Ricky Gomez was raised in the heart of the Mission District in San Francisco on 19th and Hampshire St. He grew up with childhood musician/friends Carlos and Bismark Franco (Franco Brothers) and Karl Perazzo (Santana), in the same neighborhood. Ricky Gomez is of Puerto Rican decent with family from Adjuntas and Yauco in Puerto Rico. Ricky went to Starr King school in San Francisco and Westmoor High in Daly City. Later he joined the U.S. Air Force and is a a U.S. Air Force veteran.
Ricky has been playing bongos since the tender age of 12 years old. His musical influences are El Gran Combo, Willie Rosario, Sonora Ponceña and Jose Mangual Sr. and Jr.
Ricky has played with many bay area bands and musicians over the years and has been a member of Orquesta Borinquen for going on 18 years. Ricky is a musician that plays from his heart. If you ever catch him performing, his Puerto Rican flag is always on display and he is very proud of it. He can play the bongo bell like no one's business and is recognized as one of the great natural boncoceros in the San Francisco Bay Area.