Rick Alan Carpenter (vocals, guitars), Dave Melton (stand up, vocals), Chris Melton (guitar, vocals), Robert Goeres (drums)
Influences
Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Gram Parsons, CCR, Dwight Yoakam, The Beatles, Alan Jackson, Tom Petty, Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, Hank Thompson, Warren Zevon, Gary Stewart, Moe Bandy, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, Rick Nelson, Roy Orbison, Webb Pierce, Faron Young, Elvis, Stones, Wynn Stewart, Carl Butler and Pearl, Carl Smith, Clint Black, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless, Everly Brothers, Louvin Brothers, Wilburn Brothers, Ray Price, Dylan, George Jones, George Strait, Waylon, Willie, the "Johnnys" Cash, Paycheck, Horton, Lee, Rodriguez, Roger Miller, Marty Robbins, Marty Stuart, David Allan Coe, Charlie Daniels, Ernest Tubb, Don Williams, Gene Watson
Sounds Like
Merle Haggard meets Gram Parsons at a Dwight Yoakam concert after spending a weekend hangin' out with Keith Richards.
In an age when country music is dominated by contest winners, fresh-scrubbed adolescents, and prepackaged pop (read "new") country pretenders, Rick Alan Carpenter is the genuine article. "I've been dead drunk, dead broke, divorced and damn near dead more than a few times" he intones, "I've successfully avoided success for 20 years, my life is a country song!" Carpenter has played as a sideman in numerous country and rock bands in Los Angeles as well as Nashville, where he currently resides. He has opened for everyone from "Boy Howdy to Van Halen, playing huge auditoriums, closet sized bars, and every type of roadhouse and honkytonk in between."
Born "in the east" and raised "out west", Carpenter started playing the guitar at thirteen. "My mother played the piano and always entertained when people came over, so I caught the bug early on." He started playing bass as well and found out he could get more work as a bass player, because "everyone wanted to play the guitar."
After a few years playing bass in several rock bands (including a stint with legendary LA guitarist Terry Kilgore), Rick Alan rediscovered the country music he heard as a kid. "I had a friend who had thousands of records, Buck and Merle, Wynn Stewart, Tommy Collins, Joe Maphis, all the great Bakersfield stuff, I felt reborn."
The cowpunk scene in LA had spawned Dwight Yoakam, The Blasters and Lone Justice, and the neo-traditional country sound appealed to Carpenter. "I played the Palomino not long before it closed, but was getting tired of LA, and headed for Nashville with my guitars and a suitcase full of sad songs in '93."
Carpenter soon found out, however, that Nashville wasn't interested in real, traditional country music. "Perry Howard (Harlan's son) said I was old school, which I took as a compliment, though I don't think he intended it that way." Undaunted, Rick Alan kept writing and performing in bands and on writer's nights all over town. "I met Scott McEwen, a great stand up bass player who has played with Hank III and Rosie Flores, and he encouraged me to record some songs at his studio."
The resulting sessions became the new CD "Outside of Nashville" a 6 song EP that showcases Carpenter's love of REAL country music. "The production is raw, the songs cut through, nothing like the slick sound Nashville currently favors," he says, "I'm very pleased!" Carpenter wrote all the songs and plays all the guitars, with help from Mark Horn (Derailers) on drums, Carco Clave (Asleep at the Wheel) on steel/dobro, Jeremy Garrett on fiddle, McEwen on bass, Bob Grant on mandolin, and Randy Finchum singing back up vocals. Stand out songs include "Same Old Heartache" and "Nothing Left to Lose (But the Blues)."
The struggle for recognition goes on, but recent shows at the Bluebird Cafe and the Hall of Fame Lounge in Nashville are certainly encouraging. "I get the feeling that real country is coming back strong" Carpenter states, "audiences are very responsive and, to me, thats all that matters."
CDBABY LINK for RICK ALAN CARPENTER: Outside Of Nashville
For everyone, There is a reason, To stand strong, To strive for freedom, To live without war, At home and abroad, For these reasons, We will always have, INDEPENDENCE DAY!!
We are proud to announce that Music’s Rising Stars magazine is GOING TO PRINT!!!
We want to thank all of you who have stuck by us and believed in us.
The newly restructured magazine can soon be on its way to your mailbox! Now is the time to make sure you get an inaugural copy. Order your subscription now!! 12 issues for $24.95 Send Check or Money Order to: Music’s Rising Stars magazine P.O. Box 835 Whitehouse, TN 37188 (Please note new address)
Profile articles will be based on information directly from the artist. We will never include any rumors or innuendo.
Our first issue will feature exclusive interviews with: Alexia Van Horn Annie Fitzgerald Blackbird Brent Mason Boo Boo Stewart Christopher Mark Gray Georgia Greg McDougal Greg Walters Heather Wiggins Jake Owen Randy Owen Wildcard Family Revival And more!
In each issue of our print magazine you will find in-depth interviews with musicians, singers and songwriters in various genres of music. The bulk of these articles will be with up-and-coming musicians but you can expect a few names that you’ve heard of in each issue as well. Look for our profiles on venues and eateries, a kids’ corner, featured charities, humorous columns from Survivor alumni and published author, Austin Carty and more!
ALRIGHT !!! WE MADE IT. SINCERELY WISHING YOU AN AWESOME WEEKEND. OFFICIALLY THE FIRST OF THE SUMMER AND THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR. SO GET OUT AND ENJOY. KEEP COOL AND SAFE. REMEMBER I TREASURE YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
HI RICK, ALRIGHT WE MADE IT . WISHING YOU A GREAT WEEKEND. ENJOY, BE SAFE AND KEEP COOL. I'M HEADING TO THE GOSHEN STAMPEDE. HOPE TO BRING YOU BACK SOME GREAT PICS. LARRY rodeo weekend rodeo queens bull riding
THANKS RICK HOPE ALL IS GOING WELL. WELL HERE WE ARE WITH ONLY ONE DAY LEFT AND THEN......YAHOO...THE WEEKEND. HOPE YOU MADE SOME GREAT PLANS. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED. IN ANY EVENT I WISH YOU AN EASY FRISKY FRIDAY . TO ME FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH IS LUCKY BUT BEWARE IT CAN TURN AROUND IN A SPLIT-SECOND...LOL . HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND STOP BY THE DOUBLE L FOR A REFRESHMENT AND GOOD COMPANY. LARRY
HI RICK, LOOKING AT WEDNESDAY HEAD-ON. LET'S TACKLE IT AND BE ON THE SLIDE TO THE WEEKEND. HOPE THE HEAT AND THE STORMS ARE MISSING YOU. IF YOU ARE LIKE ME AND SUBJECT TO ITS VENGEANCE, I HOPE IT BRAKES SOON FOR YOU. STAY COOL AND SAFE. LARRY
Hi Rick, Welcome to my site,Listened to your work and you've got a great sound and your in the right place,hope you find the dreams and or whatever is you aspire through this calling to you. Respectfully, Shane CulberhouseS.R.Vice President of co-Promotion of Vision Records and Entertainment
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