For percussionist and drummer Ronnie Gutierrez, music is in his blood.  He couldn’t help it.  His father is the renowned percussionist Mike Gutierrez, so the music was in him from the very start.  “My father was my first example and exposure to music and percussion and rhythms.”  From an early age, Ronnie was surrounded by and influenced by all types of music.  “I grew up listening to Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Count Basie, Tito Puente, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles.  It was so musically pure.  My dad always had all of that playing when I was a little four year old.”  He was also influenced by the sounds of Buddy Rich, Tito Puente, and Mongo Santamaria. 

It was as a four year old that Ronnie began playing percussion.  “I would play the cowbells and the claves in our living room when my father would have his rehearsals and jams, back in the ‘60’s.”  His father was his first major influence, but as Ronnie got older, his father encouraged him to receive formal education and training in music. He also told him that “to be a great all around musician who plays drums, you have to learn what’s going on in all the rhythmic percussion situations.”  Ronnie studied at the Los Angeles Valley College, and the Dick Grove School of Music.  He also studied privately under Alan Dawson in Boston, and Bob Moses in New York. 

When I’ve saw Ronnie play, it was on percussion, but he is equally skilled on the drums as well.  “Playing drums really helps my percussion.  A lot of percussionists don’t play drums.  A lot of drummers don’t play percussion.”  When asked what his style is, Ronnie refers to himself as a world musician, playing Latin, Brazilian, and world musical styles. 

For Ronnie, the talent and training paid off.  He has played, performed, or recorded with some of the most talented musicians in the industry: David Sanborn, Brenda Russell, Jonathan Butler, George Duke, Dave Koz, Marcus Miller, Phil Perry, Bebe Winans, Al Jarreau, Poncho Sanchez, Peter White, and Peabo Bryson, just to name a few.   In addition, he has played on the Dave Koz and the Wayman Tisdale cruises for the past seven years.  His talents are not limited by genre.  Ronnie has played with the California Philharmonic, as well as other orchestras, and, he has played with Andrea Bochelli, Jason Mraz, and Mariah Carey.  While this list is quite impressive by any standards, he would love to add Sting and Paul McCartney to his resume. 

Ronnie is a very disciplined and determined musician who practices at least four hours a day because he believes that it makes a difference and it matters.  Faith, hard work and determination have opened many doors for this talented drummer/percussionist.  “I have a very strong faith, but I also have a strong work ethic.  Nothing comes to your door and knocks on it.  You have to knock on the door, put in the work, and work hard.  Also, you have to be nice to the person on your right and left because you never know who you’re in the presence of.” Recently, Ronnie played a four month stint on the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brian.  It was hard and demanding, but it allowed him to learn about the nuances involved in playing on television.  “I learned how to play a TV show.  There are passes and cues, they call them sandwiches.  There are all kinds of different little things musically that are life and death in that situation.  You really have to know what you’re doing.  Every note, every rhythm you play has to matter.  It has to mean something because you’re under a magnifying glass.”  It was hard, but it was something he would love to do again. 

Ronnie has a CD in release of Latin jazz music entitled Like Father, Like Son, which is a tribute to their personal and professional relationship.  “All my life my father was such a great influence, and so supportive.  I wanted to play with him and have something that would be forever.  I had him sing because he has such a great, unique voice.  My dad sings and we play together.  To be like that with my dad, and to see him at age 77, still have it, and still swing hard is wonderful.”  The two Gutierrez men play lots of shows together.  At the time of this interview, they were preparing to open for Arturo Sandoval at an upcoming concert.   Ronnie is also in the process of working on another CD entitled In the Moment.  (“R&B with a Latin taste.”) He’s been busy so there has not been a lot of time to work on it lately.  At the time of our interview, he had just finished a festival in Iowa (“It was two degrees below zero.”) and was preparing to play some concerts at the NAMM show.  Ronnie is also in a recently formed band with some of his Tonight Show coworkers; Jimmy Vivino and James Wormworth.

When not making music, Ronnie likes to ride his motorcycle.  He rides often with friends, including his good friend Arturo Sandoval.  He loves riding his bike, the beach, and people watching.  “I’ll go to the beach in Santa Monica.  I’ll go riding on the path, and then I’ll pull over and get a drink, and just sit there and watch people.  I love that.”  Ronnie also likes working on his home.  “I love gardening, landscaping, and painting.”  If his father gave him his talent and love of music, it was his mother, an interior designer and art gallery owner, who gave him his eye for art, and love of painting.

A new year brings many hopeful plans for this talented musician.  Ronnie will continue to work hard and let his faith and determination lead him to bigger and more challenging opportunities.  He will never give up and will constantly push himself forward and expand his horizons musically.  “I will try to play with as many people as I can, and just have fun.  I love to do everything musically.  I don’t want to limit myself.”  Look for Ronnie playing at many of Southern California’s music venues, or, on your TV.