Ralph Irizarry
American percussionist and bandleader known for Latin jazz.
Ralph Irizarry (18 July 1954 – 5 September 2021) was an American percussionist, bandleader, and studio musician. He played on jingles, film and television scores, and his distinctive playing style left an indelible mark on the artists with whom he performed. He performed, recorded, and toured with Harry Belafonte, David Byrne, Celia Cruz, Paquito D'Rivera, Juan Luis Guerra, Earl Klugh, Israel Lopez 'Cachao', Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, and many others.
- born
- 18 July 1954, Spanish Harlem, New York
- died
- 5 September 2021, Brooklyn, New York
- field
- Percussionist, bandleader, studio musician
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Founder of Timbalaye, member of Seis Del Solar, work with Rubén Blades and Ray Barretto
Lore & Background
Ralph Irizarry was born in New York's Spanish Harlem on 18 July 1954 to Puerto Rican parents. His family moved to Brooklyn, then Queens, and finally relocated to Puerto Rico in 1970. There, he spent three years gaining musical training and experience, joining Ponce's La Terrífica and playing with Sonora Ponceña. In 1974, he returned to New York City to pursue a professional music career. After playing with local groups for almost four years, Ray Barretto invited him to join his orchestra, and they recorded six productions together. In April 1983, Rubén Blades invited Irizarry to join in the formation of Seis Del Solar, an association that lasted about seven years (1983–1990) and produced eight recordings. After Blades left, the group continued performing and recorded two Latin jazz albums.
Reader's Guide
Ralph Irizarry's significance lies in his role as a versatile percussionist who bridged Latin music and jazz. His work with Ray Barretto and Rubén Blades placed him at the center of the salsa and Latin jazz movements of the 1970s and 1980s. In 1996, he created Timbalaye, a Latin jazz septet that replaced the typical drum set with Latin percussion instruments, blending contemporary jazz with rhythms from Latin America, Africa, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Timbalaye released albums in 1998, 2000, and 2003. Irizarry also appeared on television shows including the Johnny Carson Show, the David Letterman Show, Sabado Gigante, and Siempre en Domingo, and was featured in the film The Mambo Kings and documentaries such as Belafonte's Routes of Rhythm and Cachao's Como Mi Ritmo No Hay Dos. His legacy endures through his recordings and the influence of his distinctive playing style.
Did You Know?
- Irizarry played on jingles, film and television scores.
- He appeared on the Johnny Carson Show and the David Letterman Show.
- He was featured in the film The Mambo Kings.
- He died on 5 September 2021 due to multiple organ failure caused by a bacterial lung infection leading to septic shock.
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