Mississippi John Hurt, John Barth, Frank Lloyd Wright, Big Bill Broonzy, Dylan and L. Cohen, of course, Robert Johnson and his brother Lonnie, johnpaulgeorgeandringo, Samuel Beckett, Bessie Smith, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Allen Ginsberg, Rev. Gary Davis, William Blake, Blind Blake, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Willie McTell & Blind Boy Fuller, Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter, Hunter S. Thompson, Tampa Red, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins, Haruki Murakami, Jelly Roll Morton, Phillip Roth, Jorma Kaukonen, Ken Kesey, Fats Waller, Hot Club Quintet, I could go on . . .
My song DIONYSUS placed first in the Feeling Blue Category in the 2009 New Song Showcase at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. You can listen right here if you like. And WALTZ WITH A ROBOT was named Alternate in the Children’s Category. Come out to the Festival and you can hear me play live!
ATHENA, my newest CD, is now available on
CD Baby! I’m thrilled that the project has received such positive response. You can read the early reviews here:
This is my most ambitious creative effort to date -- a robust collection of originals, including tributes to the Greek gods Athena and Dionysus; the award-winning songs Christmas Tumbleweed and Joseph's Song; and a couple of wild love tunes that will knock your socks off! You can read all the lyrics on my blog(s) above, and the CD will be available on CD Baby and iTunes very soon. Of course, you can also get a copy at any of my gigs or by contacting me directly.
Now, to the usual bio...
I’ve got more than 25 years experience as a musician, songwriter, playwright, and actor. And that’s not even counting my day job as a grant writer and consultant for nonprofit organizations. I'm told I’m a pretty good finger-style guitarist, playing mostly ragtime, jazz, and blues, with some sweet and slow tunes thrown in for good measure.
I’ve accumulated a repertoire of more than 100 songs – half of them my own – that extends back to the Civil War, from the Battle Hymn of the Republic to Crowded House; encompassing Duke Ellington, Hank Williams, Cole Porter, and the Grateful Dead along the way. My original songs include a set focusing on the personalities and events that shaped Kansas City -- Francois Chouteau, Tom Bass, Annie Chambers, Tom Pendergast, the Convention Hall fire of 1900, and many others -- and a growing compilation of songs about various Greek gods. I play regularly around Kansas City at a variety of venues, including bars, coffeehouses, and restaurants. I also play in the rock band The Herrmannators.
I’ve had some remarkable music and stage experiences in my long career. During the 1980s the City of Kansas City’s Summer Cultural Enrichment program commissioned me to write the book, music, and lyrics for a series of five children’s musicals. In 1998 Public Radio Station KCUR asked me to write and perform a song – "Mama Told Me So" – that was used during KCUR’s on-air fund drive for two years. In 1999 I was cast as Huey in "Bloomin’", which was produced by the National Audio Theatre Festivals. I was composer, lyricist, music director, and co-author of "Get a Clue,” which was broadcast by Radio Works (NYC) in November 1999.
I was co-author, composer, lyricist and music director for "Radio Free Cowtown," a project of the Kansas City 150th Anniversary Celebration. The eight-part series aired on KCUR-FM in May 2000 with yours truly in the roles of Francois Chouteau and Harry McElroy. In 2001 the audio theatre piece "Deus Ex Microsoft," of which I was co-author and lyricist, won an award in the National Audio Theatre Festival’s Scriptwriting Competition. I was co-author of "The South Dakota Methane Conflagration," which was a broadcast production of the 2002 National Audio Theatre Festival. My verse-drama "The Transfiguration of Mary M" was an Honorable Mention in the National Audio Theatre Festival’s 2006 Scriptwriting Competition. My song CLOSES HER EYES (featured herein) was chosen as a medalist in the 2007 New Song Showcase at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, and CHRISTMAS TUMBLEWEED was similarly honored in 2008.
This year I was selected to participate in the
Kacico Dance Company's Song and Dance Project for 2009. This was a captivating performance featuring area singer/songwriters playing original music to accompany Kacico Dance performers. There were numerous performances all over town, and the entire project was a blast!
My first CD, BOTTOM FEEDERS JAMBOREE, was released in 2008 and was very well received. You can buy your very own copy (or two or three) on CD Baby.
Hello there!!! Just stopping in to show you some love and let you know that we have FOUR NEW SONGS out including SPEAKER BOX, A LADY LIKE YOU, FUNKATRON 9000, & MY SHINING LIGHT!!!! Check them out now and leave us a comment!!! :D
We are also debating on whether or not we want our stuff on iTunes. We want to know that we will be able to rely on some actual sales if we're going to pay the fee to have them up. So comment or mail us and let us know if we can have ur support in that endeavor.
Wow!!!!! Rick what a wonderful eve fri night..How blessed are we in this life to have wonderful friends. Dolmathes are one of my favorite things in the whole wide world. I am sorry my loyalties were divided. I am looking forward to digging into this cd on Mon AND Tues my days off. Catch ya later PJ
Wow Rick look at you go!!!....so happy for all that you are doing...love Athena...gonna listen to the rest while I start my morning. Plan on attending some of these events too. Take care and stop in and say hi sometime at the Alley.
Good news! More acoustic music upstairs at Blayney's -- every other Wednesday night from 7-9 pm! POUNCE Marketing will organize the line-up and handle the promotion, and we're hoping for a great turn-out.
Our first gig will be Wednesday, October 29. Jim Abel will headline, joined by Duane Woner and Larry Garrett to start.
On Wednesday, November 12 Rick Malsick will headline (shhh, don’t tell anyone… it’s his birthday!), and Elaine McMilian and Jim Herrmann will open.
Let me know if you'd like to play, and come out to join us for a drink – alcoholic or otherwise – and some great music.
I find myself humming two songs: Closes Her Eyes, and Mood Indigo. Strange. Even stranger is the gal who showed-up at my door at 2AM, asking if I'd ever played in a band and then went off to war. What should I do if she comes back....again and again....Good music, Ricky!
I’ve posted a new song on myspace about the ongoing antics of our KC mayor. It’s called Funk’s Way Redux and you can also catch it on the Star’s Prime Buzz site. Check it out!
The popular Folk on the Patio series continues at SPIN! this Monday night, August 25 with singer/songwriter Laura Lisbeth performing at the Overland Park restaurant from 6-8 p.m.
Music will continue at the Lee’s Summit restaurant with talented finger-style guitarist Rick Malsick playing from 6-8 p.m.
And… SPIN is starting music at the Olathe restaurant this week! Jim Abel will be playing his unique brand of folk and alternative music from 6-8 p.m. on the patio. Come out for a great pizza, a cool drink, and some terrific music!
Looking forward to seeing your on Friday. Got your email update and see you are keeping busy. Always enjoy your music....I keep thinking about canoing! :) rkj
