Originally from New York City, musician Ralph "Kito" Rodriguez has had the honor of worldwide performances as a sideman and bandleader, performing alongside punk-rock icon Patti Smith, classical luminary Phillip Glass, and blues legend Keb Mo'.
Now focusing on solo gigs as Virtuosoul, Kito performs sets of live covers, singing and playing guitar over high quality tracks with a focus on Reggae/R&B/Funk plus a little Jazz and Latin.
Kito and his family relocated from Los Angeles early in the COVID pandemic, and currently performs in and around the Eastern CT and Rhode Island region with the Big Lux Violin Band.
As a solo performer or with a full band, Virtuosoul will take you on a musical journey through the years, fulfilling your live music needs with decades worth of worldwide entertainment experience.
Highlighted venues:
Carnegie Hall NYC (2009 and 2014 with Patti Smth and Phillip Glass)
Penang World Music Festival (Penang Botanical Gardens, Malaysia)
Da’ an Park (Taipei, Taiwan)
Moscow International House Of Music and Elista Soccer Stadium (Moscow and Kalmykia, Russia)
Roxy Club- Prague (Czech Republic)
University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena- Opening for the Dalai Lama (New Orleans, LA)
The New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint (New Orleans, LA)
Google Headquarters (Mountain View, CA)
The House Of Blues Sunset Strip (Hollywood, CA)
Zebulon (Los Angeles, CA)
The Montalban Theatre (Hollywood, CA)
The Getty Center (Los Angeles, CA)
The Rubin Museum Of Art (NYC)
Shalin Liu Performance Center (Rockport, MA)
The Cumberland County Civic Center - Ralph Nader 2004 presidential campaign. Kito played bass/backup vocals for Patti Smith (Portland, ME)
The Cedar Cultural Center (Minneapolis, MN)
CBGB & OMFUG (NYC)
PVD Fest Main Stage (Providence, RI)
The Knickerbocker Music Center (Westerly, RI)
The United Theatre (Westerly, RI)
Spring Fest (Misquamicut, RI)
The Charlestown Rathskellar (Charlestown, RI)
Sailfest (New London, CT)
The Ocean Mist (Matunuck, RI)
Haley Mansion at the Inn At Mystic (Mystic, CT)
Many other clubs, community/cultural centers, universities, festivals, weddings and private functions.
Honorable mentions:
Kito recorded the live music for singer-songwriter "Lissie's" official live music video cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way"
(6.4 million views)
Kito made the list of considered Grammy nominees for 2014 World Music award as bass guitarist and mix/mastering engineer on ARC Music release “Lam La Che (On The Road)” with Tibetan/ World Music Group TECHUNG, featuring blues master Keb Mo’ on the title track
Kito is a member of BMI and NARAS (The Recording Academy "the GRAMMYS”)
Kito is a Graduate of Institute Of Audio Research NYC (audio-engineering and music production)
Hollywood film soundtrack credits:
“Eat Pray Love” (Sony/Columbia pictures film starring Julia Roberts directed by Ryan Murphy)
"Oildale" (Journeyman Features film Kito performs the song "Amazing Grace" on acoustic guitar)
“Dalai Lama Renaissance” (starring H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama, narrated by Harrison Ford)
“A Good Day To Die” (documentary film about the life of Native American leader Dennis Banks and the formation of the American Indian Movement, A.I.M.)
