Rick Zunigar- Guitarist: Bio

www.rickzunigar.com
For jazz guitarist Rick Zunigar, music has consistently been an integral part of his life. Born in Queens, N.Y. of proud parents native to Puerto Rico, Rick was immersed in an environment of cultural and musical diversity. Ricks gift for music originated from his mother who sang and performed at Radio City Music Hall. Rick grew up listening to salsa and jazz, and within him grew a desire to learn the art of music. It wasnt long before Rick discovered his true love: the guitar. The inspiration to play the guitar came from Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass. By the age of seventeen Rick had already hit the professional scene, building an enormous track record that now includes performances, recordings, and tours with many music greats like Freddie Hubbard, Cal Tjader, Jimmy Smith ,Willie Bobo, Stevie Wonder and many more. Ricks extensive work has exposed him to multiple styles of music and enabled him to develop a limitless repertoire of musical styles. Ricks mainstay continues to be jazz; however, he enjoys incorporating all kinds of music into his playing, like bebop, Latin. R&B, and Fusion. This is exemplified in Ricks first solo recording New Frontier (Headfirst). Now released is Ricks latest recording Rick Zunigar Organ Trio (Jazzuni) which again boast a group of jazz greats including Joe Bagg-Organ, and Mark Ferber-Drums, Rick maintains his strong conviction to the mastery of the art of improvisation and composition. Ricks goal is to reach as many people with his music; he feels he has a contribution to make in continuing the support and nurturance of the art of jazz. DISCOGRAPHY Rick Zunigar Trio-Clouds-Jazzuni Rick Zunigar-Organ trio-Jazzuni Rick Zunigar Quintet -New York Minute-Jazzuni Dave Collini-ASAP-Optimism Benn Clatworthy-While My Lady Sleeps Benn Clatworthy-One 4 Nica-Cornerstone Jazz Rick Zunigar-New Frontier-Headfirst Stevie Wonder-Conversation Peace; Natural Wonder Tour Live; Hotter Than July; Original Musicquarium One; Secret Life of Plants; In Square Circle-Motown Take Six-Join the Band-Warner Bros Little Jimmie Scott-Dream-Warner Bros Lorez Alexandria-A Woman Knows-Discovery Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway-Featuring Donny Hathaway-Atlantic Roy Ayers-No Stranger to Love-Polydor Clare Fischer-Salsa Picante, Machaca, Crazy Bird-Discovery Jermaine Jackson-Lets Get Serious-Motown Smokey Robinson-Wheres the Smoke-Tamala Michael Franks-One Bad Habit-Warner Bros Cal Tjader-Huracan-Crystal Clear Crusaders-The Good and the Bad Times-MCA High Energy-Groove Patrol-Motown Eddie Murphy-Eddie Murphy-CBS Wilton Felder-Love is a Rush-MCA

Mike Garson-The Oxnard Sessions-Reference Joe Sample-Roles-MCA LA Jazz Syndicate- LA Jazz Syndicate Miki Coltrane-I Think of You Chris Ho- Growing up Sylvia Striplin- Give me your Love Grady Harrell- Come Play With Me California Smooth Jazz-Sampler Henry Franklin- Shalabongo Nedra Wheeler- Gifts (live at birdland west) Kellee Patterson - Kellee- Shadybrook Records FILM SOUND TRACKS Francis Ford Coppola-The Outsiders-By Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder-Secret Life of Plants VIDEOS Stevie Wonder-Do I Do, Dont Drive Drunk, Motown 25, NBC Friday Night Videos CABLE TELEVISION BET on Jazz-Rick Zunigar Featuring Tony Dumas and Ralph Penland, 1995 The Jazz Network-Rick Zunigar Featuring Mulgrew Miller, 1991 PBS-The Freddie Hubbard and Pat Metheny Group Stevie Wonder-American Bandstand 30th Anniversary, American Music Awards, 1981; To Basie With Love at the Radio City Music Hall, 1982; Jay Leno, 1995; David Letterman, 1995; Soul Train 25th Anniversary Show; Top of the Pops, England, 1995; The White Room, England, 1995; Tara Tata Live, Paris, 1995; The World Music Awards, Monte Carlo, 1995 RICK ZUNIGAR BIOGRAPHY (CONTD) TOURS RickZunigar Tour Midlands England,2003 Phil Perry-Atlanta Peachtree Jazz Festival, Washington, D.C. Stevie Wonder-Crown Plaza Hotel, Melbourne, Australia, 1997; Natural Wonder Tour, 1995, Japan, Israel, Korea, Brazil, Taiwan, England, France, United Arab Emerits, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Fight Against Hunger Tour, 1995; Singapore Tour, 1993; King of Brunei Royal Celebration for the Princes Birthday, 1993; Hotter Than July Musical Picnic, 1981; Secret Life of Plants, 1980 Freddie Hubbard-Newport Jazz Festival, USA & Europe, 1979 Willie Bobo-USA Tour, 1977 Crusaders-USA, Japan tours, 1986, 1987 Queen Latifah "Trav'lin' Light" Tour 2007 CLUBS Village Gate, New York, 1992-Rick Zunigar Featuring Gerry Gibbs (drums),

