Rick is a professional musician and performer with nearly forty years experience, and a lengthy list of perfomance and recording credits which span four decades. A former resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, Rick spent a year and a half in Lawrence, Kansas, but now lives on the island of Maui.
A self-taught musician and vocalist, Rick plays all styles of music on saxophones, flutes, harmonica, percussion and a breath-controlled MIDI instrument, the Yamaha WX11 Wind Synthesizer. In addition, Rick does vocal impressions of a variety of well-known singers, ranging from John Lennon to Johnny Cash.
Although continuing to perform, from 1994 through 2004, Rick endured the challenge of a serious, life-threatening health condition--a bout which lasted ten years. Finally, after major surgery in early 2004, Rick made a full recovery and is 110% back in action. Now in his fifties, he currently enjoys renewed health and vitality, has no intention of "retiring" from music, and will continue to perform and record in defiance of the societal myth which places age limits to creativity.
For a more detailed list of performance and recording credits, Rick's career is chronicled here by decade. The lists are organized from the 1970s to the present and include web links to many of the artists and organizations with whom Rick has been musically associated. Some artists' websites were unavailable or not located at the time these lists were compiled.
For Rick's columns about music and creativity, please check "The Ronin" section of this site.
Rick extends heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the artists and organizations mentioned in this website for the opportunity to work and perform with them, and to all who over the years shared the gift of friendship and support -- those who elected to stand by him, refusing to give up on him when the chips were down.
Denise LaBee: One of Rick's closest friends since their high school days at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, California. Denise is the multi-talented designer-creator of this and other websites. She is also a photographer, artist, free-lance editor, writer and published poet.
Thom Alexander: A community music education leader in Lawrence, Kansas with the Americana Music Academy, Thom is an old friend from California who inspired Rick's move to Kansas and was responsible for helping Rick connect with the arts community in Lawrence.
www.americana-music.org/index.html
"To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest criticism and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty and find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived--this is to have succeeded." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Rick Eldreth: Rick E. is a brother-in-spirit who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes of a multitude of Rick's music projects for more than a decade, in the capacity of road manager, stage and equipment manager, lighting director, sound reinforcement and general assistance. Rick E. is also a veteran Project Manager at FedEx Kinko's with years of digital printing and graphic design experience.
Paul Herrera: An up-and-coming Lawrence, Kansas jazz guitarist who performed with Rick in a duo known as the Bossa Project. Paul is also a skilled dentist with a successful practice in Lawrence.
