Richard Marquez of Vibration Arts is a master drummer, percussionist, composer, music teacher and drum therapy coach. Raised in Venice Beach, California, Marquez first picked up a drum at the age of two. He went on to study extensively with respected masters of both the Afro-Cuban tradition and American classical technique. Working professionally as a drummer and percussionist since the age of 15, he has amassed an array of experiences from a diverse pool of renowned artists, including WAR, Paquito De Rivera, the Eric Burdon (The Animals) and Brian Auger (Oblivion Express) Band, Placido Domingo, Sheila E. and Arturo Sandoval.
His greatest honor is his 17 years with the late Cuban legend Israel Lopez (“Cachao”), creator of the mambo, with whom he recorded multiple albums (including three Grammy-winning) and film scores. Marquez currently performs with Cachao’s band, Andy Garcia and the Cineson All-Stars, as well as with his own trio, Descarga Moderna, embodying both Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms and vocals.
He records, tracks and mixes artists in various genres, as well as his own original compositions in the style he calls “Cu-hop,” a mix of Afro-Cuban, hip-hop and funk rhythms, in homage to both his cultural roots and his urban upbringing. He is an established instructor who teaches drum set and percussion (congas, bongos, timbales, cajon, bata) in all styles (Latin, rock, reggae, hip-hop, funk, blues), as well as all elements of music production (from songwriting to publishing). He also works as an actor in television, film, theater and commercials.
Marquez is especially invested in teaching youth due to his roots and personal odyssey from music student to master teacher as a native of Venice. He grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, during the golden, iconic era of the Venice Boardwalk, honing his percussion chops as a kid while playing with a diverse range of artists, including professionals and masters, an experience that gave him the gift of a lifetime, his love of the drum. Marquez believes deeply in the value of early music education, as he was fortunate to spend his elementary and middle school years at 32nd Street USC Magnet School for the Performing Arts and his high school years at Hamilton Music Academy, where he studied classical and jazz training.
Today, his teaching is a unique blend of both the classical and the Afro-Cuban traditions, two forms with obvious differences: one is written, resides in the head and relies on universal notation, while the other is oral, lies in the whole body (mind, gut and heart) and uses intuition and improvisation. These traditions, when merged successfully, provide the perfect, complementary recipe for an elevated, integrated approach to teaching.