• Ricky Persaud Jr.

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    9.19.17

    T H E   A L B U M – Optimistic Bliss

    On this 4th album Ricky performed all the instruments and produced the album together with Ricky Persaud, Sr.  The album was Mixed & Produced by Ricky Persaud, Jr. & Ricky Persaud, Sr. for Persaud Entertainment, LLC.  Mastered by Gar Francis for Bongo Boy Records and Recorded at Crossroads Studios.

    1. Let Me See  3:24
    2. Sound Of A Hit  3:40
    3. Ooh Baby  3:23
    4. Reggae Blues  3:36
    5. Jah I Need Your Love   2:55
    6. Girl Has The Essence  3:47
    7. It’s Alright  4:26
    8. People Of The World   4:13
    9. Goodbye 16  4:12
    10. Feel The Love 4:29
    11. Optimistic Bliss  3:23
    12. Alive 3:35

  • $12.00 USD

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  • Online Retailers 9.21.17

  • From Irvington, New Jersey Ricky is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger whose music style is Reggae Rock.

    Ricky is in the Berklee College of Music class 2021. He received his first instrument at the age of 1 years old for Christmas. At the tender age of 4 years old, Ricky started taking music classes at Music

    Together in South Orange, NJ, and dance lessons at Stories in Motion in South Orange, New Jersey.

    Ricky was accepted by the Newark School of the Arts to study drums also at the age 4 years old. When Ricky was 8 years old he would go with his brother Nicholas, who was 5, to his weekly guitar lessons at Mark Murphy Music School in South Orange, New Jersey. Ricky studied Nicholas homework and taught himself how to play the guitar.

    By the age of 10 Ricky could perform Bob Marley's songs on the guitar.

    Along with drums, Ricky started taking bass lessons at the Newark School of the Arts at the age of 11. Still drawn to the guitar, Ricky decided to take guitar lessons at the age of 12. At the age of 14 Ricky discovered Billy Joel. He taught himself how to play the harmonica and keyboards. Shortly after, Ricky started taking piano lessons in school and at the Newark School of the Arts. Upon the passing of his guitar and bass teacher, jazz guitarist, Hayes Johnson, Ricky put the guitar aside. Ricky's mom encouraged him to give guitar lessons another try. So, Ricky enrolled in the school that introduced him to the guitar, Mark Murphy School of Music in South Orange, New Jersey.

    Ricky studied voice and band at Mark Murphy Music in South Orange, NJ and continues to study guitar there. Ricky studied drums at the Newark School of The Arts in Newark, NJ and currently studies music production there. Ricky is a member of the New Jersey Performing Art (NJPAC)/Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Ensemble and NJPAC's George Wein Scholars Ensemble.

    Ricky along with his brother Nicholas perform weekly on Inside with Valerie Persaud, the TV Show which airs on Comcast, Cablevision and Verizon Fios throughout the state of NJ.

  • P A S T   P R O J E C T S

    Ricky has recorded 3 albums. His first album was recorded when he was 14 years old. He arranged the music and played all the instruments on the album. His second album was recorded when he was 15 years old and again he played all the instruments on the album and performed the lead and background vocals. Ricky released his third album, "Welcome To My World" in 2015. In this new album Ricky wrote all the songs and played all the instruments on the album and performed all the vocals. The album is sold on ITunes, Amazon, CD Baby just to name a few.

     

    A W A R D S

    OPTIMISTIC BLISS has been submitted for consideration for the 60th Grammy Awards© as “Best Reggae Album”. The Award Ceremony will be held in NYC on January 28, 2018.

    Ricky was awarded a full four year scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. 

    Ricky won a Silver Medal in Music Composition and a Gold Medal in Vocal Performance in the North at the Act-So Competition 2016. Moreover, Ricky is the recipient of the 2016 Governor's Award for Excellence in Music.

    2016- Ricky was a winner in the Partnership For A Drug Free NJ competition where he wrote an original song to encourage other teens to stay away from drugs.

     

    T H E   A L B U M – Optimistic Bliss

    On this 4th album Ricky performed all the instruments and produced the album together with Ricky Persaud, Sr.  The album was Mixed & Produced by Ricky Persaud, Jr. & Ricky Persaud, Sr. for Persaud Entertainment, LLC.  Mastered by Gar Francis for Bongo Boy Records and Recorded at Crossroads Studios.

