Gibby "Rumbero" Ross stems from a musical family; his father was a timbale player and his mother a vocalist. He was born in Oakland, CA; Gibby demonstrated potential rhythmic ability at a tender 18 months. Gibby Ross would play his father's timbales on the living room floor as he followed the Latin beat playing on the record player. At two years old, he began to beat the bongos with sticks. These bongos were given to him by his father, so that he could get his timbales back.



Gibby's set-up was: mini Xylophone, Bongos and a blue plastic bucket. He practiced everyday … by four years old, he was able to play the congas and solo to a Guaguanco, sometimes at a Rumba tempo! Gibby Ross played at family gatherings and began to perform with his Father & Godfather.



Gibby "Rumbero" Ross's first major showcase was in New York; he was on the same billing as "The Queen of Salsa", Celia Cruz, Elio Roca, & Rolando Laserie. He was billed as "El Nino Prodigio de Puerto Rico". Gibby impressed Celia Cruz that she went to the extent of giving him a pair of conga drums. At six years old, he met The King of Timbales, Tito Puente; he was flabbergasted with Gibby's ability. Gibby began sitting in with Tito's orchestra on a regular basis. Meanwhile, this Timbale Kid performed with other heavyweights e.g. Cachao and Willie Bobo.



At eight years old, Gibby "Rumbero" Ross was highlighted to perform Para Los Rumberos with Tito's orchestra from beginning to end; he imitated Tito's playing riff for riff just like the record! On that day, Gibby was awarded a pair of timbalitos by The King, and he quoted, "Maybe you will grow up to lead my orchestra some day".



As Gibby "Rumbero" Ross morphed, he continued to be highlighted with Tito and he "sat in" with as many bands as possible and acquired newspaper and TV coverage, Super Kids. At 15, his parents allowed him to play steadily with a Salsa Band in San Francisco named Sangre Nueva led by Frank Navarro aka El Salsero.



At 17, Gibby made a special trip to meet another child prodigy, Giovanni Hidalgo from Puerto Rico. They jammed and jammed and jammed until Gibby's two-week vacation was up.



Recently, at a tribute for the late Tito Puente, Gibby "Rumbero" Ross was an honored guest who performed Tito's hits with the Concord University Jazz Band. Gibby leads his own band named "Los Rumberos" in the San Francisco Bay Area, plays with Malo and is an endorsee for Remo Drums.



Gibby Ross was Journey's featured guest performer during the summer of 2003.