At 18 years old, Pedro was doing session work and production in styles as diverse as jazz, funk, reggae and hip-hop. His days were filled with teaching as many as 60 students per week. In 1996, the 20 year old multi-instrumentalist received a performance scholarship to the acclaimed Berklee College of Music. Between the years of 1997 & 2001, Pedro completed his musical studies in Boston, MA, while performing with two popular West African band leaders, Djeli Balla Tounkara and his band “Mande Foli†& master drummer Sidi “Joh†Camara & his band “Jamajigiâ€, as well as his African drum and dance ballet “Troupe Sewaâ€. many came to notice his proficiency on a variety of instruments including the: Dobro, Contrabass, Steel Pan, Hawaiian Guitar, the West African Ngoni, the Moroccan Sintir, the Puerto Rican Cuatro, and of course, Bass and Guitar. Pedro incorporates many of these instruments in such musical styles as Jazz, Delta Blues, Salsa, Reggae, Calypso, Country, Rock, Folk & Ragtime. During this time Pedro caught the ear of Rock N Roll Hall of Fame member and Grammy winning veteran, Dickey Betts, founding member of the The Allman Brothers Band. Betts asked Pedro to join his solo project, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, as full time bass player. Pedro has filmed a DVD entitled “Back Where It All Begins†with Betts and Great Southern, at The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, appeared on The Carson Daily Show as well as touring extensively with Dickey Betts & Great Southern, exciting thousands with his musical ability. While home on breaks Pedro recorded his solo album entitled, “Pedro Arevalo & Friends,†released in September, 2005, with pre orders of the project reaching impressive numbers. The album features guest appearances by Dickey Betts, Mike Kach, T.C. Carr, Duane Betts and many others. The album is an interesting mix of Blues, Country, and Rock n Roll. With plans to tour in support of the album, Pedro continues to write, perform, and produce his eclectic mix of music.
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