Full name: Armando Rivera
Place of Birth: Guadalajara, Mexico
When, where, and how did you first begin playing music?
I began playing flute at age of 7. At age 10, I attended a special kids program at the University of Guadalajara. At age 13 I began playing the drumset and at age 20 picked up percussion.Other bands you have played with:
I have played with close to 50 bands throughout the years.What brought you to Oklahoma: My wife.
What do you like most about playing with Son Del Barrio?
The players and the music.Who are your musical influences?
Giovanni Hidalgo, Jose Luis, Quintana, Tito Puente, Led Zepplin, Grover Washington Jr., Dizzy Gillespie, and Cahano Pozo.What you currently do outside of music: I am a safety director.
Anything else you’d like to add? I love you Oklahoma!
Full name: Robert Ruiz
Place of Birth: Santa Rosa Hospital, San Antonio, TX
When, where, and how did you first begin playing music?
I started playing trumpet in the 6th grade and was part of the St. Bridget's Spanish choir, playing trumpet and singing. The next year I joined Mariachi Estrellas de Tejas playing 2nd trumpet to my older brother, and singing some leads.Other bands you have played with:
Mariachi Estrellas de Tejas, Mariachi Azteca, Mariachi Almas de Oro, Ecos de las Americas, Mariachi Orgullo de América, and La Orquesta Caché.
What brought you to Oklahoma:
A full paid scholarship as a National Scholar to the University of OklahomaWhat do you like most about playing with Son Del Barrio?
Embracing the traditions of my latino brothers after spending my whole life as a Mariachi.
Who are your musical influences? Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, Vicente Fernandez, Pedro Infante, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Jorge Negrete, Beatles, Grupo Niche, Marc Anthony, Juan Luis Guerra, Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, El Gran Combo, and my brother.What you currently do outside of music: I own a software development company and a media company. I also draw, attend the University of Oklahoma, and try and spend as much time as I can with my wife and four children.
Anything else you’d like to add? Use the gifts God gives you to better the lives of the people around you.
Full name: Wilmari RuizPlace of Birth: Wichita, KS
When, where, and how did you first begin playing music? My parents first introduced me to music at age 6 when I began taking private lessons for piano. I started playing flute at age 9 at school when I lived in New Jersey.Other bands you have played with: Mariachi Orgullo de America and La Orquesta Caché
What brought you to Oklahoma: My father was in the military and he was stationed here. They liked it so much they decided to stay.
What do you like most about playing with Son Del Barrio? The energy of the music and the other musicians and how that reflects into the audience.
Who are your musical influences? Nestor Torres is an awsome musician whom someday I would love to follow in his footsteps but until then, it's really the love of the music and childhood memories that influence me musically.
What you currently do outside of music: Currently, I am the Director of Operations for Enye Media (a full service advertising agency) and Enye Music (Latin Music Company), perform with Mariachi Orgullo de America, I am a student at the University of Phoenix majoring in marketing and I am a mommy to 4 beatiful children.
Anything else you’d like to add? Believe in yourself and never give up.