Daily Inspiration: Meet R.J. Ronquillo

Today we’d like to introduce you to R.J. Ronquillo.

Hi R.J., so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the metro Detroit area, in a musical household. My father was a hobby musician and played several instruments, including guitar, so it was always around the house. But it was the movie “Back To The Future” and Michael J. Fox’s character Marty McFly that truly sparked my interest in the guitar.
I started playing when I was 9, and eventually graduated with a degree in jazz guitar from the University of Miami. Remaining in South Florida, I started touring professionally in 2002 with reggae band, Inner Circle, most known for their song “Bad Boys’ from the tv show, “Cops”. During this time I started working in the studio, playing on records by Santana, Tupac, DMX, and Monica. After touring with Inner Circle, I recorded and toured with Ricky Martin.
Shortly after, I moved to LA and continued to tour and perform with various artists such as Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, and Chaka Khan. While in LA, I began posting guitar related videos to YouTube, eventually partnering with various guitar, amp, and pedal companies to produce gear demonstration videos.
I moved to Nashville in 2014, and have since grown my YouTube channel to 190k subscribers, as well as juggled session work and occasional touring.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say the biggest challenge was having the courage to give up my steady touring gigs and commit to being a YouTuber pretty much full time. But eventually I had built up my YouTube channel enough, while working as a touring musician, that I was confident enough to take the leap.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a guitar YouTuber and personality, I try to do a little bit of everything from guitar gear demonstrations, behind the scenes tour vlogs, lessons and courses. I’ve had to learn how to be a videographer and video editor, which has been really great because now I’m able to be creative visually, in addition to musically.
I also do vintage guitar features for Carter Vintage Guitars here in town, as well as collaborate with many of the musical instrument companies based in Nashville. Recently, I performed the game opening Guitar Riff for a Nashville SC soccer game, on API Heritage night. It was a great experience and an honor to represent the Asian American and Pacific Islander community here in middle Tennessee. I’m most proud of being able to do what I love for a living.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I feel like luck has been on my side for most of my life and career. Or maybe, the bad luck I may have had, I know happened for a reason and helped me to grow. There have been many times when I was considering giving up on a career in music, only to be pulled back in by an opportunity, gig, tour, etc. I believe in the law of attraction, because so many of the goals I set for myself, I’ve been able to achieve. I always try to stay positive and my mantra is something that my mother used to say: “Whatever happens, happens.”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rj_ronquillo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialrjronquillo/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RJRonquillo