Rick

Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor - Image Hosting

Raised in Arizona, I began playing the guitar when I was about 9 years old. As far back as I can remember I have always wanted to be a musician. I'm sure that every guitarist who grew up in the 70's can remember posing in front of the mirror as a kid with a tennis racket pretending that they were up on stage rocking out to a cheering crowd while listening to Ted Nugent, Peter Frampton or KISS. What...you never did that?? Oh....well, neither did I. Anyway, what I do remember is the feeling of that first gig with my first band that I put together when I was 14. The band's name was Paradox and we played some cover tunes and a few very cheesy songs that the drummer and I wrote. Being our first attempt at writing songs, we thought they were pretty good at the time. But now looking back, I think good Lord! What were we thinking? We had a pretty good crowd of around 50 people who showed up and crammed into that little youth activity hall of the Lutheran Church that I attended. Our parents were all very proud and thought it was very cute I'm sure, but we were having a blast. I'm sure that it sounded pretty bad but they cheered and applauded anyway. But that little high school garage band started it all for me and set the stage for the direction I was headed in as I grew up.
Over the years, I have performed with many great bands singing Lead and Harmony Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Bass and Keyboards. I play and sing many styles, to include: most styles of the newer Pop/Mix Rock, Country, Southern and Classic Rock, Hard Rock/Metal and even Elvis tunes. I have also been known, on occasion, to sing some of the older standard lounge tunes when requested to do so.
I have been living in Las Vegas for over 14 years and have enjoyed playing with some of the great local players in town (S.C.A.P. Band, 'Nuff Said, State of the Art, Southern Stue, Desert Outlaws, Wolf Creek, and many more) as well as sharing the stage with some major headlining artists. The last few years I have had the opportunity to open up for many great artists such as Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton and Emerson Drive. In December of 2006, I had the honor of opening up for new country artist Rodney Atkins. And then after our opening act was through, I stood next him on the same stage and played the guitar and sang backing vocals for him as part of his band for the evening.
Needless to say, I have had many years of experience on stage in so many different venues from the casino showrooms, large professional concert stages, lounges, local bars and even the outdoor fund raising benefits. Either way, as long as I am performing in front of an appreciative audience and making a few bucks doing it, it doesn't matter to me where I am playing. I definitely love what I do! Music is, and always has been, a major part of my life and I will "never stop chasing that dream"!