Billy Joel
Moving Out~ Billy Joel

COUNTRY / COUNTRY ROCK
Already Gone ~ Eagles
But Not To You ~ Ricardo Peña
Cowboy Take Me Away ~ Dixie Chicks
Every Second ~ Collin Raye
I Feel Lucky ~ Mary Chapin Carpenter
Liza Jane ~ Vince Gill
Look At Us ~ Vince Gill
New Kid In Town ~ Eagles
One Of These Days ~ Mark Willis
Peaceful Easy Feeling ~ Eagles
Ready to Run ~ Dixie Chicks
She=s Hot To Go ~ Lyle Lovett
Some Days You Gotta Dance ~ Dixie Chicks
Take It Easy ~ Eagles
Tennessee Waltz
Wrapped Around ~ Brad Paisley
Willin= ~ The Band