Ricco Barrino

Electronic Press Kit

Ricco Barrino was born in High Point, North Carolina with the gift of music in his genes. Also known as “Puerto Ricc” or "Ricco Murcielago", he gained his love for music at an early age with the influential sounds of Gospel and R&B music being sung in his home by various family members who had their own bands and groups during the Motown era. Ricco’s father was also a very successful old school crooner in his own right. Ricco was especially drawn to the sounds of musical legends such as Prince, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Sam Cooke and George Clinton. He feels these guys defined soul music as we know it; they paved the way for the type of music he performs today. Ricco started his first band at the age of 11 and has been developing his own rich and unique musical sound ever since. Because of the diverse genres of music he has grown up with, Ricco has the ability to intertwine the best sounds of R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, Rap, Country, and Pop to give all his fans that finger snapping toe tapping sound that we all love on a hot summer night. He can also show a rugged steely side that can be traced back to his North Carolina high school football days where he was a standout linebacker and fullback. More recently Ricco has become the lead singer/songwriter and soul of his group Infinite which resides in “Da Middle East” otherwise known as Greensboro, North Carolina. In addition to shaping the R&B scene with Infinite, Ricco also is a constant powerful voice singing background with his sister American Idol champion Fantasia Barrino. He’s a veteran of many International tours that include the likes of Kanye West, Common, Keisha Cole, and Patty Labelle just to name a few. He is currently assisting Fantasia as she is working on her next release to hit airwaves soon. Today Ricco is making his way up the charts with his new hit single “Go Head” which has people on the dance floor moving to the upbeat tempo. Ricco has been spending a lot of his time in the studio writing for such artist as Day 26, R Kelly, and Angie Stone. Being a vocal instrumental addition to the Grand Hustle family is what Ricco is doing to date. Because Ricco is a self confessed workaholic with the talent and drive of five men he has also started a company for young writers called Sky Writers. He collaborates with his friend and producer of “Bubble Gum” and “Go Head” Keith McMasters of Grand Hustlers; whose tracks include placement with nationally renowned rappers such as T.I., Chingy, P-Wonda, and Ludacris. Ricco has surrounded himself with the best in R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop and Rap because he is always pushing himself to be the best. Ricco’s style is very rhythmic; it touches the heart and soul of all generations, man and woman, boy and girl. What makes him different is he has originality, soulfulness, and a spiritual depth that not many men can reach at such a young age. Ricco has a way of using his lyrics to reach in and touch your soul. “Never Goodbye, Only Love” - Ricco Barrino.