Post by Alex on Apr 29, 2007 21:49:39 GMT
Meet Tico Torres, philanthropist and drummer for the legendary rock band Bon Jovi.
Source: www.wpbf.com/legendsandlegacies/index.html?rss=wpb&psp=news
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- It was at the Village Vanguard jazz club in New York where Tico Torres learned from his mentor, Elvin Jones. While Jones jammed on the drums with the John Coltrane Band, an impressionable Tico would get him drinks and cigarettes.
Also, during those learning years, Tico used his knack for roofing to barter a deal with legendary drummer Joe Morello -- you give me lessons, I'll fix your leaky roof.
But his passion, and talents, are far more reaching.
Bon Jovi has sold over 100 million albums since cranking out their first hit in 1984.
Drummer Tico Torres has been with the band since day one.
"We're still kids when we're playing music. We're young at heart. Luckily, we came up with songs young people like, so we have generations of listeners," Torres said.
But the life of a rock star takes many turns, for Tico,the key to the present is not forgetting the past.
"My mother always provided for me I didn't have a father left when I was a kid," Torres said.
Raised by his mother and grandmother, they stressed the importance of his Cuban heritage.
"My grandmother, she brought in like, 22 Cuban refugees. I never had brothers and sisters, but they would live with us," Torres said.
Those early influences are still present in Torres' other talent, painting.
For Torres, painting provides an escape.
"It's spirtual issue for me. I get a lot of good energy from it. I put classical music on and go until I'm finished with the piece, usually," Torres said.
Although he loves impressionism, his inspiration comes from everywhere.
Another one of Torres' releases is golf, which he learned from Willie Nelson.
"He owned a course in Texas, and walking with him, [we] just spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon with him and I just realized golf was an interesting game," Torres said.
Now a 12 handicapp, Torres travels to Scotland every year to play in the Dunhill Cup. This year, his team finished 12th.
"I made the cut, and we played on Sunday. It was awesome," Torres said.
The passion for the game led to the Tico Torres Classic, which benefits the Arc of Palm Beach County.
The mission of the Arc in Palm Beach County is to improve the lives of children and adults who have developmental and mental disabilities, as well as their families, through services,advocacy and education.
"Not just to raise money, but to raise awareness," Torres explained. "If this happened to your child, let's try to help the people in need."
Now at 52, life's not all about him anymore, Torres explained.
"I have the wisdom to be a father, which I don't think I had the wisdom when I was in my 20's. Being my age, I have a lot more to offer him, nothing better than being a dad," Torres explained about his son.
And coming from a long line of seamstresses, it allowed Torres to follow yet another passion, a clothing and accessories line called "Rock Star Baby."
And for Torres, home is paradise.
Passion led him to success, when a door closed, he just knocked again. Even though, at one point, his mother feared he'd end up end up a starving artist.
"I was confident I could do it," Torres explained. "She gave me full support, gave me a kiss, and I went for it. She said the only thing, 'Don't get tattoo's.' I held true to that."
When asked if he ever gets tired of the rock star life, Torres said that, when people stop asking, that's when he'll worry.
Source: www.wpbf.com/legendsandlegacies/index.html?rss=wpb&psp=news
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- It was at the Village Vanguard jazz club in New York where Tico Torres learned from his mentor, Elvin Jones. While Jones jammed on the drums with the John Coltrane Band, an impressionable Tico would get him drinks and cigarettes.
Also, during those learning years, Tico used his knack for roofing to barter a deal with legendary drummer Joe Morello -- you give me lessons, I'll fix your leaky roof.
But his passion, and talents, are far more reaching.
Bon Jovi has sold over 100 million albums since cranking out their first hit in 1984.
Drummer Tico Torres has been with the band since day one.
"We're still kids when we're playing music. We're young at heart. Luckily, we came up with songs young people like, so we have generations of listeners," Torres said.
But the life of a rock star takes many turns, for Tico,the key to the present is not forgetting the past.
"My mother always provided for me I didn't have a father left when I was a kid," Torres said.
Raised by his mother and grandmother, they stressed the importance of his Cuban heritage.
"My grandmother, she brought in like, 22 Cuban refugees. I never had brothers and sisters, but they would live with us," Torres said.
Those early influences are still present in Torres' other talent, painting.
For Torres, painting provides an escape.
"It's spirtual issue for me. I get a lot of good energy from it. I put classical music on and go until I'm finished with the piece, usually," Torres said.
Although he loves impressionism, his inspiration comes from everywhere.
Another one of Torres' releases is golf, which he learned from Willie Nelson.
"He owned a course in Texas, and walking with him, [we] just spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon with him and I just realized golf was an interesting game," Torres said.
Now a 12 handicapp, Torres travels to Scotland every year to play in the Dunhill Cup. This year, his team finished 12th.
"I made the cut, and we played on Sunday. It was awesome," Torres said.
The passion for the game led to the Tico Torres Classic, which benefits the Arc of Palm Beach County.
The mission of the Arc in Palm Beach County is to improve the lives of children and adults who have developmental and mental disabilities, as well as their families, through services,advocacy and education.
"Not just to raise money, but to raise awareness," Torres explained. "If this happened to your child, let's try to help the people in need."
Now at 52, life's not all about him anymore, Torres explained.
"I have the wisdom to be a father, which I don't think I had the wisdom when I was in my 20's. Being my age, I have a lot more to offer him, nothing better than being a dad," Torres explained about his son.
And coming from a long line of seamstresses, it allowed Torres to follow yet another passion, a clothing and accessories line called "Rock Star Baby."
And for Torres, home is paradise.
Passion led him to success, when a door closed, he just knocked again. Even though, at one point, his mother feared he'd end up end up a starving artist.
"I was confident I could do it," Torres explained. "She gave me full support, gave me a kiss, and I went for it. She said the only thing, 'Don't get tattoo's.' I held true to that."
When asked if he ever gets tired of the rock star life, Torres said that, when people stop asking, that's when he'll worry.
