William Ruiz, a drummer and multi-instrumental percussionist, is an American Native, Indigenous mixed with Portuguese, Spanish, Taino. His career as a musician started as a freelance interstate street busker across the USA before auditioning and becoming a Music Under New York performer.

 

Based in New Jersey, William also spends a lot of time performing around the world. He has performed all over the United States as well as the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Egypt, Indonesia, France, Germany, Colombia, the Bahamas, Nepal, and India.

 

William is a well respected award winning artist having received the Taino award for musician of the year as well as numerous awards from the United Nations for being an ambassador of music and peace.

 

Ruiz has appeared for interviews/performances on CNN international news, Hot 97 radio as well as WBAI. He is known for playing Log drums, Tongue drums, the HandPan, and Hand drums while wearing his trademark Ghungroo sneaker bells/Aztec Ayoyotes ankle shakers. He also plays various other percussion instruments. Ruiz crafts Native American, Indigenous Caribbean, South American, Asian, and African influences into his improvisational style of world beat atmospheric music. 

 

William has collaborated with many world-renowned musicians. He performs solo, with drum groups, and his 4-piece musical group.  He also hosts drum assemblies, workshops, and private drum events for children through grants, nonprofits and as a freelance teacher (K – High school), adults, colleges, and corporate events throughout New York State/the five boroughs of New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

 

Ruiz has played with a list of top jazz and world music bands as well as individual artists, including Jason Caplan, Naqshon’s Leap, Rhiannon Catalyst - Catalyst Cultural Labs, the Cheryl Pyle Beyond group, the Alex Lodico ensemble, Josh Roseman’s Pomegranate, and Jay Rodriguez-Sierra with Batidos. He has also worked with guitarist Bern Nix, conductor Carman Moore, Cameroonian Afro beat trap drummer Joseph Kuo, bassist Victor Bailey, soprano saxophonist Sam Newsome, and composer William Cepeda to name a few.

 

In conclusion, William works with many different types of artists and organizations, whether multimedia or not, whose styles range from Jazz, Pop, Reggae, Funk, Country, Rock N Roll, with DJ’s, R&B, Spoken Word, Folkloric music to World Fusion. 

 

Ruiz is available for parties and private events, including kids' parties with all instruments provided, corporate events, weddings, concert performances, school assemblies, and preschool through college level workshops and performances.

 

Percussionist William Ruiz also has broad experience supporting Native American/Indigenous history month, Latino History month, Asian cultural events and African Diaspora programs.