meet the artist Ama Ríos

Ama Ríos Biography

Ama Ríos is an artist born and raised in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Her musical journey began at the age of 6 when she participated in the Preparatory School at “Puerto Rico Music Conservatory” and studied classical piano for the next 8 years. Later, at 19 years old, her curiosity and desire to learn about her roots helped her develop as a dancer, singer, and lead percussionist in the Puerto Rican Afro-Caribbean genre: Bomba.

After a few years playing professionally, Ama decided to formalize her studies and returned to the “Puerto Rico Music Conservatory”. Here she obtained a bachelor's degree in Latin Jazz & Afro-Caribbean percussion.

Her teachers inside and outside the institution were; Jerry Ferrao, Victor Emmanuelli, Paoli Mejías & Andrew Lázaro, with whom she’s worked professionally in different musical projects.

Ríos is distinguished for directing urban music singer Tego Calderón’s band since 2015. Apart from her duties as director, Ama also plays lead percussion and travels around the world alongside Tego. In addition, she is a percussion instructor at “Taller Tambuyé”, in Río Piedras, PR. Here she provides enriching experiences to people of all ages who wish to learn about their heritage and the traditional music genre “Bomba”. Furthermore, Ama has participated in projects outside of the island as a " Resident Artist" Her latest endeavor was at the University of Washington in Seattle where she taught a music course and collaborated with Ethnomusicologist and Professor Shannon Dudley in Community workshops.

Ama has worked alongside renowned artists such as percussionist Paoli Mejías, Charlie Sepúlveda (Jazz musician-trompetist), urban music singers Plan B (Urban Music Duo), and Chencho Corleone (Urban music singer). Within folklore, she has participated in numerous groups affiliation such as; Desde Cero, Restauración Cultural, Ausúba, Bomba Evolución, and Bataklán among others.

Musical projects she’s participated in:

• Tego Calderon’s American Grammy Winning Album “El Que Sabe, Sabe” for “Best Urban Album of the Year” in 2015.
• Barez’s newest album " Laberinto del Coco" (2017)
• Production nominated for “Best Folkloric Album of the Year” at the Latin Grammys 2018
• Paoli Mejias’s DVD Concert  “De Jazzambia a Mi Tambor” (2012)

She currently co-directs and plays in her project, Émina, a female Bori-Mex band with Afro-Caribbean influence and Electronic Sounds which are making waves on an off the island with their eclectic beats.

Country: Puerto Rico

Band: Émina