Meet Freddie Ravel | Grammy-Nominated Pianist, Keynote Maestro and Founder of Life in Tune™

We had the good fortune of connecting with Freddie Ravel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Freddie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
he short answer is I wanted to create an easy system for people to tap the music they love to live the best versions of themselves. One of my favorite quotes comes from Aristotle, who said: “were your talents in the needs of the world, intersect, their lies your vocation.”
So I decided to use my years of playing music with some of the greatest artists on the planet, and intersect them with one of the biggest problems on the planet and that is, people are generally very bad at the fundamental skill of listening. Music, however, is one of the few human activities that people stop and really listen deeply to… what if I could connect those two worlds?
When I think about all the challenges humanity is dealing with right now – and there are so many like pandemic issues, gun violence in our schools, political divisiveness, racism, climate change, the great unknown of AI. and so on, I believe that the primary action we can individually and collectively take that could move the needle forward in a positive way is the simple act of being present, mindful, compassionate and empathetic… In short, just listen.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Music has fascinated me since I was a toddler and at age 7, I had suddenly found myself trapped in a sealed container struggling to escape. Practically out of breathe at the edge of near death, I was struck with the impulse to pound out a rhythm that cut through the noise and led to my rescue…but I never could have imagined that that would become the primary drumbeat of my life.

That rhythm would eventually drive opportunities to rock stadiums with CARLOS SANTANA, EARTH, WIND AND FIRE and MADONNA, become a #1 Universal Recording Artist, perform the GRAMMYs with PRINCE and lead the teams behind Sheryl Crow, J LO, LADY GAGA and many more.

Then something happened that made fame and celebrity pale in comparison – the realization that Music and thought cannot exist without the “pause between the notes.” This led me to serve as a featured author alongside Dr. Deepak Chopra, Maya Angelou, Muhammad Ali, Stevie Wonder and personally work with the family of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

My team and I are thrilled that Life in Tune™ has been awarded for “renewing the national and international economy” by the city of Los Angeles and grateful to have been knighted by the Knights of St. John, champions of hospitals and health care for the past 1000+ years.

I’d love the world to know that as the world is facing more and more challenges, the need and application for the power of music is ever-rising.
In the end we are here for something that’s very simple and that is to Just Listen… Just Listen to one another with respect, humility , mindfulness and compassion….

and music shows us how…if, we,
JUST LISTEN.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a hardcore native Los Angeleno all the way. Right off the bat, I’d share my community, friends and family with my best friend. L.A.’s got it all…out the gate we’d do what I did as a 9 yr old boy – climb Mt. Hollywood the visit the Griffith Observatory. For the west side, the Century City Mall , Beverly Hills and the club that has been hosting my band for the past decade, Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz and Grill. I like hiking the old zoo in Griffith Park too as well as Topanga Canyon’s Eagle Rock. For the spiritual side, Paramahansa Yogananda’s Lake Shrine is a must with a stop at Talula’s for California Noveau Mexican cuisine. Cha Cha Chicken by the Santa Monica Pier is great for the Caribbean flavor and Reggae music and a walk on Venice Beach is quintessential SoCal! Universal Studios and Citywalk are also that and I am a Disneyland Fan but especially like the Incredible Roller Coaster – big, fast, smooth and thrilling. I also would bring them to my Composers Breakfast Club meeting at Aviator Dreamland across from the Malibu pier. I love the band stage and all the albums and a few surf boards strewn across the walls ….the place has great character. Across the street is NoBu and the SoHo Malibu Club which is magic over the water. I also love the Magic Castle with dinner at Yamashiro’s, Lunch at the Penthouse on the top floor of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, Old Town Pasadena, JPL, The Hollywood Bowl and for Topanga, Inn of the Seventh Ray and perhaps a trip up to Big Bear for good measure!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost are my parents, Wally and Ruby, whose love and guidance has always encouraged me to keep my eyes on the stars. On the other hand, My kids, Jasmine and Maxim, remind me to keep my feet on the ground!

I am also eternally grateful to my mentors – music legends Maurice White, Founder of Earth, Wind and Fire, Carlos Santana, Al Jarreau, Sergio Mendes, Madonna, Bobby McFerrin, Chick Corea and Ken Kragen. I also get my butt kicked by my colleagues of METal and the Thought Leadership world where they regularly challenge me with a relentless and passionate pursuit to elevate human potential at every opportunity.

Website: www.lifeintune.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freddieravel/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freddieravel/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/freddieravel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freddieravel/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChcKcUeTlFpqs1uR6uJQaYw?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Photographers: David Stewart, Edward Haschke, Matt Beard Let’s review what you are going to use and I will double check