BIO
FOR THE RECORD
ALL ABOUT RICK
Rick’s passion for the guitar and music started at an early age growing up in Holyoke Ma. Like many other kids, seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show sent Rick and his Dad to buy his first amp and electric guitar. Along with his cousin Chet on drums, they both enrolled and studied privately at Pizzitola School of Music in Holyoke. Soon they began playing in many local teen rock bands throughout the Springfield -Amherst area. Catching concerts like the Who, Janice Joplin, Led Zeppelin and all the other rock legends during those exciting times were the norm. Rick then quickly turned his ear towards jazz after listening to Wes Montgomery, Miles, Trane and all the top jazz artists. Rick enrolled at Boston’s Berklee College of Music in the Instrumental Performance Program and had the ultimate private guitar teacher, Pat Metheny. Boston at that time was a great guitar town. Mike Stern, John Scofield, Mick Goodrick, Jeff Golub, Michael Thompson, Bill Frisell, and Kevin Eubanks playing all over town. The Jazz Workshop and Paul’s Mall, two top jazz clubs, supplied a steady stream of the greats like Grover Washington Jr, George Benson, Earl Klugh, Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis. More memorable concerts were Chick Corea, Weather Report and Pat Martino, a great era of jazz fusion had begun. Rick remembers Pat Metheny introducing a young bassist named Jaco Pastorius at a local club and soon those private lessons ended as Pat soared off into his amazing career.
After Berklee Rick played and toured with many top 40 and R&B bands throughout the US and Canada. During a recording session in Boston, Rick met Najee and he agreed that Rick was ready to move to NYC when he heard his guitar work. Rick moved into a building with very creative musicians, where music was flowing with the sound of Victor Bailey’s bass and Najee's sax. He appreciated the amount of dedication and practice these cats were investing in and was inspired. Soon he was living in Greenwich Village, driving a yellow cab while gigging. Boy the stories he has to tell.
Playing in NYC clubs, one of his favorite bands was with Fred Thomas, the bassist of the JB’s. Playing with Fred was always a funky good time. Rick also toured with Broadway Shows; Oh! Calcutta, and most enjoyably Dream Girls with Micki Howard. It was a great experience being in the stage pit. Rick also toured Japan with the Billy Robinson Band, that was a great journey.
In 1993 while gigging at Sweetwater, a popular music club on the Upper West Side, Rick met Karen, his beautiful wife of 25 years. They started a family and formed a duo “KARICKTER” a joining of two hearts and two names. Together recording and producing two Albums: DATE NIGHT and PERFECT PEACE Both available on iTunes.
Rick, as guitarist at one of NYC biggest churches enabled him to musically support visiting artists such as Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, BeBe and CeCe Winan, Israel Houghton, Ben Tankard and many other gospel greats.
Rick has toured many countries as Gloria Gaynor’s musical director and lead guitarist. Along with his wife Karen, they opened shows in Brazil, Italy, Moscow, Bali, and many European cities.
Performing on the PBS Special “Love, Rhythm and Soul” with Gloria and rubbing elbows with soul legends, Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, The Temptations, Mary Wilson and other iconic artists was a very unforgettable time for him. Another memorable time for Rick was the star-studded tribute to salsa legend Celia Cruz at the Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami.
Rick toured with Groove Theory, The Fugees, Maxwell and George Clinton on the Sony HBCU College Tour. Rick is a very rounded guitarist who has absorbed and fused his soulful style, with rock, funk, R&B and jazz. Rick lists Wes Montgomery, George Benson and Pat Metheny as his big three guitar inspirations and lists a few of his favorites; Lee Ritenour, Pat Martino, Larry Carlton, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Peter White and Jeff Beck.
SUPORTING CAST
