Topic for the Evening:

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: How songwriters set up expectations and then either deliver what the listener expects or gives them a happy surprise!

About Rick:

Rick teaches commercial songwriting at BELMONT UNIVERSITY in Nashville, TN. He was the director of the KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL SONG SCHOOL held in Kerrville, Texas from 1985 through 2012 and a founding staff member of the NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL'S song camps. Many private Clients have received publishing contracts and won major songwriting contests as a result of his coaching.

Rick has had hit songs recorded by such artists as George Jones, Don Williams, Mickey Gilley, the Everly Brothers, John Conlee, BJ Thomas, Brenda Lee with two BMI AWARDS, CANADIAN HUMANITARIAN AWARD and a MUSIC CITY NEWS AWARD to his credit. In 1984, Rick created and was the founding president of the NASHVILLE PUBLISHER’S NETWORK. In 1998 Rick produced the ARIA Award winning Country Album of the Year for Shanley Del on the BMG Australia label.

Rick co-wrote and produced children’s CD “Best Day Ever” with Rissi Palmer which was performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

Rick was raised in Wellesley, Massachusetts and has lived in San Francisco, California and Austin, Texas. He now resides in Nashville TN.

D I S C O G R A P H Y H I G H L I G H T S

Title, Award Artist

"Old Friends” Shanley Del

• ARIA Award (Australian Grammy)

for best Country Album of the Year 1998

"Song for Brent" Cindi Church,

• SOCAN Humanitarian Award, Canada

"Harmony" John Conlee

• BMI Award

"If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me, Her Memory Will" George Jones

• BMI MUSIC Award

• CITY NEWS Award

"Especially You" Don Williams

"Taking My Time" Everly Brothers

"Easy Come, Hard to Go" Mickey Gilley

"Taking My Time" Brenda Lee

"Born Again" B.J. Thomas

“Best Day Ever” Children’s Album Rissi Palmer

• LINCOLN CENTER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE