Rick Ayala | SoultoneCymbals.com

Rick Ayala

Rick Ayala

Blvd Knights

Growing up I always had music in my life, my mother was singer and always played music in the house. I remember my older brother playing Ledzeplin .John Bonham playing “Moby Dick” was amazing to me. I always loved the drums and had a desire to play and many influences in my life, my one uncle played drums and another bought me my first snare drum but didn’t take it seriously till I was about 17yrs old. A friend of mine was jamming in a band and I knew drumming was something I wanted to focus more on. By 1988 I was playing with anybody who new how to play guitar. By 1990 I joined a rock band ‘’ Hard Labor’’. B y mid 90s struggling with different singers we brought in a new drummer and I became singer and co writer. The band had a great run till 2000 when we parted ways. I still stayed active with music and have had the privilege to play and meet some amazing musicians; some of those have been within the church I attend. Since 2006 I audition for the band ‘’ Blvd Knights’’a mixture of styles oldies Rnb jazz and Latin rock with a brass section, a big band with a big sound, I am still currently with them. Some of the members include Danny Perez who played with ‘’Poncho Sanchez’’,Gill Rocha who played with the Silhouetts,Ritchi Leon with Frank Zappa and Victor Tejada who played with Spiral Staircase. I have learned a lot and still strive to learn more but I couldn’t do it without the love and support of my wife and kids who have always stood by me while I do what I love to do, play drums. My influences are Mike Portnoy,Neil Pert,Akira Jimbo,Dave Weckle,Dennis Chambers,Nathaniel Townsley,and John Bonham and to many more to mention. These guys are all amazing to me and will keep anybody humble. I am so glad to be part of Soultone; the symbols give me exactly what I need with the sound I am looking for. I don’t have to work so hard for the projection I need to be herd with the brass section. These symbols are great, not only does the company take pride in their product they take pride in the people that have the passion to play drums.

My Soultone Set: 

21" Gospel Ride
16" Gospel Crash
19" Custom Brilliant Crash
18" Custom Brilliant Crash
13" Custom Brilliant Hi Hats
15" Vintage Crash
9" Vintage Splash
20" Tato Prototype China

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