ABOUT
I'm a retired semi-professional musician from the Fort Lauderdale area (relocated to North Port) with many years of performing experience. At different times I've been the 1st and 2nd Lead/Rhythm Guitar/Keyboards/Sequencing/Harmonica/Percussionist. Or Bass/Keyboards/Sequencing. Also Drummer/Percussionist. All of these positions including Backing Vocals (a specialty). Able to play along with a click track as needed. In recent years I've been in the drummer/vocalist spot with SWFL working bands. I.e.: Fill-In Percussion's/Vocals with Yesterdaze, Drums/Vocals with Ardens Rule, 3-Deep, Adrenalin Junkies, Renegade, And the As Is Band. More recently, Guitar/Midi/Vocals with Spare Parts and FoRum duo. Also continuing (yearly) first-call, fill-in drummer at Church of Saint Patrick in Sarasota.
I'm also a graphic/computer/video artist designing promotional copy for bands such as business cards, banners, website development (and hosting) as well as FB (social network) administrating. Otherwise known as "Web Presence".
I have a home Digital Audio project studio - Rick's Playpen/Comfy At Home Productions. I've produced a few singles and CD's with other artists/songwriters as well as performing/co-writing all of the instrumentation for their tracks, and I've expanded my "hobby studio" in recent years to include Music Video productions.
I've uploaded rough early mixes of two solo-produced/performed audio projects just for examples of my studio skills. And finally finished and added (here) my first solo Music Video project "Comfy At Home" (top left video thumbnail). It's also on my be channel for sharing. The sound-track of Comfy At Home is now also available (here) for listening.
Disclaimer: I'm not another delusional "musician" like so many that have come and gone in our lives as performers. The information in my bio is true and can be corroborated by former band members, colleagues, and peers for whom I have great respect and admiration (and am friended with on FB). All are ready and willing to back me up, giving good references if requested. If any of my info is intimidating to your ego, I am what I am - no apologies. It can't get any simpler than that.
- Screen name:
- rick524422
- Member since:
- Apr 05 2013
- Active within 24 hours
- Level of commitment:
- Committed
- Years playing music:
- 55
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
Influences
Steely Dan, Yes (and their solo works), Genesis/Phil Collins, Journey, Kansas, Toto, Queensryche, Chicago, Heart, Eagles, Little River Band, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Joe Walsh, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Spin Doctors (especially Aaron Comess), Gino Vannelli, Starcastle, The Allman Brothers, Crosby-Stills-Nash & Young, etc., etc. The list is just too long and varied to post it all here, but you get the idea!
Instrument experience:
- Bass Guitar:
- Advanced
- Drums:
- Advanced
- Other Percussion:
- Advanced
- Background Singer:
- Advanced
- Other:
- Advanced
- Vocalist:
- Advanced
- Rhythm Guitar:
- Advanced
- Lead Guitar:
- Advanced
- Acoustic Guitar:
- Advanced
- Keyboard:
- Moderate
- Harmonica:
- Moderate
EQUIPMENT
Customized Line 6 JTV-69 Variax guitar and (digitally integrated) Line 6 HD500X Floor Pedal system. Fishman TriplePlay and FC-1 wireless midi system controlling a Roland JV-1010 synth module along with an Edirol PCR-500 Keyboard/Controller. Bugera 333-212 amp. Yamaha FGX730SC Acoustic. Breedlove Pursuit 12-String Acoustic Guitar. 1996 Fender/Squire Precision Bass. Nady UB-4 Wireless Headset Mic system and (modded) Shure SM57. TC Helicon VoiceTone Harmony GXT harmonizer. Expanded and customized Roland TD-9SX V-Tour Electronic Drums. Alesis SamplePad. Customized Behringer Eurolive B115 for drums stage amplification. Behringer Eurolive B205D vocal monitor. My studio hardware/software and instrument list keeps growing and is just too extensive to include it all here.
MUSIC
-
Comfy At Home
Comfy At Home Year: 2020 Genre: Cover/Tribute
This is the soundtrack to my self-produced Comfy At Home music video (available for streaming on my YouTube channel - "Comfy At Home Productions".
-
Town Without Pity
Town Without Pity Album: Open Fire Genre: Cover/Tribute
This is my solo performed, home produced re-creation of the 1970's Ronnie Montrose instrumental version of a song that was a hit (and theme song for the movie that it was named after) for singer Gene Pitney in the 60's. Sadly, Ronnie past away a few years ago. From this first rough mix you can get an idea of my Lead Guitar and Drums skills along with my midi "virtual instrument" programming and production abilities.
-
Kingdom Come?
Kingdom Come? Genre: Other
This is a song that was "under development" in my mind for well over 20-something years and I've only recently acquired the technology, personal studio, equipment and the time to commit it to a recorded form. It's the only complete original song that I have and it represents most of my influences and all of my skills as a musician, including my singing voice. I won't make it "downloadable" until I've spent more time on it to achieve the high quality of mastering that I prefer, but this example of my work will suffice for now.
