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The Pre-Made PodcastAuthor: Matthew C Collins
In this podcast, you'll hear stories primarily from my Amherst College Class of 1994 classmates as we reflect on life 30 years removed from graduation day. What have we been up to all these years? How has Amherst and a liberal arts education impacted our lives? What college memories have stayed with us? How are we thinking about the next 20 years? Language: en Genres: Arts, Performing Arts, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ricky Quinones Has A Grammy, And Yet Still Approaches Music With Humility
Tuesday, 3 February, 2026
Ricky Quinones has spent his life exploring and expressing music across genres, geographies, and stages, from Amherst to New York, including Broadway, and Grammy-winning collaborations. Ricky opens up about his musical evolution, the artists who shaped him, and why the blues remains the emotional and structural foundation of everything he plays (and, surprisingly, what he sometimes hears in the music of JS Bach). We talk about the lessons learned from proximity to greatness, playing alongside artists like Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and India.Arie (with whom he won a Grammy). Ricky reflects candidly on what it takes to sustain a career in one of the most competitive and uncertain of professions, and why preparation and empathy matter more than virtuosity alone. He also revisits his Amherst years, a time he describes as creatively fertile but emotionally difficult, when music became something deeply personal and stabilizing. Today, Ricky continues to evolve as a musician and as a mentor and substitute teacher in Queens, finding new ways to keep his creative cup full while giving back. Highlights: Why the blues serves as Ricky’s musical “mother tongue” across genres What he has learned by watching and working alongside legendary collaborators The keys to sustaining a long career in professional music The classmate he wants me to interview next Email Ricky at rickyqmusic1@gmail.com. Big thanks to David Young for nominating Ricky.
