RICHIE GAJATE GARCIA
Richie started his formal education at Springfield College in Illinois and then went on to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago where he received his Bachelor’s degree in music education. In 2018, Richie also received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Fine Arts from Lincoln College in Illinois.
Richie currently teaches at both Musician’s Institute and Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena for the past years on a part time basis. He is one of the top clinicians worldwide and has become an ambassador to the world teaching and demonstrating the art of drums and percussion with over 700 clinics to his credit.
Richie has performed, recorded and toured the world as a drummer/percussionist for several major artists including Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, percussionist and drummer for Tony Orlando, John Denver, Art Garfunkel and Persian artist Googgoosh percussionist with Christopher Cross Sting, Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Hiroshima, Don Henley, Alex Acuña and the Unknowns, Tito Puente, Juan Gabriel, Celia Cruz, Boston Pops with John Denver with John Williams conducting.
Richie has been part of over 40 major films, most recently, Disney’s “COCO”.
Richie’s experiences transcend musical genres from pop, jazz, salsa, country and hip hop and world music styles.