RicksPage

Rick Ramos is the founder of GTS along with TW Johnson. Rick grew up in Richmond California and studied guitar from Dan Boyd @ Scalise Music on 23rd Street in Richmond. He continued training under Grant Giesman, Chuck Mangione's guitarist, after winning a scholarship to the the Stan Kenton Music clinic at 16 years of age. He played guitar @ 17 with Lady Bianca and performed with a local group named Natural Impulse. Natural Impulse was nominated by San Francisco TV personality Jay Payton for the first annual BAY AREA MUSIC AWARDS as best horn band. Bands that shared that nomination included Confunction and Tower of Power.

In 1977 Rick became a Berkeley Police Officer and it wasn't until he found a fellow Oakland Cop TW Johnson that he renewed his interest in performing.

In 1985 Rick began taking lesson from Chicago Jazz guitar great, 78 year old, Bill Tapia. ( Hawaii 50 TV series guitarist). Rick began to learn the importance of Chord structure and was influenced by Bill's love for BeBop.

In 1985 Rick became the guitarist for Little Bruce and the Billionares, where he met Latin Soul lead vocalist Tommy Nunnelly.

In 1986 Rick played lead guitar with the PHD's from Pittsburg California and this is where he met Mundi Orosco and Ramiro Amador who would later become playing and music writing partners.

1985 was also the start of the Good Times Systems band, GTS which began with Ramos, Johnson, Andy Soto on sax, Tom Fuglestad on trumpet, Nunnelly on Vocals and Jon Harlins on Bass. This band still performs together regularly. GTS has performed with many great musicians including: Norbert Statchel, Jeff Tamilier and Dave Girabaldi from Tower of Power, Tommy Castro, Lydia Pence from Cold Blood, Annie Sampson, EC Scott, Napata Mero, Al Von Johnson, Forest Wilson of the Drifters and Narada Michael Walden to name a few. In 1990 he started Ricky Rayban and The Shades, a blues revue which performed in San Francisco. The band included Linda Wiggins on Keyboards and Ramiro Amador on Bass.

Currently Rick has learned to Play the Cuban Tres and it has influenced his writing including more Salsa based grooves like: Live for today.

( Check out the MP3 on this site)

2004. Rick Traveled to Cuba and studied Tres with Coto", one of the worlds greatest tres players. He currently sits in on tres with many San Francisco based latin orchestras including: Salsa Caliente, Charanson and America.

(see video on this page)

Current Equipment list includes:

(1) Fender Robin Ford Guitars

(1) Parker Fly Artist Elite

(1) Gibson Howard Roberts Jazz Fusion.

(1) Yamaha acoustic coverted to tres by Ralph Peacock

(1) Samich Black Bird converted to tres by Subway Guitars, Berkeley.

Amps:

Mesa Boogie Mark IV with celestions

Galien Kruger Guitar combo

Effects:

Microverb