Ricky Valido shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Ricky, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building — even if nobody sees it — is more than just an audience for my art. I’m cultivating a community. I’m chasing a dream and building a music career from scratch, with no gimmicks, additives, or cookie-cutter promotional plans. Just grit, hard work, perseverance, and the power of word-of-mouth.
It’s an organic journey of artist development that puts fans first — where followers, new listeners, and longtime supporters all share the same room of discovery. They’re discovering the songs, the visual storytelling, and the energy of the live performances at the same time that I am as an artist and songwriter — and at the same time my live band is growing right alongside me.
What I’m building is truly grassroots and real — the kind of foundation that can’t be manufactured, only earned.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Ricky Valido — a multifaceted artist and storyteller. I tell stories through song and visuals, writing my own material, carving it out with my band in live settings, recording and producing my music, and shaping the visual storytelling through film, documentaries, and music videos. My love for both electric and acoustic guitar fuels the sound of my live band — a sound that’s sometimes different from my studio records. I don’t have rules when it comes to creating; the constant field of sonic exploration and artistic discovery is what keeps things fresh for me.
I’m not your stereotypical country singer. My music is deeply rooted in tradition, but it’s influenced by everything from folk, rock, R&B, soul, rockabilly, and Americana to the legends of country and bluegrass. I also make space for my Cuban American roots, writing and singing in Spanish as part of my journey as a bilingual artist. My style — “The Hialeah Hillbilly Sound” — is a unique blend of my greatest influences, paying homage to tradition while breaking barriers.
Hialeah, my hometown, shaped my identity. From roosters in the streets to the aroma of Cuban espresso drifting through the alleys, and the vibrant colors of street vendors — these are the threads woven into my music. The landscapes of the Florida Everglades and the rich culture around me are constant sources of inspiration.
Alongside my band, The Hialeah Hillbillies, we play over 200 shows a year, bringing high-energy performances to national and international audiences. We’ve shared stages with artists like Tracy Byrd and Alan Jackson, but whether I’m performing for two people or thousands, it’s always about the music and the live connection.
This year marks a major milestone — the release of my debut album, A Collection of Songs, a compilation of previously released singles and new tracks, including my first song in Spanish, “Borracho.” My upcoming album, Lost Lyrics and Old Memories, has just begun its journey with the release of the title track and a brand-new music video. I’m also working on an intimate acoustic album, Dear Everglades, dedicated to the Florida Everglades and its people — a project that addresses environmental issues and raises awareness about the importance of preserving this vital ecosystem for future generations.
Looking ahead, I’m exploring a possible bluegrass project, stretching my voice and songwriting into a genre I’ve long admired. Through every project, I remain committed to organic growth, authenticity, and building a true grassroots community of fans who discover the music, the stories, and the performances alongside me and my band.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Without a doubt — my family. My parents and grandparents have always believed in me, even before I knew what I was capable of becoming. My great-grandmother, Abuela Caridad, played one of the most pivotal roles in my journey. When I was eight years old, she gifted me my first guitar. That moment changed everything. I didn’t know it at the time, but she was handing me the very tool that would carry my voice, my stories, and my soul to the world. Her love, and the love of my grandparents, continues to fuel my path every single day.
I also owe so much to my late and great mentor, guitarist, and teacher Carlos Valdes. Carlos didn’t just teach me music — he taught me how to play in a band, how to express myself freely in a live setting, and how to bring that same freedom into the studio. Our friendship and bond were something rare and beautiful, and his influence will forever be a part of everything I create. Every note I play, every song I write, carries a piece of his teaching and his spirit.
My artistic journey is, in many ways, an offering of respect and dedication to my loved ones. It’s a way to honor their belief in me — the belief they had long before I could see my own reflection as an artist. They saw me before I did, and I carry that gift with pride, gratitude, and love.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
Absolutely. For me, it happens when I’m on stage and I can feel the entire audience locked into my songs. It’s when every ear is tuned into the lyrics, every heart is open, and the energy in the room is balanced just right. In those moments, something happens — something I can’t fully explain. It becomes a symbiotic relationship, a transfer of positive energy from the stage to the audience and back again.
It’s more than just playing music. It’s storytelling, performance, and emotion colliding in real time. The audience isn’t just hearing me — they’re listening. They’re following the thread of every word, every note, every pause. And I’m listening to them too — to their silence, to their breath, to their unspoken responses.
When those magical moments arrive, it feels like we’re having a true conversation, one that doesn’t need words outside of the music itself. It’s a powerful connection that leaves you changed, even after the last note fades. Those are the times I feel truly heard — when the music creates a space where my voice, my story, and the hearts of the listeners are all speaking together.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I’m well aware that I’m in the music industry — and with that comes many responsibilities connected not just to the art of making music, but to the business and entertainment sides of it as well. I have deep respect for the people in this industry, especially my peers and colleagues who have become more like family over the years. So, I don’t have anything negative to say about the industry itself.
That said, I don’t spend too much energy focusing on it. I like to tell myself, and anyone who really knows me, that I’m in the Ricky Valido industry. My priority is to keep everything centered on expressive freedom, creativity, and positivity. I’m not chasing trends, numbers, money, charts, fame, or trying to live up to industry standards and pressures. I’m focused on paving my own lane, at my own pace — building a catalog, a legacy, and real art.
I have no interest in “playing it safe” or letting myself be boxed in by rules that don’t serve my creativity. I’m running on my own time, free to make the kind of music I want, when I want, without any external pressure. That’s the only way I can create authentically.
My mindset and goals set me apart from both the new, flashy, trendy artists and the so-called “has-beens.” I’m simply Ricky Valido. If you connect with the music I make, that means we’re meant to share that journey. And if you don’t, that’s fine too — it just means my art isn’t for you. I’d rather stay true to myself than try to be everything to everyone.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. For me, praise comes from the art itself. When I write, record, release music, or create visuals, the real reward is in the process. I’m not driven by praise or accolades — but if they come my way, I accept them with humility and gratitude. My art is an offering — to the universe, to the people who connect with it, and to myself.
I think “success” is a word with too many labels and definitions. To me, success means creating the art you truly want to make, and feeling a sense of pride in it during the process and after it’s released into the world. I’m not the typical artist, singer, or songwriter. If I’m never fully accepted, understood, or revered, I’m at peace with that.
My focus is, and will always be, on making art — regardless of the timing, circumstances, trends, or what’s in or out of style. I will continue to perform live and record music for a lifetime. I intend to be prolific, and I believe the work will stand the test of time, whether it’s praised or not.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RickyValido.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RickyValido/
- Twitter: https://x.com/rickyvalido
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rickyvalido/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/THERICKYVALIDOMUSIC
- Other: https://rickyvalido.komi.io/
Image Credits
Presented by Ricky Valido (C)
Valido Records (C)
Photos by Jose Pixel Films
