Ric’key Pageot is an internationally renowned award-winning pianist, producer, arranger, musical director, composer, and proud Steinway Artist. He can now add actor to his illustrious career, playing the co-leading role of Scott Joplin, the godfather of ragtime music, in the critically acclaimed world premiere of the Latino Theater Co. play Ghost Waltz written by Oliver Mayer and directed by Alberto Barbosa.
Ric’key has performed piano, keyboards and accordion on four consecutive world tours with the icon herself Madonna since 2008. He also taught piano and coached her teenage daughter Mercy James for her breathtaking performances on her mom’s latest 2023-24 Celebration Tour. Ric’key has also been touring with pop super star Christina Aguilera since 2022 and he also played keyboards on her live EP ‘The 25th Anniversary of Christina Aguilera’, released in 2024 to commemorate her debut album.
But one of Pageot’s most personal poignant moments of his career was performing with The Re-Collective orchestra directed by Derrick Hodge as part of the very first all-Black symphony orchestra to perform at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA in its 100 year history to celebrate Juneteenth in 2022 broadcast live on CNN.
Ric’key has also written and recorded with Jill Scott and legendary RnB band, Earth Wind and Fire. He has also performed live with other iconic artists such as Chaka Khan, Questlove & The Roots, Stewart Copeland of The Police, Billy Porter, Earth Wind and Fire, Ne-Yo, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, Yolanda Adams, Ann Nesby of Sounds of Blackness, Cher, Diana Ross, Cirque du Soleil, just to name a few. He’s also performed in renowned venues from Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro to the Walt Disney Hall in downtown Los Angeles.
Pageot also co-led his speakeasy funk original music with his band Parlor Social alongside singer/ songwriter Dessy Di Lauro. Their original music have appeared on Netflix’s ‘Selling Sunset’ and ESPN’s 2015 Women’s NCAA Final Four broadcast. Ric’key has also performed on TV shows Criminal Minds, The Housewives of Beverly Hills and most recently, WWE’s Wrestlemania in 2023.
Pageot has appeared and performed piano as himself on Spike Lee’s 2025 feature film titled Highest 2 and Lowest (A24) starring Denzel Washington, Jefferey Wright and ASAP Rocky.
As if that wasn’t enough, he still finds time to record and perform classical music written by historical composers of African descent, part of his project called Classic Black, supported by Arterial (501c3 non-profit). Among those precious recordings, is his world premiere recording of Florence Price’s Andante Con Espressione for violin and piano, recorded with violinist Lady Jess (Steinway Recordings/Naxos) in 2022. “It’s an opportunity for me to go back to my classical roots and highlight unsung composers of the African diaspora and their contributions to classical music’s development and history” says Pageot
Pageot also makes it a point to make time to give back to his alma mater in the McGill University Black Mentorship Program, sharing his extensive industry experience and insights and advice for career development with young students.
