May 2008

Well, spring has certainly sprung around here. I am starting my planting, mowing, mulching, weed-eating, and all the rest of the usual springtime chores. I have things hurting that I didn’t know I even had. And the allergies, don’t even go there . . . sneeze, cough, sniff, scratch . . .

This year, so far, is keeping Lana and I busy. I was in Chattanooga, TN March 31 – April 5 for the SGM Fan Fair. I performed three different times for the evening concerts. I also was selected/asked to be a presenter and to perform at the SGM Fan Fair Awards ceremony on Thursday evening. I sang “One Amazing Night.” I was honored and proud to be a part of this great night honoring some of Southern Gospel’s greats.

I finally broke down and purchased a new sound system. It was a very hard choice as there are so many different companies that carry PA equipment. You can go from big to small, light to heavy weight, and reasonably priced to out of sight in just one brand alone. Well, after looking and searching till I was nearly burnt out, I went with a Peavey system from a local rep here in the Nashville area. I am very pleased. Lana and I can handle it by ourselves and the sound is fantastic. Lana can make me sound pretty good, well maybe not the pretty part, but the good part.

Now, where have I been; Chattanooga, TN, Ozark, AL, Dothan, AL, Millbrook, AL, Summerville, GA, Trion, GA, and a few places here in the Nashville area. My Alabama trip was a lot of fun but quite tiring for me, Lana, and Rosie. Yes, Rosie was along for the trip. She was not very friendly to strangers. She snarled at a very sweet older lady after my concert at the Klondyke Gospel Center. The lady was just trying to be nice to Lana and me and wanted to see Rosie. Rosie doesn’t like anyone to get close to us, especially me, and she thought the woman was going to touch me. Rosie did the same thing when I showed her to a little boy before the Millbrook Nazarene Church concert. Rosie needs some anger management classes, counseling and medication. That seems to be everyone’s answer for everything these days. (I do want to add that her irrational and strange behavior is completely Lana’s fault, well . . . maybe a little of mine.)

My song, “The Royal Telephone” has climbed to #46 for May in the Christian Voice Magazine charts! It has been on the charts for six months. I consider that an honor and a blessing for a soloist in a group dominated industry. I am releasing, “I Just Can’t Wait” to radio in May. It is from my latest project, “What Do They Do?” and written by yours truly. Please call your local Christian radio station and request it. Let’s take this one even farther up the charts.

My new DVD entitled “Live: >From the Heart: is now available. It was recorded in December in Pigeon Forge, TN at the Main Stay Suites Convention and Conference Center. It was filmed by Ark Productions of Knoxville, TN and mixed and mastered by Shane Roark of Chapel Valley Studio in Sharps Chapel, TN. I am very proud of it. This will give you a glimpse of what to see, expect and hear when you attend a Rick Alan King concert. I will admit that the project make me really want to call a diet clinic and scream, “HELP!”

I would still love to come to your church, club, group, or any event that would appreciate a Christian music concert. I will do my best to bring you a concert full of stories, laughter, and heart-felt gospel music. Please call me at the office or contact Tom Sabella at Page2 Management for any and all information on the music ministry of Rick Alan King.

As always, let’s always pray for each other. There is power in that.

Rick

P.S. My booth number is 597 at NQC 2008.

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January 2008

I feel “mouthy” so sit back, relax and prepare to read. Funny thing, my wife says I am always mouthy, huh . . .

I hope everyone had joyous happy holidays. I love Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Lana, Rosie and I went to northern Indiana to visit my father and family. The visit was nice but the weather awful. It was cold, 7 degrees wind chill, winds steady at 25 mph and gusts of 50 mph. One gust even blew Rosie completely over in an icy parking lot and then blew her around on the ice. When she finally got up, that was it, no more outside activities for her. Stupid me forgot to take a heavy winter coat and had to go buy one. I’m too chubby to wear my brother’s or father’s. No comment, please! The weather played havoc on Lana’s breathing as well as my father’s, the dog was not amused, so after Christmas lunch at my brother’s we headed straight back to Tennessee. We were all ready for home. There is nothing better than your own bed and backyard. My family is not big on dogs in the house so we had a good excuse to leave. Rosie is a good dog, sometimes, every now and then, well not often, but she does have good moments.

Okay, now to Rick Alan King Music Ministries. Praise report: My single radio release, “The Royal Telephone,” has climbed to #67 in the Christian Voice Magazine chart for February. I am thrilled to death. Please call you local Christian radio station and request it I just found out that the Christian voice Magazine is going to do a feature article on me schedule for a summer issue release.

