RAMON TARANCO is a Maple Ontario-based, Cuban-Mexican-Canadian composer & guitarist whose world beat fusion music runs the gamut from Afro-Cuban Jazz & Blues to Southern Rock & New Orleans Funk. 

Ramon released 2 new singles in May 2017: "Desperate Love" & "Devil Can Blues."

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L-R Jackie Richardson, Betty Richardson, Yohanna van der Kley & Liz Tilden - the vocal chorus in the studio recording "Sugar Cane Rider" & "Hard Work" for Ramon's Music From the Bermuda Triangle CD

Airplay
Blues, indie jazz and eclectic free form radio shows on public and commercial stations often play Ramon's Spirit of Muddy Waters and Ghost Dance  but all 16 tracks from his 2 CDs have had international airplay.
Ramon's new singles have also gotten airplay (June-Sept 2017:  Desperate Love has had 5 airplays that we know of: Vancouver Canada (2), Italy (2) & Hartford CT USA. Devil Can Blues has had 14 airplays that we know of: UK (5), Australia (2), USA (3: S Carolina, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), Mississauga (Canada), Ireland, Malta & New Zealand. 
To date, Ramon's music has received airplay on at least 400 radio stations in 55 countries around the globe including 140 stations across 42 states in the USA and numerous stations across all of Canada’s provinces and territories.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for a sampling of shows & stations that have played Ramon's music.

​MUSIC CHARTS
​In February 2010, The Adventures of Bo Segovia CD was #3 on the Roots Music Report international top 100 jazz charts and #10 on the New York State top 100 roots artists (all genres) chart; where rating are tallied based on airplay on 500 affiliated stations worldwide.

​Music From the Bermuda Triangle was on the European Broadcasting Union's World Music Charts in 2008 & 2009. In March 2012, The Adventures of Bo Segovia was featured album-of-the-week on Paris-based Midnight Special Blues Radio's website  & Vancouver's Cal Koat put it on the World Beat Canada Top 3 Albums list​.

Soul of the Blues Festival poster designed by Rega - Ramon Taranco + His Havana Blues Revue @ The Cornelia Street Cafe in Greenwich Village, July 31st 2009

BIOGRAPHY
After seventeen and a half years of playing guitar professionally and teaching in New York City (December 1994 to June 2012), Ramon moved back to Canada and now operates a music teaching studio in the heart of Maple Ontario.  He continues to create & record new music and perform at private functions in the Greater Toronto Area.

New York

​Solo, duo & band performances in New York City include 8 concerts in the Guggenheim Museum's World Beat Jazz Series, "Celebrating the Diaspora: Strummin’ the Americas" for African-American Heritage Month @ Bronx Museum of Fine Arts, Liz Swados' opera "Missionaries" @ Brooklyn Academy of Music's Majestic Theater, Queens Museum of Art, Harborside Jazz Festival, Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center (Manhattan), Visions Institute for the Blind (Manhattan), Connie Lekas School (Brooklyn), Hellenic Cultural Center (Astoria, Queens), Stony Brook U, Manhattanville C, Monroe C (Bronx), Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims (Brooklyn), Latino Heritage Month concert @ Javits Convention Center (Manhattan), Martin Luther King Jr birthday concert @ Newark Public Library, reBar Gastropub (Brooklyn), in NYC jazz & blues clubs ie The Groove, The Mozart Cafe, Izzy Bar, Finally Fred's, La Belle Epoque (Cabaret Nights, Jazz Brunches) & Cornelia Street Cafe (NYC Soul of the Blues Festival).
​Toronto
Ramon played blues, jazz and classical guitar in many of Toronto's premier venues including the Harbourfront Centre's Brigantine Room & Water's Edge Cafe, C'est What, The Riverboat, U of Toronto's Hart House Theatre, the Windsor Arms Hotel's Courtyard Cafe, Art Gallery of Ontario, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and in the Top O' the Senator Guitar Bar concert series at the Senator Hotel.
Touring
Ramon toured in Western Canada & several times across Ontario (including Sudbury's Laurentian University) giving concerts, lecture-recitals & guitar clinics. 

performing in duo with violinist Igor Romanyk

Live Radio Performances & Interviews

Live radio performances and interviews include The Gutbucket Blues Show on NYC's WBAI, the CBC's Morningside & Musical Friends and on CKLN (Toronto.) Ramon also gave live interviews on WBAI's New World Gallery & Radio Libre & on KPFT's Son Pacifica (Houston.) 

