Skip VanWinkle and many others like Carl Radel, Jimi Hendrix, Leon Russell, Chuck Blackwell, Stones, David Teegarden, the Band, and so very many during my lifetime.
Dick Sims is known as one of best rock keyboard players in the world. His work on the Hammond B-3 is incomparable and he has been listed as one of the best rock Hammond B-3 players alive today. He is most known for his own work and his work with Eric Clapton. Dick is in fact on Clapton's latest Complete Clapton and Clapton's The Millennium Collection CDs.
Dick was born in musically rich Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was influenced by Skip VanWinkle (of Teegarden and VanWinkle), Carl Radle and other famous Tulsa Sound musicians. Dick Sims is known as one of best rock keyboard players in the world. His work on the Hammond B-3 is incomparable and he has been listed as one of the best rock Hammond B-3 players alive today. He is most known for his own work and his work with Eric Clapton. Dick is in fact on Clapton's latest Complete Clapton and Clapton's The Millennium Collection CDs.
By age 4, Dick had music constantly running in his brain and blood. Later on he would skip classes at elementary school to go play his grandmother's organ all day long. His talent was so obvious; grandmother was just fine with this. There was no question of what he was going to do; it was the beginning of a musical life one that would go down in rock history.
At 4 or 5 years old, Dick just started playing and writing music most of the time. He took piano and organ lessons at the same ages and even took more lessons after playing and touring with Clapton. Always improving . . . always evolving. . .always learning. At age 12, Dick was already earning money playing the well-known Tulsa Sound club circuit.
He was around 14 when he formed Tulsa County, one of the first younger more noticeable Tulsa Sound bands which included well-known musicians such as the respected guitarist Jim Byfield.
Sims professional career really kicked off in 1968, when at the age of 17, he appeared on the last Ed Sullivan Show ever aired, performing with Phil Driscol and Yur Mama. Check it out right here:
Dick performed and worked with JJ Cale before he joined Eric Clapton in 1974 for Eric's comeback album. Right before that he'd recorded and toured with Bob Seger on his landmark LP, Back in 72. Per Bob's request he stayed on to mentor Bob's Silver Bullet Band as Bob wanted the Silver Bullet Band to sound like Dick's band.
Dick on Tour with Eric Clapton & his Band Playing Knocking on Heaven's Door
Dick then played on blues-great Freddie King's "Burglar album prior to joining Eric Clapton with his band and recording 461 Ocean Boulevard. From 1974 through 1981, Dick was a driving force in Clapton's band, playing the Hammond B-3 organ and piano on a number of hit songs including; I Shot the Sheriff, Wonderful Tonight, Cocaine, Lay Down Sally and Willie and the Hand Jive. Dick accompanied Eric and his band on eight world tours. Dick then did a world tour with Joan Armatrading, who was up for a Grammy in 2008. He also recorded with Joan on her album To The Limit.
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Dick took a sabbatical from the music world for nearly 10 years to study and write music and most importantly to rehabilitate himself. Touring and rock stardom did take its toll, as it did on many musicians. The price can be high and Dick's writing on his own next album, Within Arm's Reach, depicts much of that. It's a contemporary, hip CD that reaches deep into what Dick has really been through: young stardom, earning lots of money, losing it to addiction, and living on the streets of NYC for two years in his own self-exiled sabbatical.
Dick returned to Los Angeles and began composing the songs that would make up this album, Within Arms Reach. He joined forces with music producers, Pride Hutchison and Jim Barth who also hail from Tulsa.
With Dick's classic rock songwriting and his amazing Hammond B-3 organ work, in addition to featured classic and contemporary players such as: Richie Hayward (Little Feat drummer), jazz bassists, John Heard (Count Basie, etc.) Pat Senatore (ex-Tijuana Brass), Lester Chambers (Chambers Brothers) on harmonica, Doug Pettibone on guitar, and most noticeably the familiar and stunning vocals of Marcy Levy (who also worked with Clapton when Dick did) made the album,Within Arm's Reach, an impressive showcase of Sim's diverse talent.
The album covers a lot of musical territory, from the ethereal Katie and Blue Skies to the reggae Don't Go Away, Sitting HereBy Myself and the classic rocker and satiracle One More Toke, the upbeat, timbale laden Man on the Run to the haunting Downtown blues rock, while When Old Words Fall and Time Code, Take a Little Time, Do What's Right speak of Dick's personal journey sharing his courage and determination. . . encouraging us to try again and again as Dick as always picked up and done. And with several catalogs of music and new albums on the way, make no mistake that Dick Sims is back and doing what he does best! Look for Dick's CD at CD Baby.com or email Dick at simsisdicksims@gmail.com for information.
Dick's second CD, State of Mind, is available on a preview basis and will be formally released sometime this year. It presents an outstanding array of tunes, once again showcasing Mr. Sims' diverse talent.
