Ricky Mantoan: born in France of italian father and mother from Poland, after coming in Italy with his family, he began to attend the school and initiate to the music, learning play guitar.
Soon he realized that his playing was better into the left mode but with reversed strings, altough father was teaching to him to the regular “right mode”.
Ricky worked out a personal style and techinque to play string instruments.
Growing up and during to study and playing on his “personal Style”, he come in various musical groups and bands, and began to be on stage in the earlier ‘60es.
His style, phrasings, rithms and particular drive gived playing guitar, ready bring up Ricky. Musical taste and eclectic kind of music he get out, are able to convey sensaction to the people who listen an play with him.
Ricky was inspired by DUANE EDDY, (Chet Atkins’s pupil), who is famuos to introduce the electric guitar as leader of Rock and Roll music.
Between 1965 and 1970 absorving the suond of Cream, Rolling Stones and, naturally, Jimi Hendrix, he “fell deeply in love “ with the Californian Country Rock and English Folk-Rock.
Byrds, Flying Burrito Bros., Fairport Convention and especially the Country Singer GRAM PARSONS, influence on the evolution of Ricky’s musical taste.
After several semi-professional experiences, in 1978 he founded the BRANCO SELVAGGIO and began to compose original tracks that will be form his first album “Ricky”, published in 1980. This job had been agreeable for the italian and stranger musical rewiewers. The song “Down in Menphis” gets successfully up on the hit parade of the english specialized magazine “OMAHA RAINBOW”
The ‘80es were the starting time to many collaborations between the “left guitar player” and various “Master Californian music Players”. Ricky made a strong friendship with SKIP BATTIN, Bass, Piano and Vocal Player with Byrds, New Riders of the Purple Sage and
Flying Burrito Bros.
During ‘80es to ‘90es he played various concerts with his group Branco Selvaggio; had many tours with his drummer Beppe D’Angelo; togheter playing alongside Chris Darrow, Greg Harris, Skip Battin, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, John York, Gene Parsons and Roger Mc Guinn, proving to be a very good guitar player and a real masterful PEDAL STEEL GUITARIST.
Following these events, 2 albums will be realized: “Live in Italy” and “Family Tree”.
At the same time, Ricky had a lot of collaboration with Italian artists live on stage and on recording studios; taking part at TV shows and broadcastes (with Renzo ARBORE – RAI, Red Ronnie –TMC, Gabriele La Porta - RAI NOTTE, CANALE 5, Luigi Grechi etc.). In the ‘90es Branco Selvaggio is goodtaken all around in Italy with memorables live exibitions.
The band was composed by: Ricky Mantoan, Renata Boratto, Luciano Costa, Roberto Cecconello and Beppe D’Angelo.
Their show was developed on a long sequenze of particolar feeling sounds and melodies (ndr Gratefulk Dead), through resonances and sensations crossing the Country Rock among psichedelics effects.
Renzo ARBORE on the “Dizionario Della Canzone Italiana” – Curcio Editore-, wrote in 1991 a complete schedule on Ricky, training to him like one of the most creative italian musician.
In 1992 were recorded “RIDERS OF THE UNIVERSE”, first album of Branco Selvaggio, a very good work for critics and audience. Atmospheres and resonances of Byrds and Californian style were based on Pedal Steel Guitar, electric and acoustic 6 & 12 string guitars, string-bender guitars. Getting a dominion of feeling, takes Branco Selvaggio as the most important group in Italy playing Country Rock Music.
1994 was a great period: The Byrds bring up Ricky in the band! They have an international European tour to play. It was very nice and interesting, an evening in GENEVA, recorded also in a video “Live in Geneva”; inside of that, there is a very cool medley with the Canadian folk-singer Rattlesnake Annie.
Ending the XX° century, other musically and school project were been made. Alternatives talking besides Country Music were developped since the roots of American popular music, Celtics and Irish. Ricky is also an arp and dulcimer player. As well as being a musicians, he teached music in many School Institutes, forming, with his students, several goups of young
students, interested and dedicated to learn this subject.
During 2006 Branco Selvaggio makes his efforces to improve all around an higher standard quality of sounds, instrumental and vocals parts, throughout the originals roots of acoustic and electric Traditional Country & Country Rock up to New Country. All songs are arranged by their own.
There are two new entry in the actual band: Dario Zara on bass, other instruments and vocals.
Branco Selvaggio is near ready to ultimate a new album. No more later, another recording will include various new songs, some of them written by Ricky Mantoan. 2009: New album "Ridin' Again", is ready to be published.
All Songs composed and arranged by Ricky and Branco Selvaggio.
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