Grants

Taranco received several arts grants: an Ontario Arts Council multicultural music recording grant, a composition grant from the Toronto Arts Council, another composition grant from the Ontario Arts Council, and a new talent recording grant from The Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Record (FACTOR). These grants made it possible for Ramon to continue recording songs for his first CD of original compositions, “Music From the Bermuda Triangle.” clinics.  

AIRPLAY​

Here's a sampling of shows & stations that have played Ramon's music

USA:
Alaska:  KGOT, KIAK
Arkansas:  "Something Blue" KASU (Jonesboro)
Arizona:  Eclectic City (Mesa)
California:  Santa Rosa ["New Orleans & the World" KRSH, Magikal Audio-scapes]; Indie104 FM (Los Angeles), "Basically the Blues' KZFR FM (Chico);
Bigupradio (Oakland); Radio Brandy (Sandberg); Ambiant Channel (Cardiff-by-the-Sea)
Connecticut:  "Black-Eyed N Blues" On the Horn Radio (Hartford)
Delaware:  Soulful Tears Radio
Florida:  "The Blues Edition" WMNF (NPR) & “Radioio: Real Jazz” (Tampa), Blue Sushi Radio (Tallahassee), Indie Blues Radio (Riverview)
Illinois:  Radio Cocoloco (Chicago)
Iowa:  KISS 107.1 FM (Sioux City)
Kansas:  "Indie Jazz Show" KJIL FM (Abilene) 
Louisiana: New Orleans:  "Afri-Caribbean Journey" & "Jazz From the Market" WWOZ FM
Massachusetts:  "Voices of Jazz" (Worchester)
Michigan:  WCBN (Ann Arbour), Free Radio Jackson (Jackson)
Minnesota: LOVE 105 FM (Minneapolis)
Missouri:  KDMR (Branson)
New Hampshire: WZEO
New Jersey:  WBGO (Newark); Indie Jazz Cafe (Somerset)
New Mexico:  Native Radio (Taos), "Raices," "Freeform Afternoons" & "Overnight Freeform" KUNM (Albuquerque)
New York:  "New World Gallery" "Gutbucket Blues Show," "Radio Libre" & "First Voices Indigenous Radio" WBAI; "Next Wave Indie Rock Radio" (Manhattan); "Beginnings" WUSB (Long Island), Radio Crystal Blue (Brooklyn), Totally Gospel (Buffalo)
North Carolina:  Uptown Jazz Network (Charlotte / Greensboro), Indie Castle Radio (Fayetteville)
Ohio:  Rukus Radio (Youngstown)
Oklahoma:  "Hardluck Jim & the Weekend Blues" KGOU (Norman), KZEO (Tulsa)
Oregon:  "An Evening of Afrotainment" KBOO (Portland)
Pennsylvania: "The Folk Show" WXPN FM (Philadel- phia), Xpower Radio (Temple), Mill Rift Radio
Tennessee: East Bank Radio (Nashville)
Texas:  "Blues Deluxe" Arlington (most widely-syndicated blues show in the US: on 100+ stns across 33 US states, Canada, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia & Pacific Islands), "Son Pacifica" one hour feature show incl. live interview on KPFT (Houston), KANM & KAMU (College Station), Streetcorner iNet Radio (Pearland)
Washington DC:  "African Rhythms & Extensions" WPFW; "Plastic Bohemia" PB Radio
Washington State:   "Botucudo Latin Jazz Show" ORS Radio (Puget Sound & Seoul, S Korea), 3 Freeform shows on KEXP (Seattle)
USA: "Latin Jazz, R&B and Soul show" Lounge Act Radio, Quest4Blues Radio

