A Troubadour from the Heart of the Southwest

Tucson, Arizona

Teodoro "Ted" Ramirez is a Southwest folk musician with a captivating music style and sound. His music is a musical celebration of the Southwest culture. 

His repertoire is a mixture of original music, classic American and Mexican folk songs, and stories. Ted is a seasoned live concert performer having toured extensively in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and northern Europe. 

Ted was born in Tucson, Arizona - his Spanish and Indigenous roots together pre-date the founding of New Spain, Mexico, and the United States. Ted presents his songs with intriguing introductions drawn from personal experience, as well as the oral and written histories of Mexico and the American Southwest. 

Ted has received numerous awards including: "Arizona Culture Keeper Award" and named "Tucson’s Official Troubadour" by the Tucson’s Mayor and City Council in 2001. 

Ted is the founder of the celebrated Tucson-based folk group; "The Santa Cruz River Band". 

Ted's concert performances and appearances are rich in Southwest culture, music and fun. His heartfelt love of music, people and stories of the Southwest guide his audience into the intriguing world of Southwestern culture.  Ted’s presentations and concerts are well-suited for: live concerts, festivals, educational programs, residencies, and workshops and special presentations. 

Teodoro “Ted” Ramirez

Overview

Ted is a native Tucsonan - a direct descendent of the region’s Indigenous peoples and the first Spanish families to colonize the region in the 1600s.  His Indigenous roots are: Mayo, (from Sonora, Mexico), and Pueblo (from New Mexico) - his European roots are Spanish. 

• Ted is an award-winning culture preservationist.
• Tucson’s Mayor and City Council proclaimed him “Tucson’s Official Troubadour".
• Ted is the founder of the celebrated Santa Cruz River Band.
• He created and served as host of the state-wide folk music radio program “The Sounds of Arizona” - aired Statewide for 10 years in Arizona.
• Ted is currently songwriting and touring as a solo performer nationally and internationally.

Discography

Six acclaimed studio CDs: "Blind Rain", "Hard Road Traveling", "Culture", "Adventure" "The Mexican Album", "Signal Fire", "Cavatinas V1", Southwest Folk Collection V1, as well as many live performance CDs.

Partial Past Performance List 

The Kennedy Center (U.S.)

Strawberry Music Festival (U.S.)

The Philadelphia Folk Festival (U.S.)

Sisters Folk Festival (U.S.)

Floralia Festival (The Netherlands)

San Jose Mariachi Festival (U.S.)

The Midnight Special Radio Show (Nationally Syndicated – U.S.)

Tucson Folk Festival (U.S.)

North Wales Theatre, (North Wales – U.K.)

Alamos Artista Series (Mexico)

Mission Folk Festival (Canada)

San Carlos Artista Series (Mexico)

Swallow Hill (U.S.)

Big Top Chautauqua (U.S.)

Millpond Folk Festival (U.S.)

Common Ground on the Hill (U.S.)

 Major Press/Reviews

 Discovering Folk Music (U.S.)

Sing Out! (U.S.)

Maverick (U.K.) 

No Depression Music Magazine (U.S.)