Ricardo barboza is a venezuelan multi-faceted singer-songwriter and performer in the toronto latin music scene. Ricardo was born in Maracaibo Venezuela. He grew up in a family full of musicians which have inspired him to pursue music from a very early age. In 2004, Ricardo moved to Canada where he has continued to follow his family’s footsteps. He’s been part of many renown salsa bands in Toronto such as Salsotika, Café Cubano, Son de aquí, La Borinqueña, Son Ache, Lacalu, and Lula All Stars (LAS). With this last one, Ricardo recorded the band’s debut CD called “Salsa De La Buena!”, in which he was featured with 3 songs, two originals Esto Es Canadá, Y Pensaba Yo, and Mercedes , a special cover tribute to the late Venezuelan singer and Grammy Award-winning composer, Simón Díaz.
Ricardo’s solo artist career fully took off in 2014 writing original compositions and performing as a solo artist with his 10-piece band. Ricardo, has also shared stage performances with many well-known artists such as Tito Rojas, Herman Olivera, Jimmy Bosh, Roberto Blades, Luisito Carrion, Alfredo de la Fe and Ralphy Irrizary, Jorge Luis Rojitas to name a few. He has been fortunate enough to take part in many of Toronto’s music and cultural festivals such as TD Jazz Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, Salsa On St. Clair by TLN (Telelatino) & Univision Canada, Dancing On The Pier at the Toronto Harbourfront Centre, and the latest PANAMania Music Festival during the 2015 PANAM Games, among others. That same year Ricardo became a father and dedicated more of his time to his family, to playing the guitar and writing music.
In 2020, Ricardo debuted on all digital music platforms with a romantic salsa single “Donde Esta El Amor”, and later that year he released, another single, this time it was a fusion of Rumba and Latin Pop called “LOCO”. In 2021, Ricardo changed gears and and teamed up with renown musicians from his native Venezuela, including Rodrigo Mendoza, the legendary lead singer of La Dimension Latina, and Ricardo’s brother Francisco Barboza (aka. FranAzuka), a multitalented percussionist and music producer who has worked with a many musicians from the Venezuelan latin scene, such as Los Blanco Orchestra, Happy Gaita Band and Argenis Carruyo Orchestra. This new partnership – which Rodrigo Menzdoza named “The Perfect Trilogy”, created a fresh salsa masterpiece written by his good friend Pabloski Rosales, called La Ley Del Vacilon,
Currently, Ricardo resides in Toronto- Canada, writing new music inspired by the Venezuelan old school salsa and folkloric music from his hometown in Maracaibo, Zulia-Venezuela. In spite of physical distancing, Ricardo is recording remotely with many musicians throughout Latin America, and is planning on releasing three new singles featuring two international salsa Icons before the end of 2021, and producing his new debut album for 2022.