Tico Torres

Tico Torres

Hector Samuel Juan "Tico" Torres October 7 1953 -) is the Cuban American drummer and percussionist of Bon Jovi.

Childhood

Torres was born on October 7, 1953, in New York, and brought up in Colonia, New Jersey by mother Emma Torres (Cuban-Italian) and father Hector (Cuban). He attended the JFK Memorial High School.

Music career

Torres was a jazz fan as a youth and studied music with Joe Morello. Before joining Bon Jovi in 1983 he had already played live and in the studio with Franke and the Knockouts, Pat Benatar, Chuck Berry, Cher, Alice Cooper and Stevie Nicks; recording a total of 26 albums with these artists

Tico met Alec John Such while playing with a band called Phantom's Opera and it was this friendship which led to him joining Bon Jovi. When Jon Bon Jovi, the lead singer of the band approached Torres, he was put off by the fact Jon was 9 years younger than him. Regardless of this he said it was Jon's charismatic appearance and watching Jon perform that attracted him to join the band.

Equipment

Torres is an endorser of Pearl drums and hardware, Paiste cymbals, Easton Ahead Tico Torres sticks/gloves/griptape, Remo drumheads (Emperor X on snare(Ambassador Snare), Coated Emperors on toms(Ambassador Ebony),Powerstroke 3 on bassdrum(Powerstroke Ebony), DW hardware, LP percussion and Beato bags.

Drum Kit Set-Up

Pearl Masterworks, Red Sparkle Finish, Chrome Hardware

• 2x Pearl Masterworks 22"x18" Bass Drums
• Pearl Masterworks 12"x9" Tom Tom
• Pearl Masterworks 13"x9" Tom Tom
• Pearl Masterworks 16"x16" Floor Tom
• Pearl Masterworks 18"x18" Floor Tom
• Pearl Tico Torres Signature Snare Drum 14"x6.5",Pearl Sensitone Brass Snare Drum 14"x6,5",Pearl Sensitone Phosphor Bronze Snare Drum 14"x6,5",Pearl Sensitone Aluminum Snare Drum 14"x6,5"

Paiste Cymbals (Signature and 2oo2)

• Paiste 14" Signature Heavy Hi-Hat
• Paiste 16" Signature Power Crash (2x)
• Paiste 18" Signature Power Crash
• Paiste 20" Signature Power Crash
• Paiste 14" Signature Full Crash
• Paiste 10" Signature Splash
• Paiste 20" 2oo2 China
• Paiste 22" 2oo2 Rock Bell Ride

Art

Known as "The Hitman," Tico discovered another talent: painting. He has exhibited his art since 1994. The successful first show was at the Ambassador Galleries in Soho, New York. Tico is a self-taught painter, who paints expressive pictures which show scenes from everyday life and the life with the band.

His painting talent was shown in one of the three videos made for the single "Who Says You Can't Go Home." There is a scene in one of the videos showing Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, and Richie Sambora painting a wall of a house a solid color, while Tico is at the other end of the room, painting an extravagant picture of a house surrounded by a multi-colored heart on the same wall.

He also owns a fashion line for babies called Rock Star Baby (selling baby clothing, strollers, soft toys, jewelry and furniture, etc.), which is viewable at http://www.rockstarbaby.com or http://www.reasonsoftheheart.com/rockstarbaby.html or http://www.gtbaby.com

Personal life

Tico and his first wife divorced soon after the formation of Bon Jovi in 1983. In 1996, Torres married Czech born model Eva Herzigova in Sea Bright, New Jersey. The ceremony was attended by their closest friends and family including Donald Trump and the members of Bon Jovi. The band serenaded Eva and her husband with hit single "Always" during the dance. Their marriage ended two years later. Tico married Maria Alejandra in September 2001, his third marriage. They have a son, Hector Alexander, born on January 9, 2004.

See also

• List of Cubans

External links

• Official Site
• Rock Star Baby
• Rock Star Baby Jewellry-Site-Europe
• Wallnut St. Gallery with Tico's art
• Tico Torres Fansite
• Rock Star Baby Jewelry in the USA