Canada:
"At the Crossroads Blues" (widely-syndicated to 27 stations across Canada in BC, Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Yukon & Northwest Territories) & "Stormy Monday Blues Show" CFBX FM, Kamloops; "The Rockin' Blues Show" CJMP FM, Powell River (syndicated to Vancouver, Fredricton NB, Mississauga ON, Hawaii, UK, Australia)  
Vancouver:  "World Beat Canada," Roundhouse Radio; Banana Peel Radio 
Toronto: CBC Radio One: "Morningside" "Musical Friends" & "Fresh Air;" "Cafe Latino" JAZZ FM; CKLN FM; "The Songwriter Hour" & "The World Music Show" on Indie Talent Radio; Kemet Music Radio
Montreal: "Blues Connection" & free form shows on Radio Rock Cafe; CJIM “Rock Radio” FM"  
Ottawa: "Rockin' the Blues From Canada" & "Sunday Night Mind Melt" CKCU FM; Mississauga:  "Sunday Morning Soul," THE HAZE FM, "Blues & Roots Radio;" Sudbury:  "Restaurant at the End of the Universe," CKLU FM; Niagara Falls: Blues Canada eRadio

oil painting - portrait of Ramon Taranco by Mendelson Joe

Ramon riding down the main street of Maximo Gomez, Cuba

tiny guitarman, Ramon Taranco wearing traditional Mexican garb - Los Angeles

Jimi Hendrix - Ramon's hero

Ramon Taranco playing at the Woodbridge Ontario RibFest, August 2017.

Ramon Taranco & Raul Pineda Abreu performing at the Richmond Hill Ontario Farmer's Market, July 2017

Recordings

Ramon's 2 CDs, Music From the Bermuda Triangle and The Adventures of Bo Segovia, present 16 of his organic and very natural eclectic compositions. Encompassing a wide variety of styles, they range from solo guitar (electric and acoustic) to full band.

Music From the Bermuda Triangle is primarily a world beat jazz album with some blues accents. The Adventures of Bo Segovia is mostly blues and funk.

RAMON TARANCO + HIS HAVANA BLUES REVUE (core band) L/R: Yahoteh Kokayi, Ramon Taranco, Judd Nielsen - August 16 2011, photo by Jimmy Wade (NYC)

Ramon in The Village after playing The Groove. Still uploaded from Ameer Kazmi's video, "Buffalo Skies" available online through the Ramon Taranco youtube channel.

concert poster designed by Rega

Ramon Taranco + His Havana Blues Revue @ The Groove in Greenwich Village, Feb 4 2012; L-R: Ramon Taranco (guitar), Cinque Ubangi Kemp (drums), Judd Nielsen (keyboard), Dave Cutler (bass); photo by Andrew Jack

concert poster designed by Rega

NYC Blues Harmonica & Guitar Duo: L-R Jasper McGruder & Ramon Taranco

"Ramon Taranco + His Sugar Kings" playing at Finally Fred's in NYC, June 1st 2001

concert poster designed by Rega

Film: Composer &
Musical Advisor

Music From the Bermuda Triangle has two tracks that have been featured in films.

“Tango Solito” (written and produced by Taranco) was commissioned by the Canadian Film Centre (founded by Norman Jewison) for the film "L'Hombre" (Catherine Martin, director) that premiered at the Montreal Film Festival.

The CD's final track, “Mantiki II,” was featured on the soundtrack of documentary Academy Award winners Peter Kinoy and Pamela Yates’ documentary, “Poverty Outlaw” that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Ramon also served as music consultant & guitar teacher for 20th Century Fox feature film “PCU.”  

