Guest Book

Big Bass Man Pedro Arevalo is the newest member of Dickey Betts & Great Southern. Using musical instruments to create sounds has been an important part of his life since infancy. Growing up in a musical family allowed him many opportunities to do so. By age 10 Pedro had developed a serious affinity for the electric bass and acoustic guitar. At the ripe ol' age of 11 he began performing. By the age of 18, 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 Berklee College of Music. Between of the years of 1997 and 2001, Pedro completed his musical studies in Boston, MA while performing with two popular West African band leaders, Djeli Balla Jounkara and his band "Mande Foli" and master drummer Sidi "Joh" Camara and his band "Jamagiji", as well as his African drum and dance ballet "Troup Sewa". With these well renowned musicians Pedro played throughout New England and traveled to Mali, West Africa to perform and study Mande and Bambara music. Upon his return to the States, Pedro came to Florida to join the Flamenco inspired group The Lotus Fire. The summer of 2001 found Pedro touring Europe to support the release of the group's album, "Dance of the Wicked". In 2002 Pedro joined forces with Vine Street Rhumba Band. Pedro has become quite proficient on a variety of instruments including the: Dobro, Piaon, 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, Rock, Folk, and Ragtime.