Ricky was born in Opelousas, Louisiana. He started taking drum lessons at the age of eight. He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana on a full scholarship and later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He returned to New Orleans in 1976 and started working professionally. In the next six years, he gained experience playing different styles of music such as Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Traditional New Orleans music, Carnival music, Brazilian, Reggea, Calypso, Funk, Rock, R&B, Cajun, and Zydeco. He moved to New York City in 1983 where he built a career as an in demand recording and touring artist that spanned 16 years. Ricky moved back to New Orleans in 1999 and was an instructor at University of New Orleans under the direction of Ellis Marsalis. He returned to New York in 2004 to re-establish his career. Due to an accident, Ricky was obliged to return to New Orleans three months before hurricane Katrina struck. He is now residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is currently working with Tania Maria and B.J. Crosby. Ricky released his first CD as a leader in 2001 entitled “The Spirit Within” on STR Digital Records featuring the likes of Donald Harrison Jr.,
Bill Summers, Steve Masakowski, Randy Brecker, and Peter Martin. He has also completed a drum set instruction book/CD entitled “Independence on the Drum Set”, published by Hal Leonard. He is an active clinician for Pearl drums, Zildjian cymbals, LP percussion, Remo drumheads, Audix Microphones, and Pro-Mark drumsticks.
Performances
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Mike Stern
Jaco Pastorius Exuma
Paul Butterfield Dori Cayimi
Les McCann Michael Franks
Nnenna Freelon Harry Belafonte
Dr. John Charles Neville
Emily Remler Jerry Gonzalez
Dave Valentin Chico Freeman
Larry Coryell Dianne Reeves
David "Fathead" Newman Ellis Marsalis
Vanessa Rubin Claudio Roditi
Blood, Sweat, & Tears John Lucien
John Scofield BobbyMcFerrin
Chuck Rainey DelmarBrown
Charles Fambrough Othello Molineaux
George Porter Herbie Mann
Leni Stern Cornell Dupree
Tania Maria Kevin Mahogany
Don Alias Carlos Malta
Donald Harrison Jr JoAnne Brackeen
Los Hombres Calientes B.J. Crosby
Patrick DeSantos
Album Credits
Ron Cuccia and the Jazz Poetry Group
Steve Masakowski "Mars" & "What it Was"
Ramsey McClean "History Makes Every Moment"
Exuma "Exuma Universal"
Delmar Brown "Bushrock - State of Mind"
Lawrence Seiberth "Shadow Love" & "Heartstings"
Gil Evans "Color of Money Soundtrack"
Herbie Mann "Opal Essence", "Caminho de Casa" , "Peace Pieces" , "Live at the Blue Note - 65th Birthday Celebration", “America/Brasil”
Emily Remler "This is Me"
Tribute to Emily Remler "Just Friends Vol. 1 & 2”
Steve Barta “Blue River”
Alex Foster “Beginnings...Goodbye”
Bill O’Connell “Signature” & “Lost Voices”
Charles Fambrough “Blues at Bradleys” & “City Tribes”
Adela Dalto “A Brazilian Affair” & “Papa Boco”
Jack Lee “Magnolia Blossom”
Mark Bingham “I Passed for Human”
Mary Wilson “Rhythm Romance”
Daryll Dobson “The Mind Electric”
Tania Maria “Outrageous”, “No Comment”, “Live in Europe”
Rusty Cloud “Walkin’ the Night”
Nneena Freelon “Listen”
Norman Hedman “Flight of the Spirit”
Cornell Dupree “Boppin’ Blues”
Manhattan Reggea Unit “Come Spring”
Luiz Simas “Recipe for Rhythm”
Prime Crime “Animal Rites”
Dianne Ponzio “Day In – Day Out”
John Lucien “Endless Love”
Harry Belafonte “Harry Belafonte & Friends”
Blood, Sweat, & Tears “Bloodlines”
Steve Sacks “First Dream”
Cubanismo “Mardi Gras Mambo “
Los Hombres Calientes “Vol 3, New Congo Square”, “Vol. 4, Vodou Dance”, and “Vol. 5, Carnival”
Samira Evans “Give me a Moment”
Les Go (Maate Keita, Awa Sangho, Alama Kante) “Dan Gna”
Ricky Sebastian “The Spirit Within”
Bernadette Brown “Love Life”
Troi Bechet “Vo-Du Bleu”
Romero Lubambo “Rio de Janeiro Underground”
Elin “Lazy Afternoon”
Harold Battiste “Lagniappe: The 2nd 50 Years”
Endorsements
Zildjian Cymbals
Pro-Mark Drumsticks
LP Percussion
Audix Microphones
Remo Products
Education .. Teaching Experience
Began studying snare drum at age eight. Throughout junior and senior high school, studied classical percussion winning many All State, All Parish, and Sight-reading awards. Began playing drum set at fifteen years old. Attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (classical theory, composition, drums) and Berklee College of Music (drums, arranging, jazz harmony). Ricky has been an instructor at the world renowned Drummers Collective and also the New School, both located in New York City. He has also taught at the University of New Orleans for five years. Ricky has held clinics in universities and music stores throughout the United States. He has also held clinics and master classes at venues in Europe and Japan. He has recently been appearing as guest artist with university percussion ensembles throughout the world. Ricky is currently performing with B.J. Crosby and Tania Maria, and has released a new drum method book entitled “Independence on the Drum Set” available from Hal Leonard Publishing. Ricky was invited by the Percussive Arts Society International Convention to give a clinic for their annual event in 2004, held in Nashville, TN.
Video and Television Appearances
Appeared on PBS, 1996/1997, with Harry Belafonte
Appeared on various television broadcasts in Europe and Japan, 1991 - 1998 with Tania
Maria.
Appeared on various television broadcasts in Europe, Japan, and the US, 1989 -1998 with
Herbie Mann.
Appeared on various television broadcasts and NPR in Europe and the US, 1996 -1998
with Dianne Reeves.
Laser Disc recording with Charles Fambrough, 1994, entitled “Blues at Bradleys”
Appeared on Louisiana Jukebox with his own group, “Cayenne” 2002
Appeared on Louisiana Jukebox with “Los Hombres Calientes” 2002
Appeared on “Los Hombres Calientes Live” DVD recorded at the House of Blues, New Orleans 2003
Ricky can be reached by email at: rickys@rickysebastian.com
Web Site: www.rickysebastian.com
Rickkkkkkkkkkkkkkkky! I sure miss your Sunday shows ... I'm trying to talk my g/f into coming down for the Essence Festival .. hope all is groovy in your world~ xo
You have some beautiful musik here Ricky! It was great chatting with you briefly the other night .. you've been missed but I'm glad to know you've been busy!
I'd rather have you stay busy .. because I know i can track you down sooner or later if i need too lol
Tell your mother hello... we miss her too .. much love and continued blessings to ya ..
Hi Ricky .. i miss your show on Sundays and i want to let you know you are being thought of .. i hope you are moving to higher ground and that you're safe.
I have a feeling if Gustav hits .. you'll be moving for good. Please keep in touch .. xo