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"Two Cubans Named Moe" blues duo: Ramon Taranco (guitar) & Carlos del Junco (harmonica)

Young Ramon Taranco in classical recital attire

KUBA world beat trio: L-R Basi Mahlasela, Ramon Taranco, Memo Acevedo

 Airplay in the UK:
"Roots & Fusion" PURE FM (Stockport); "Blues on the Marsh" Channel Radio (Dymchurch); "The Blues is Back," SAINT FM (Burnham-on-Crouch); "Afro-Cuban Jazz & Blues" XFM (London); Radio Bracknell; hCore FM; The Power Station; Wyrelite Radio; Ambient Channel's "The Fusion Jazz Show;" ATUS FM's "Afro-Cuban Jazz & Blues Show;" XFM (Scotland), Red Dragon 97.4 FM (Cardiff); "The Blues & Soul Show" (Wales - syndicated across the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand & Malta) 

International (beyond N America & UK):

Argentina:  "La Maza Blues" (Buenos Aires - syndicated across Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, UK, France & Spain); Radio del Plata Parana FM 98.3  
Australia:  Blues & Roots Radio (Melbourne), Zero Radio (Perth), Rody's Radio (Brisbane)
Belgium:   Imagine FM & La Petite Radio (Brussels)
Brazil:  Radio Avivanet; Conexao Radical (radio station)
Cuba, Havana:  "La Esquina del Blues" Radio Havana - two shows featuring Ramon’s music
Cyprus:   Canal 17, Panikos FM
Finland:  “Kauriin Kaantopiiri” YLE (National Radio)
France: Paris ["Kanal Blues" (1 hour spotlight show on Ramon Taranco); Midnight Special Blues Radio; Reddog Media Bluzzradio; Kanal Jazz; Kanal Rock]; Extreme Radio (website is in 12 languages)
Germany: "Spirits" WDR Funkhaus Europa (Cologne); AgF "Auf Gute Freunde" Radio (Mannheim); "Pops Tonende Wunderwelt" SFB Multikulti (Berlin-Brandenburg) on FM frequencies throughout Europe & North Africa; Radio Bremen Eins; Blues Road Radio (Rheinland-Pfalz)
Hungary:  PositivHOE Radio (Budapest & also Yaroslavl, Russia) 
Greece:  CGS Radio (Athens), Island Web Radio (Corfu)
India:  "Sunday Night Blues Show" World Space Radio (Bangaluru)
Israel:  Kishorit (Galilee)
Italy:  "Rock N Blues Today” Radio RCC (Umbertide, Tuscany), Radio Due Mila (Tuscany), Radio Byte Network, "Blues Channel" & "Rock Channel" on Network Studio 5
Korea: ORS Radio (Seoul)
Lithuania:  Tonic Internet Radio
Macedonia:  Ekrixi FM 99.7
Netherlands:  Triple R Roots Radio (Utrecht): Aalburg FM, Triple R Roots Radio   
Poland:  Znajdz Swoje Radio
Romania:  Mojo Club Rock Radio & The Blues Channel - Radio Vipernet (Bucharest)
Russia:  Radio Hermitage 90.1 FM (Moscow &
St. Petersburg)
Spain: "Trebede" Radio Nacional de Espana, "Mapamundi" (syndicated – Madrid, Brussels), "La Hora del Blues" Radio Pica (Barcelona, syndicated throughout Western Europe albuddy so NYC & Toronto); JazzSpain, Radio Vega Segura 106.7 FM
Sweden: "Kalejdoskop" Radio Sweden (Stockholm)
Uruguay:  Pimba FM (Montevideo)

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teenage Ramon performing with "Motor"

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"Motor" L-R: Ramon Taranco, Bruce Durling, Peter Mercer, Stephen Keen

MOTOR (Ramon's Teenage Rock Band) in 1968

Ramon's father, Raul Taranco riding on family plantation - Maximo Gomez, Cuba

street band - Maximo Gomez, Cuba