This story starts in the fall of 1970, Quebec, Canada rehearsals for Madison Square Garden’s Holiday On Ice Show. Shortly after opening the show, the Musical Director became very ill. Rick took over conducting in the second half of a show and continued as conductor throughout the season.
Next the great trumpeter Bill Chase called for Rick to come to Chicago and play the lead trumpet book for a South African tour. Shortly after Rick left the Chase band, Bill Chase, Wally Yohn and several others were killed in a tragic plane crash.
Rick had a chance to play electric trumpet with Ray “Doors” Manzarek at the Whiskey A Go Go with guest artist Iggy Pop.
A walk on the funky side begins with meeting James Brown’s musical director Fred Wesley. Fred introduced Rick to William “Bootsy” Collins, Maceo Parker, Gary ‘Mudbone” Cooper, and George Clinton. For 40 years Rick recorded and toured the world with them. Rick has also performed with Bernie Worrell, Frankie "Kash" Waddy, Garry Shider, The Brides of Funkenstein, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bobby Byrd and the JB Allstars, Snoop Dogg and more.
Richard “Kush” Griffith called Rick from Hawaii to join the Marvin Gaye band. A Marvin Gaye DVD of the Montreux Jazz festival emerged a few years later…it’s great!
Currently Rick is playing on the new Brian Culbertson’s CD “Bringing Back the Funk”, U.S.Pipe’s “United Sound Pipe” CD and his own “Rubberhorn” CD is on itunes, Amazon.com and CD Baby. Film maker Calvin Dwight Harris is including several of Rick's compositions in his upcoming powerful documentary films.
P-Funk radio’s JTRP aka Keith Jackson recently said “Your music is like a movie sound track….sounds like something’s about to happen!”
Rockin' Rick