Rick Blair made his way to Music City in November 1996, after spending years playing the honky tonks and college bar scene in his hometown of Huntington West Virginia. Along the way, Rick built a large "underground" following of rabid fans and music family. He began taking guitar lessons at age 20 from classical guitarist, and songwriter Bob Fietsam and the two began a collaboration and friendship that would spawn the debut album "Rick Blair" released in August 2001. Plans for a national radio single and release of the video of the self depricating party tune "I Wish I Had My Money Back" were halted by the worldwide events of September 2001. The album still made a regional impact for Rick and produced radio airplay on several songs. The single "Coal Dust" became an anthem in the jukeboxes all over in places like West Virginia, Kentucky and Wyoming. He spent the next three years burning up the highway, playing the clubs and honing his craft. His live shows were always seen as an "event" with Rick frequently playing to sold out venues and packed houses in whatever town the show landed. A high energy performer, Rick was fond of playing acoustic sets with usually just a single sideman offering help with lead guitar and harmonies. It was a show he learned from hit songwriter Arlos Smith while both attended Marshall University in 1989. " I fell in love with the idea of playing to crowded houses, in an intimate setting, with just a guitar, a sound system and stories" said Rick, when asked about the origins of his live show. A husband to the former Kristen Holley, and dad to daughter Morgan, and sons Zachary, Jacob, and Joshua, Rick felt as if he needed a change in 2004. He began traveling less and taking more local shows, such as writers nights at the famed Bluebird Cafe. Spending time off the road also lead to Rick finding a new direction for his music. Long time Nashville, Seattle and New York radio man Ron Dini formed a friendship with Rick through mutual friend Greg Jones and in 2005 the trio began writing what would eventually become the "Rick Blair Band" album, which is scheduled for release in April / May 2009. Comprised of cuts produced by one of Nashville's most sought after studio musicians Joe Spivey, the album is an eclectic mix of tunes that will inspire the poet and amp up the road tripping hippie. "I'm excited to be back in the game" Rick said recently, " I hope I still have some fans out there, and I really hope the new record allows me to find a few new ones in the process".
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