The Short Story:
Hello! My name is Ralph "Kito" Rodriguez I am a multi-instrumentalist and music producer originally from New York City and Los Angeles, USA. Virtuosoul is the band name I have used since my first release of original music way back in 1999.
I blend and bend R&B, Funk, Reggae, Pop and Rock into newly reimagined covers and original songs using hand crafted layers of dope beats, funky bass, slick guitars and smooth vocals. I will take you dancing on a musical journey through the years fulfilling your live music needs with decades worth of world wide entertainment experience.
I have toured internationally as a sideman with independent world music artists and have performed alongside punk-rock icon Patti Smith, classical luminary Phillip Glass and blues legend Keb Mo', among others.
In the summer of 2020, after the COVID-19 shutdowns I moved, with my family from Los Angeles, CA to Stonington, CT during the height of the pandemic in order to snap up a home and live across the road from my in-laws.
Since then I have been enjoying the "Mystic beauty" of Stonington, attending sports events in support of my 3 children and
performing on bass guitar and singing with the "Big Lux Violin All Stars" Thank you!
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.)
Over the years, Kito has had the honor of worldwide performances as sideman and bandleader.
Highlight 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)
Sail Fest (New London, CT)
Many other clubs, community/cultural centers, universities, festivals, weddings and private functions.
