Rico Monaco & Sol Sons

RMSS Win Best Latin Act, AGAIN! Recording Update, YouTube Channel

2011-07-29T08:27:00.001-07:00

Breaking News: Rico Monaco & Sol Sons WIN AGAIN!
RMSS voted Best Latin Act in the Best Of Orlando 2011 online.
THANKS to all our fans! This is the 7th time in 9 years we have won a best band award! Feels good to be loved!
STUDIO UPDATE: Tracking is 80% done and mixing has started in California with Audio Engineer Nolan McIntyre out at The Mix Room in Burbank on this project. New original songs such as "3-2-1, Let Me See Your Hands, Tango On, and Mexican Meltdown." Importantly, a group of classic remakes including songs made famous by Led Zeppelin, The Police, Seal, Eric Clapton, Queen & Focus. They are also recording "Crazy Heart" written by legendary Grammy winning artist Jose Feliciano with his full permission and support to record the song which he has never released before . The band is working with Jose's manager John Regna of World Entertainment on this project who has been a manager of numerous international superstars for over 35 years. The recordings are absolutely ROCKING!
Check out the RMSS YouTube Channel with all the band videos and great Playlists of our favorite artists!

New Recording Sessions in May 2011!

2011-04-09T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hello Music Lovers,

Rico Monaco & Sol Sons is heading into the Paint It Black Studios in Altamonte Sprigs, Florida on May 2. We will be recording 12 tracks. There are great new original songs and classic covers being prepared in Pre-Production as of this posting. There are plans for us to put out a two or three disc package with remixed greatest songs from our first 4 CDs included with the new material but we are still developing lots of ideas. We are targeting over seas markets and here at home as well. One song we are covering was written but not yet recorded by Jose Feliciano. We have received his permission personally to record the song and we will be doing two versions of this song. There will be other surprises too. We are PUMPED UP! Stay Tuned...

Our YouTube videos are getting a good number of views and we would welcome your support in sharing these with friends.

The Passion Theory Guitar Instruction Method DVDs are doing well and still playing 24/7 on channel 54 at the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago.

We look up to the light with faith, hope, and dreams.

Enjoy everyday and until next time,

Rico Monaco

Gigs! New Guitar Instruction DVD release, The Passion Theory

2010-07-03T09:52:00.001-07:00

Rico Monaco & Sol Sons is staying very busy this summer! Check out the website www.ricomonaco.com for gigs and other info. I have released my guitar instruction DVD called "The Passion Theory" Rico Monaco Guitar Method Daily Lesson Plan Volume 1. www.ThePassionTheory.com to check out samples and testimonials. A 70 minute sampler of this instruction DVD is currently playing at the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago on every guest room TV as a part of the "Check In, Rock Out program presented by Gibson Guitars!" Thanks to Len Wilkes (Director of film, editor, go to guy) for helping tremendously on this project. The band will be releasing more videos on YouTube from our latest 2 disc live special edition DVD & CD "So Alive from the Sunshine State" in the next month or so. We are sounding better and better as we have done more gigs and I hope you can come check us out to hear what I am talking about. It's amazing to have great support from dedicated musicians, Gibson Guitars (Michael Waggoner, Matt, & Tiffany), Dean Markley (& his strings), Guitar Factory (Billy, Doug, and Corey), my friends, and my family. We are lucky to do what we love and look forward to spreading the music we make around the world or just in Kissimmee at Gaylord Palms Resort tonight! We take it one gig and one fan at a time, everyone is important to us and we appreciate you all.

New DVD/CD "So Alive from the Sunshine State" released!