I was in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee back the first week of December for Christmas in the Smokies, a SonShine Group Promotion. I performed 3 times and recorded a “live-in-concert” video. We had a great time. The attendance was great and the spirit was even better. Lives were touched, people were encouraged and all the artists were able to laugh, share, pray, and just hang out. It was 3 days of a pure good time. I will be there the first week of December, 2008, so please come and join me. You will not be disappointed unless you don’t like good gospel music, laughter, food, and fellowship. I will have all the details soon.

Now, to my 2008 project; as I said earlier, I have a “live-in-concert” video that is scheduled for a late March release. It will be entitled “Rick Alan King Live: From the Heart.” It contains songs from all of my previous recordings and includes my current single, “The Royal Telephone.” It is full of heart felt music, a testimony, and laughter. It was recorded at the Main Stay Suites, Hotel and Convention Center in Pigeon Forge in the beautiful Smokey Mountains. Please write, e-mail, or call the office to pre-order one for $20.00, postage paid. The first 50 will receive a special bonus gift.

Lana and I are gearing up for SGM Fan Fair in Chattanooga, Tennessee, March 31 – April 5. I will be performing on the main stage once and on the Chapel Valley artist showcase on Friday. It is a week filled with great evening concerts by leading and up and coming Christian artists, daily Bible studies, afternoon concerts, and you can visit with all the artists in the exhibition hall. It is a very tiring week, but so much fun.

As my song says, “I Just Can’t Wait.”

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September 2007

 Here’s a big hearty hot dry summer “howdy!” Yes, here in Middle Tennessee, when I say hot and dry, I mean HOT AND DRY!!! This has been a very severe summer but that is nature and we can’t change or do anything about it except gripe and complain like I do on a regular basis, so says my charming wife, Lana. I’ll deal with her later (as my dear friend Paul Roark says), “When I get the nerve.”

 Well, let me try to recall what’s been happening. My summer has been quite slow due to Lana who has been suffering terribly with her asthma and COPD. She is finally better, thank the good Lord! Even Rosie has been ill with allergies.

 I have been hard at it trying to get bookings and making new contacts. Lana and I both have a bad case of “pencil fingers” and “computer eyes.” We are in the midst of a one thousand post card mail out to churches, associations, promoters, pastors, and other possible places for a Rick Alan King concert. A lot of places tend to like groups a bit more than us soloists, I guess for the entertainment aspect, but I do have a good program full of fun, stories and heart touching music. I try to put my all into every program whether it is a large or small venue. I love what I do, believe in what I do, and whom I sing about.

Hey, my new project “What Do They Do?” is doing quite well. I have three singles released to radio off of it. The first being an internet radio release of my song “What Do They Do?” written by yours truly. You can listen to it by going to www.thesoutherngospel.com and clicking on SG Online Radio. The second is a Christmas themed song entitled “One Amazing Night.” That one is on the Paradigm Comp. Disc Vol. 2 and has been sent out to 1000 radio stations. The major single release is an old fashioned, camp-meetin’, hand-clappin’, foot tappin’, smilin’ version of “The Royal Telephone.” This one is being released on the Chapel Valley Summer Comp. Disc to hundreds of Christian radio stations nation wide. Please call your local gospel radio station and request it.

I was at the West Georgia Southern Gospel Music Convention in August in Dallas, GA. I had a good time seeing my label mate friends and making new friends, too. I performed Friday night to an enthusiastic crowd. I was even nominated for the soloist award.

Then Lana and I were off to Bridgeport, Alabama to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church for a good old fashioned church homecoming and afternoon concert. They had great food and were very nice people to sing to. Pastor Josh Myers even booked me for next year’s homecoming.

I am off to NQC in Louisville, Kentucky for an entire week. I will have my very own exhibitors’ booth again this year. I am singing on the NQC’s Regional Artist Showcase Tuesday and on The Sonshine Group’s Showcase on Wednesday. NQC is the most fun filled week you can have. There are fabulous evening concerts by only the biggest names in gospel music, daily Bible studies with music, showcases at the local hotels as well as at the convention center, meetings of all sorts, and an absolutely huge exhibition hall full of over 800 gospel artist and music industry related booths, and midnight  buffets at the host hotels. You can stay on the go from 9:00 a.m. until midnight each day. I come home very tired and irritable (as usual), but I love every minute of it. If you love Southern Gospel Music, give it a try once and I guarantee you’ll be hooked. My momma tried it once back in the ‘70’s and went for over 30 years.

I will be at “Christmas in the Smokies” December 6, 7, and 8 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It is three days packed full of gospel music, shopping, food and fellowship. Then January 27 – 31, I will be singing on a Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas sponsored by The Sonshine Group on Carnival Cruise Lines. There will be four days of food, morning chapel and concert, food, evening concerts, food, shopping, and much more food.  If you are interested in any of these, please contact Lana or me. You will not be disappointed.

As always, let’s keep one another in our prayers. We simply can’t and won’t make it without it. I love y’all.