  • Personal Note from Ricky Persaud Jr. – “Thank you for listening to my album. I would like to thank my wonderful music teachers at The Newark School Of The Arts, Mark Murphy’s Music and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. I would like to thank my wonderful friends and supporters, and most of all my family. I would like to give a special shout out to the NAACP Act So Newark Branch for all of their support and encouragement. I hope my songs not only inspire you to think more optimistically about the world we live in, but also generate happiness and good vibes. Through the power of my music, I want to really impact our world in a positive way; striving to spread love and happiness around the world is what I’m all about. I truly believe my music can make a change in this world and make some people get rid of their old fashion way of thinking and be more open to diversity and equality among the human race. Music truly speaks louder than words, and this album is only the beginning of what I’m going to achieve musically in this world. - Thank you again”. Peace, Ricky Persaud, Jr.

  • A W A R D S 

  • Ricky won a Silver Medal in Music Composition and a Gold Medal in Vocal Performance in the North at the Act-So Competition 2016. Moreover, Ricky is the recipient of the 2016 Governor's Award for Excellence in Music.

  • OPTIMISTIC BLISS has been submitted for consideration for the 60th Grammy Awards© as “Best Reggae Album”. The Award Ceremony will be held in NYC on January 28, 2018. 

  • 2016- Ricky was a winner in the Partnership For A Drug Free NJ competition where he wrote an original song to encourage other teens to stay away from drugs.

  • New York City Of Music: Host Of The 60th GRAMMY Awards

  • Ricky was awarded a full four year scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. 

  • He has worked with legends such as Dr. Cissy Houston, Savion Glover and Christian McBride. He has performed on the same stage as Leslie Odom, Jr. from "Hamiliton", Cynthia Ervo from the "Color Purple", and Kenny Latimore.

  • He has performed numerous times for Jay Z's mom at her restaurant "Diamondz N Da Ruff” & Newark Symphony Hall.

  • A L B U M   R E V I E W S 

  • Hej America!

    My friends at Bongo Boy have asked me to review an album they are about to release by Ricky Persaud Jr. I first heard Ricky on the Bongo Boy compilation album Raw and Reckless, I remember liking his stuff so it is with some excitement that I cue up this newest album Optimistic Bliss.

    The first thing I noticed is the album cover which is simply wickedly cool. The second thing, which is apparent from the cover, is that this album is, if not full on Reggae, at least has its roots in Reggae. Tell me now, who does not dig Reggae?? 
    Take Toots and the Maytals for example, when they sing

    Country roads take me home
    To the place I belong
    West Jamaica, my ol' momma
    Take me home country road

    They totally blow away the original song by John Denver, which I thought was a pretty lame song. So after listening to a little Toots and getting primed for some Jamaican Soul I hit the play button on my music app on my computer.  - The Grouch  READ MORE

  • R E V I E W S feat. on Compilations

  • Bongo Boy Records VOLUME XII release by Various Artist feat. Ricky Persaud Jr - Feel The Love - This track starts out with some nice harmonies.  Is that a Motown influence I hear?  Growing up in Detroit, I feel a Smokey Robinson vibe going on here.  The thing is that this is also a ripping reggae song which is cool, as I am a big Toots fan.  Then out of nowhere comes a blistering solo that would make Randy Rhoads smile from above.  In a nutshell folks, this is one fantastic song. The cool soul of Motown, the absolute groove of reggae, and the blistering fret work of a massive shedder - I am speechless. – The Grouch | Sweden

  • Bongo Boy Records Raw and Reckless Volume Two release by Various Artist feat.

    Ricky Persaud Jr. - Goodbye 16 - Firstly I feel I must mention that Ricky is attending this Fall semester the Berklee School of Music and he is the youngest artist on this release.  Ricky, I am impressed. Anyone who can attend music school is a real musician.  Personally, despite having played in school bands and bar bands for years, I cannot read music. (I was lucky that as a drummer in school band I could get by ‘feeling’ the music.)  So, good on you and I wish you the best as you enter the world of higher education.

    Ricky has written an exceptionally heavy starting song that makes use of a guitar playing very high notes that really grab the listener’s attention.  In fact, the music in this track is what I would call complicated.  The vibe alternates between massively heavy rock as he screams “Goodbye 16” and the beauty of Queen’s music.  There seem to be elements of several genres in this song, as at times, the drummer hits me with a funk vibe.  All in all, I am very impressed.  Excellent work Ricky. – The Grouch | Sweden

  • P H O T O S   of    I N T E R E S T 

  • <----Ricky posing with Andre Burrell, (choreographer for Mariah Carey and Beyonce) after his performance at the Baltimore Convention Center. Mr. Burrell choreographed the show. Mr. Burrell also choreographed the Prince tribute show at the Duke Energy Center in Ohio where Ricky headlined the show