2009-11-13T05:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends! It has been an extremely busy 5 months and that means you will be seeing more updates here on the RMSS Blogspot soon.
1. We filmed & recorded 3 sets of our July 18, 2009 concert with WLOQ 1031. at Uptown Altamonte in Altamonte Springs, Florida on a gorgeous lake in front of 5000 fans.
2. We finished writing 9 new original songs and re-made/arranged 4 classic covers in the RMSS style including "Hotel California," "Baker Street," "Jingo," and the Zucchero/Mana song "Baila Morena."
3. We filmed & recorded 13 songs in ONE DAY at Durbin Audio on September 13, 2009! Then added some overdubs and mixed the audio here at Ricmon Studios with me producing everything!
4. Len Wilkes (www.leonardwilkes.com) directed and edited all the footage including the beach scenes we added from near beautiful Sebastian Inlet with me & Page playing the songs.
5. I was invited by Sammy Hagar to attend his world famous Birthday Bash at the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas Mexico Oct. 7 thru Oct. 13, 2009! I rocked the house Oct. 11 and was invited by Sammy himself to jam on his birthday 10/13 but he was overwhelmed and exhausted by then so it didn't happen but he was very excited about our new DVD/CD project. Also, the entire Chickenfoot band performed (Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, & Chad Smith-drummer for the Chili Peppers), Matt Sorum (drummer for GNR & Velvet Revolver), Emeril Lagasse (played timbales), Skunk Baxter, Gary Wright and magician Chris Angel were all in attendance plus thousands of Sammy fans we call RedHeads. It was a great trip. Pictures are up my Facebook page and elsewhere!
6. We had a pre-release concert show for the new DVD/CD on November 14, 2009 at the Orlando Food & Wine Festival. I was interviewed live on WLOQ 103.1 and discussed the new release. We rocked this great event and added some much needed life to the proceedings as it was mostly "smooth" type music. The Average White Band will be headlined and did kick out the funk jams. It was a great event with great chefs, great wine, great music, and beautiful Florida sunshine.
7. We had an awesome VIP Private Official Release Party for "So Alive from the Sunshine State" at the Gibson Showroom in downtown Orlando on December 4, 2009. We had great food, beer, wine, and Cabo Wabo Tequila provided by Sammy Hagar (thanks Sammy!). Of course the band played a mostly "unplugged" 90 minute set ending with a more electric sound! Thanks to Michael Waggoner, Tiffany, & Matt at Gibson.

Please, support us and spread the word about the new DVD/CD "So Alive from the Sunshine State!" You can buy a copy through our website at www.ricomonaco.com

We will see you all soon!

Sammy Hagar jams with Rico Monaco & Sol Sons!

2009-07-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Music Lovers! In our continued support of the new Chickenfoot CD and tour featuring Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony (bass player for Van Halen), Joe Satriani (guitar hero), and Chad Smith(Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer) we have released 5 clips of RMSS' onstage with Sammy Hagar at the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. RMSS with Sammy Hagar playing the classic Van Halen song "Black-N-Blue!" This was when the band won the Hard Rock Cafe/Cabo Wabo Tequila National Battle Of The Bands. I asked Sammy to join the band on our version of the Van Hagar tune and he said YES! We added a great 6/8 jam at the end that Sammy didn't expect. Checkout Sammy playing the "Shekere" onstage! It was my first time onstage with Sammy and what a night it was. Classic stuff and the beginning of a great relationship with The Red Rocker (Rock-N-Roll Hall Of Famer for his work with Van Halen) and now of Chickenfoot. Watch clip #5 of 5 with the BIG ENDING! But all of them are awesome thanks to Sammy and his fans.

I have the entire thing in one 525 MB clip on my Facebook page but YouTube can’t handle that large a file. You can add me on Facebook and watch it one video.

#1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i8h_iuJz_M

#2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDq9HhHBM-k

#3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mouvfIu63oo

#4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN4aBpl4ow0

#5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcp5Hac-LJU

Jammin' with Michael Anthony in Cabo!

2009-06-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hey Music Lovers,
In honor of the new CD release by Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony-ex Van Halen, Joe Satriani-guitar hero, and Chad Smith-Chili Peppers), I am posting some clips with Michael Anthony and I jamming at Sammy's Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico! These are rare clips of Michael Anthony and I in which Michael sings lead vocals on the Van Halen classic "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love" at Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. A great version and special surprise for everyone at the club that night. Watch Part 2 for the big ending.
There are three clips total that will be posted here, on You Tube, Myspace, etc.
Chickenfoot & Van Halen fans enjoy! It was a great night of many in Cabo with Sammy and Michael. There is footage of the band jammin' with Sammy in our Live EPK clips and I may post those separately too. These clips are of us playing "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love" with Michael singing lead in two parts. Then another clip of us rockin' "You Really Got Me!"