You can’t beat sheer talent and natural gifts for getting yourself noticed, and dazzling New York-based percussionist Ralph has an overabundance of both. Ralph Irizarry, recognized worldwide as a top percussionist, first fell in love with the timbale at an early age when his father brought home a set received as payment for a debt. A self-taught musician, Irizarry has developed a highly efficient and personalized style of playing while leaving an enduring mark on the artists with whom he has collaborated. His love for the instrument evolved into a full-fledged passion that has fueled his career since 1970. Irizarry .