The journey began in 1974
Guitar, voice, and familiar tunes played for the simple joy of sharing them.
Side A · The story
Music has always been there—sometimes center stage, sometimes humming quietly in the background.
Birthday gift · 1974Where it started
Rick received this Fender Bronco and Fender Vibro Champ as a birthday gift in 1974—his first guitar and first amplifier. It was the rig that opened the door to a lifetime of playing and singing.
1982
Rick moved to the University of Southern Mississippi to major in Music Industry—a degree that brought the business and music sides together.
1984
After two years in the music program, Rick switched to computer science. The direction changed, but music remained part of him.
June 14, 1991
Rick began losing hearing in his left ear. The loss eventually reached about 80%, and he stepped away from playing for a number of years.
Years later
Some family members more or less tricked Rick into playing again. It wasn’t the same—but it was still a hell of a lot of fun. The journey continued.
1998–COVID
That return grew into a band. Exit Strategy spent years performing and recording together until COVID brought that chapter to a close.
Watch Exit StrategyToday
These days Rick often plays from the back of the house for boaters passing by on the lake. About twice a year, the music moves out front for driveway concerts with friends, family, and neighbors.
The instruments
The blue PRS is the guitar Rick reaches for most now. Its piezo system lets it cover convincing acoustic territory as well as full electric sounds.
Current favoriteAcoustic + electric
The main instrument these days: one vivid blue guitar that can shift from a warm acoustic character to an electric voice.
The acoustic
A warm, expressive acoustic that feels perfectly at home with familiar songs shared in a room full of friends.
Side B · Listen in
Covers played and sung by Rick, shared without too much fuss—the way music with friends ought to be.