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By the age of twelve,
Ric’key was performing in festivals with his family. He went
on to study in a professional music program at the Pierre-Laporte
High School of Arts in Montreal, where he continued his classical
piano lessons and took advanced courses in music theory, history
and ear training.
Ric’key pursued
his post-high-school studies here at Vanier College majoring in
music. Ric’key also continued participating in piano competitions
where he became the first student in Vanier College’s history
to win both “The Prix d’Expression du Quebec” in
Classical and Jazz categories, in 1997 and 1998 respectively.
After college graduation,
he continued his education at the renowned music faculty of McGill
University where he received scholarships to pursue his studies.
Ric’key says of McGill: “This is where I truly began
learning the jazz language.” He was introduced to the playing
of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Montreal’s own Oscar
Peterson. Ric’key also enrolled in advanced jazz composition
and Big Band arranging courses at McGill. He completed his bachelor
degree in 2003, with a major in jazz performance.
During his studies,
Ric’key was already teaching piano at a local music school
and gigging professionally. In little time, he acquired tremendous
experience as a bandleader when he started his own original compositions
Latin-jazz quartet, Jazzma in 1997. He booked his band in several
venues and festivals, notably in the Montreal International Jazz
Festival in 2000.
In 2001, Ric’key
also began playing outside of the jazz scene in Montreal. He was
being called to back up the best in the R&B/ Funk scene in
the city. He has also accompanied Philadelphia’s Lizz Fields
for The Montreal Funkn’Soul Festival and opened for Brian
McKnight and Cesaria Evora at The Montreal Jazz Festival.
In 2002, Ric’key
played keyboards in the first run of “Motown Generation”,
the most successful Motown Music Review ever produced in Canada,
while it ran in Quebec City.
In 2003 and 2004, he went on to tour France with recording artist,
Corneille, whose album ‘Parce qu’on Vient de Loin’
has been certified double platinum in France and platinum in Canada.
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Since 2003, he
has been collaborating with his wife, sensational Montreal–based
singer/songwriter Dessy DI Lauro (bottom
left of photo at right) . Ric’key helped release
Dessy’s critically acclaimed debut EP ‘A Study
of a Woman’s Soul’. His credits on the album include
production, composition, arranging, keyboards and background
vocals. Ever since, he has also been managing her career.
They performed at The Montreal International Jazz Festival
in 2004, The Legendary SOB’s in New York City, Detroit’s
Motor City Music Conference, Toronto’s Canadian Music
Week Conference & Phemphat’s Honey Jam, The Mint
and Temple Bar in Los Angeles and Cirque du Soleil’s
Delirium. (More on Delirium below.)
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In 2005,
Ric’key started working with the Cirque Du Soleil
as a musical director, keyboardist and accordionist
of the show "Delirium". Since
the show’s premiere in January of 2006 in Montreal,
it has played close to 200 performances in the U.S.
alone.
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Billboard Magazine
has published official tour sales data, certifying Delirium as
the 6th biggest grossing tour in North America in 2006, moving
up to 3rd place, in early statistics for 2007.
Ric’key says of
Delirium: “What is interesting about being part of this tour
is that not only you are touring the biggest arenas like a pop
band, you are also part of a theatrical performance; the costumes,
the make up, the light projections, the IMAX-like scrims, all
contribute to this 'collision' of the best of both worlds.”
In January 2008, Ric’key
and Dessy decided to relocate to Los Angeles. Ric'key went
on tour with Madonna to help promote her Hard Candy album, playing
keyboards, piano and accordion on her “Sticky & Sweet”
World tour. Early in 2010 he toured with Diana Ross before turning to studio work wth his wife Dessy Di Lauro.
Ric'key Pageot's talent
and hard work has paid off with tremendous successes in his career.
We at Vanier take great pride in his accomplishments and in whatever
part we played in his development.
NOTABLE
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