"Ricardo is one of the most sought after solo Flamenco guitarists and Flamenco group accompanists in the United States. His brilliant technique, lyrical compositions, and masterful interpretations of Flamenco are unsurpassed. Mr. Marlow is also an accomplished "Gypsy Kings" style Rumba performer (guitarist and singer); bringing high energy entertainment to any event. Hired as a soloist performer or as a Flamenco group or as a Gypsy Rumba Band, his versatility is evident. In addition to his performance abilities, Ricardo is a very highly regarded teacher of the Flamenco guitar. Through his live Skype guitar lessons, he reaches students from all over the world on a daily basis."

As a young child, Ricardo (Richard) Marlow was introduced to the guitar by his father, the eminent classical guitarist John E. Marlow. He went on to receive a degree from the James Madison School of Music (James Madison University) in 1997. Mr. Marlow subsequently took up the flamenco guitar and studied with master, Gerardo Núñez, in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain, and continues to do so yearly since 1999.  In 1997 Mr. Marlow began playing professionally as a guitarist for the Arte Flamenco Dance Company featuring Silverio Heredia, Cuquito de Barbate and La Tasca Keka, among other guests from Spain, in venues such as The Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage and the Baltimore Museum of Art, among others.  He also worked with the Danza del Rio Dance Company and the Paco de Malaga and Anna Marinez Dance Company during this time.

Since 2003 Mr. Marlow has continued to fulfill an essential role in Edwin Aparicio’s productions such as “Bailes Inéditos”, “Encuentros”, “Intimo”, "Entresueños", “Flamenco/Flamenca”, “Flamenco Men”, “Al Andalus”, “One plus One”, and “Camino al Flamenco”, where he shared stages with Jesús Montoya, Alfonso Cid, Roberto Castellón, Pedro Cortes Jr., “La Truco”, Nelida Tirado, Carmela Greco, Sergio Aranda, Norberto Chamizo, Carlos Menchaca Juan Orozco “El Yiyi” and Amparo Heredia.   One highlight was Edwin Aparicio’s 2008 work “Dos Mundos” at the Gala Hispanic Theatre, where he was fortunate to share the stage with world-renowned dancer “La Tati”, Jose Jimenez “El Bocadillo”, Antonio Jimenez “El Porras”, and Basillio Garcia Clavero, all from Madrid.    

In 2005, Mr. Marlow performed at the 20th Mayor’s Art’s Awards at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall and Manuel de Falla’s “El Amor Brujo”, with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at Strathmore in Rockville and at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, MD.  Mr. Marlow has toured with Louisville Flamenco in Kentucky, Indiana, and Nashville, TN various times since 2007.  In 2009, the GSFA concert series in Pittsburgh, PA presented Mr. Marlow at Synod Hall with La Tania and Jesus Montoya.  Also in 2009, Mr. Marlow performed “L.A. Olé!” for the “Flamenco Forever Series” at the Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood CA, under the direction of Antonio Triana.  He performed with Antonio Granjero, Roberto Amaral, Fanny Ara, El Yiyi, La Genoveva and others.   In September 2011, Mr. Marlow was an integral part of the very large production “Semana Flamenka” in Irvine, CA Barclay Theatre directed by Yaelisa, sharing the stage with 12 masters of flamenco including Jason McGuire “El Rubio”, Chuscales, Pedro Cortes Jr, José Cortes, Jesus Montoya, Kina Mendez, Antonio de Jerez, Oscar Valero, Manuel de La Cruz, Maria Bermudez, and Nelida Tirado.   

Mr. Marlow had the honor and pleasure to accompany the world renowned flamenco cantaora, Esperanza Fernandez,

at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC in November 2011.

Mr. Marlow is a featured artist in the 2013 Flamenco documentary “Sobre las Olas” by Carolina Loyola-Garcia. In 2016 and 2017, Mr. Marlow was part of Jeffrey Eckstein's "Passion of Flamenco" along with Jose Luis de La Paz from Huelva, Spain, José Cortéz, Yiyi Francisco Orozco, Edwin Aparicio, and Jose Moreno.  Since the release of his debut solo CD “Madera Sonora”, Mr. Marlow has appeared for solo recitals and teaching workshops/master classes at numerous venues including Cal State University (CSU) in Fresno, VCU in Richmond, Duquesne in Pittsburgh, Shenandoah Conservatory “Pavan Series” in VA, Academy Art Museum in Annapolis, MD.  

Throughout his career as a Flamenco guitarist Mr. Marlow has often found himself either on stage or in the recording studio making interesting fusions with many important musicians of other genres, namely Charlie Byrd, Frank Vignola, Canut and Andre Reyes of the Gipsy Kings, Giovanni Hidalgo, Turkish pop star Ege, Jimmy Wilson, Gary and Greg Grainger, Meritxell Negre, Roya Bahrami, The Washington Ballet, Kivanç Oner, Duende Camaron, and many others.   

His percussive style of playing is highly sought after by local flamenco artists. He can be seen playing almost nightly at numerous venues in the Washington, DC and Baltimore metropolitan areas such as Vinoteca, La Tasca, Greenhouse Bistro, Bar Vasquez, Taberna del Alabardero and Trattoria da Franco.

"Ricardo is one of the most sought after solo Flamenco guitarists and Flamenco group accompanists in the United States. His brilliant technique, lyrical compositions, and masterful interpretations of Flamenco are unsurpassed. Mr. Marlow is also an accomplished "Gypsy Kings" style Rumba performer (guitarist and singer); bringing high energy entertainment to any event. Hired as a soloist performer or as a Flamenco group or as a Gypsy Rumba Band, his versatility is evident. In addition to his performance abilities, Ricardo is a very highly regarded teacher of the Flamenco guitar. Through his live Skype guitar lessons, he reaches students from all over the world on a daily basis."