Rick

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Hello my friends, how is everyone? Yes I know it has been a long time since I’ve “updated” but I think we, Lana, Tom and I, have finally got all the kinks worked out. I have a brand new webmaster/host or whatever you call them as I know zilch on computer lingo. Her name is Robin. It has been a very hard decision to find the right person to handle this. I am now ready to get things going again. Please check out all of the pages on the site and please sign the guestbook. I love to get messages.

Well, here in middle Tennessee spring has definitely sprung, so has every muscle and joint in my body. It has been hot, then cold, then back to hot and finally it is normal. I’ve planted flowers, shrubs, mowed grass, weed-eated and the list goes on. I really love to do outside work but it plays havoc with my allergies. More Clariton please! One more thing concerning outside activities, Rosie adds her help too. She digs, walks on the newly planted flowers, barks at everything from bugs and worms to the neighbors and well, I’ll tell more of her antics in a later update.

Okay now to the music thing. My new project is out and ready. So far, it has been received quite well. There are three songs getting a lot of attention. They are the title cut, “What Do They Do”, “I Just Can’t Wait” (both written by me) and “The Royal Telephone”. One or two of these three will go radio this summer. Keep this matter in your prayers. It is a very big decision. My manager, Tom, and I, are in the discussion stages of a possible Christmas project. Hmmm…

I had a CD release party back in April at the Long Hollow Jamboree here in the Goodlettsville/Hendersonville area. It was a fabulous afternoon of singing, food and lots of laughter. My dear friends, Anita Jo Walters and Garry and Patty Valentine added to the party with some great gospel music. My father, Robert, came from northern Indiana and I was so happy and proud to see him there. It was one of the first trips away from home for him since the death of my beloved mother. He is a great man and I am so lucky and blessed to have him as my father. There were nearly seventy people in attendance. I did a full concert of all of the eleven cuts of the project. I was in the height of my glory all day, but oh so tired at the end. (Hey, I am over forty you know, way over, says Lana).

All in all, it was a big success with good sales, great food, dear friends and spirit filled music. It just don’t get no better than that! PTL

What else have Lana and been up to… I have done a few concert dates here and there. I am now right in the middle of selecting a new PA system; my, oh my, what a hard decision. One company says I need this, another that and yet another, something else. This matter is another major pray need.

I will be at “Christmas in the Smokies” again this year in beautiful Pigeon Forge Tennessee on December 6 th-8 th. Come and join us we would love to have you there. Then in January, 2008, Lana and I will be going on another Caribbean cruise. The dates for that are January 27 th-31 st. Both of these events are days and nights filled with music, fun and laughter great food and most of all a Christian atmosphere and I will be performing on each. If you are interested, simply call the office and Lana or I will fill you in on all the details.

As always, pray without ceasing in faith believing. God knows our needs and he knows what’s best and I am so thankful that like the classic song says, “He Looked Beyond My Fault And Saw My Need”.

I would still love to come and sing for you. Simply call and we’ll get the ball rolling.

I Love you all.

Rick

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Yes, I know it has been quite a while since my last “latest words”. A lot has happened in the last few months, some good and some bad. Well, things are doing better so the wait is over and I feel the need to run my mouth in a big way. Oh no…

September took me to the National Quartet Convention in Louisville KY for a week. I had, for the first time, my very own exhibitor/artist booth. What an incredible week of fun, food, fellowship and spirit. I had my picture made with some of the legends and the up and coming people of the southern gospel music industry. I walked and talked with the likes of Dottie Rambo, Jim Hill, Joel and Labreeska Hemphill, Roger Neal, Lulu Roman, Naomi Sego, and many more. (Am I name dropping? Yes, I am, and very proud of it.) I f you love southern gospel music, the NQC is a must for at least once in your lifetime. Words cannot express what transpires during that week. There are concerts, artist showcases, daily chapel services, award shows, exhibitor halls, and so much more. My mother tried it out once and attended for 30-plus years. I have never smiled and shook so many hands and gave and received hugs in my entire life. I was almost tired of being nice, but I was warned by my wife, Lana, my manager Tom Sabella, and my producers mother Jetta Roark, to “behave myself” and “watch my attitude and mouth.” I can truthfully say that I did just that, (well most of the time…)

October, I sang at a CD release party for my fellow Page2Management singer/songwriter, Pam Seaman. It was a great evening with a variety of Christian music being performed by the likes of Phil Keaggy, Ed Hill, Royce Taylor, Pam Seaman and me. I also performed in my hometown of Greentown, IN for the first time in over 30 years. I did a benefit concert for a large health facility and then on to a wonderful little church on Sunday evening. I had a huge amount of family that attended, many who had not heard me perform since my days of singing with my beloved mother. There were many tears and much laughter too. It is always wonderful to see family and friends and potential new ones. I haven’t experienced such spirit and love in a long time. The later part of the month, Lana was in the hospital for a few days with a very serious problem. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

November was rather slow for me, musically speaking, due to the fact that I was having some of the worst allergy and sinus problems that I have faced in years and Lana’s health problems. I walked around in a medicine head fog all month. I did manage to go to Chapel Valley Studio to start laying down my vocals for my new project in between coughing and sneezing. Thanksgiving, Lana and I spent at Tom and Patty Sabella's home for a day of great food and jibber-jabber.

