- Mambo Street guitarist and co-founder -

Rudy Ramirez

Rudy Ramirez, visionary, co-founder and guitar player of Mambo Street has been playing professionally since he was fourteen years of age. A native of Costa Rica, Rudy was taught to play the traditional Latin guitar by his father who, in turn, was taught by his father. This rich musical exposure helped him appreciate the many wonderful genres that music could provide.

With the advent of Beatlemania as well as the constant changing sounds in the Top 40 charts, Rudy concentrated on Rock & Roll in his musical development. As he grew older, he also continue to mature musically delving into blues and finally into Latin Rock. There, he took stock of his ethnic background and began playing cumbias, ballads, and rancheras. In time, salsa and Latin jazz took center stage for him as he continued to develop.

By the mid-eighties, the constant gigs and grueling schedule had taken its toll on Rudy Ramirez. He was married with two daughters and had a day job. With his priorities in check he decided to take a hiatus from music. Throughout the nineties, rudy played in various groups., but never with fanatic intensity ... until he got a call from David Mercado in January of 1998.

David and Rudy played in the cumbia band, 'Anaconda' in the seventies. Over the years they would run into one another and reminisce about old times. In January of 1998, David asked Rudy if he was interested in forming a Latin Rock, Latin Jazz band and play music from their generation "...just for the hell of it". Wanting to get back to his roots, Rudy didn't think twice and the rest, as they say, is history.