Ed Howard (bass), and Kevin Hays (piano) The Baked Potato, Los Angeles-with Ronnie Foster and Justo Almario The Blue Note, New York and Tokyo-with Hubert Laws Jimmy Smiths Supper Club-with the Jimmy Smith Trio Jazz Bakery, Culver city Steamers Jazz Club, Fullerton Jax, Glendale Hals Bar & Grill, Venice Charlie O's, Valley Glen Spaghettini, Seal Beach Catalina Bar & grill, Hollywood Bakers Keyboard, Detroit OTHER FAMOUS TALENTS PLAYED WITH Sara Vaughn Chick Corea Ray Charles Joe Williams Benny Powell George Cables George Duke Patrice Rushen Coolio Mary J. Blige Ralph Tresvant Johnny Gill Tootie Heath Pancho Sanchez Jeff Porcaro John Patitucci Billy Childs Blue Mitchell Woody Shaw Ernie Watts Jeff Tain Watts Jeff Berlin Eddie Harris Lee Konitz Bobby Lyle Eddie Cleanhead Vinson Ralph Moore Marvin Smitty Smith Billy Higgins Phineas Newborn, Jr. Randy Crawford Rosemary Clooney Terri Lyne Carrington Harvey Mason Elvin Jones

Kenny Kirkland Joey DeFrancesco Ravi Coltrane Dee Dee Bridgewater Larry Bunker RICK ZUNIGAR BIOGRAPHY (CONTD) PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION & TEACHING University of California, Riverside............. Clinics & Concert Performances Cal Arts Institute, Valencia, CA................. Clinics & Concert Performances Musicians Institute-GIT, Hollywood, CA........... Private lesson, Reading, Rhythm Section Workshops, Live Playing Workshop,Clinics & Concert Performances Leeds Music School, Leeds England Clinics & Concert Performances Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham England Clinics & Concert Performances California State University Los Angeles.......... Guitar Master Class PUBLICATIONS & COMPOSITIONS Original Musical Composition for the University of Alabama Big Band Rick Zunigar-Two Five Motives for Jazz Guitar-Instruction in Jazz Improvisation PERSONAL TRAINING & AWARDS Award-Best Soloist-California State University, Long Beach Band Competition-1975 Jazz Guitar Lessons with Joe Pass Jazz Improvisation Training with Walter Bishop, Jr. University Music Studies Sammy Nestico Big Band Buddy Collette Big Band Stewart Fischer Big Band Self-training and study in Classical Music, Jazz, and mastery of Jazz Artist Transcriptions.

Rick Zunigar Contact Information Rick Zunigar My Space: http://www.myspace.com/rickzunigar Rick Zunigar Email: rickzunigar@myway.com Jazzuni Records / Looney Zuni Music 818-793-5666 Rick Zunigar You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/looneyzunimusic