December, well, as most everyone’s, was very busy. I performed for three days for The Sonshine Group’s “Christmas in the Smokies” in Gatlinburg, TN. That was oh so much fun and oh so tiring. We had nightly concerts, daily bible studies, and matinee concerts along with a few comedy skits mixed in. The stage was decorated with nearly twenty Christmas trees, fully lighted, along with all the other holiday decor. There were over fifteen different artists that sang during the three day event. I have already signed up for next year and will be performing again for each day. Next year, it will held in Pigeon Forge at the Main Stay Suites Resort. I would love for you to go with Lana and I. Just let me know and I will get you the information you need. The second week found Lana and me hosting a Christmas party at our home for Page2Management and friends. We cleaned, cooked, decorated and shopped all week. It was big success for all who attended; we all had a very nice night. There was a fair amount music too! So much fun was had by all. The last part of month was spent doing last minute shopping. Now comes the next week. Once again, I along with Lana, caught the dreaded cold that everyone had and had to honestly get better before we could die. It was awful! The next week was Christmas and Lana, Rosie and I headed to northern IN to spend the holidays with my family. We did have some snow on Christmas day and it was beautiful. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

New Years Day found me in the studio for a couple of days finishing my vocals on my new project. I am so hyped over this recording! The scheduled release date is sometime in March. It is packed full of great music, and I am so proud to say I wrote two of the songs. We serve a great God! Oh, one more thing, I am now the proud owner of a conversion van to get me back and forth to my dates with comfort and plenty of room. PTL! I have so much more to say… (Lana says I need wrap it up.)

I love you all,

Rick

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I have been very busy working on my new project. It is going to be great; with songs penned by Gerald Crabb, Joel Hemphill, and “yours truly,” it can’t go wrong. The release date should be sometime in early fall. I’ll keep you updated on the progress of the as yet untitled project.

 This summer and fall will take me, along Lana and Rosie, to Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and few places in between. As always, please keep us in your prayers as we travel on the road, it’s not easy, but I love every minute of it. It feels so good to be doing what I love so very much; singing the gospel and sightseeing the beautiful country. I do still work in the hair salon during the week when I am not on the road.

 Speaking of “traveling out on the road,” raises another big decision for Lana and me, a means of travel. We are currently looking and pricing various means of transportation, RV’s, vans, trailers, and yes I have even considered a bus. I need to strike it rich very soon! This is a major decision for us, but one that has to be made. Please keep this on your prayer and thought list. Another thing that has to be considered on this matter is who is going to drive this thing. I have never driven anything big, neither has Lana, so this ought to make an interesting tidbit for another monthly article. I’ll keep you posted on this, too! I can already hear the words of “disagreement” between Mr. and Mrs. King.

 Well, what else can I talk about? Oh, yes, you should hear how I drove off of the driveway at Travis Roark’s house and burst my tire and broke the rim too. That was an experience to remember. I keep my cool, believe it or not. We went from here to there trying to get it fixed, and we did thanks to help by Travis and some local businesses in Tazewell, TN. A good thing came out of this; I met a cousin I didn’t about when I was sent to a Davis Salvage Yard in Lone Mountain, TN. He is a Leedy relative. I did some great reminiscing with his Papaw and connecting family ties.

 Speaking if the Roark’s, if you get a chance to hear them in concert, do so! They are a great bunch of people talent-wise, spirit-wise, and business-wise. We are proud to call them friends. (Of course, if I’m in concert the same night, you better come and hear me.)

 My management company, Page2Management, is putting together a Christmas project using all of their artists. I should have two songs on it. It is scheduled for a “around Thanksgiving” release. I will be posted on the ‘Store” page of my website.

 I also have to give a great big CONGRATULATION to my manager, Tom Sabella, on the news that Barnes and Noble Books has picked up his book, “Don’t Get Taken – Take Control, 12 Things Every Musician Needs to Know.” It has been available on line for a few weeks and is doing great. I personally know how valuable an asset this book is because it and its author have made a big change in my music business savvy.

 Please tell your family, friends, pastors, and music ministers to check out my website. Also, listen to WGVR at www.wgvr.com. They are playing my songs. I’m still new at a lot of this and need your support and prayers.

 My God Bless each and every one of you!

 -R-

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Spring has really sprung around here. I’ve been planting flowers and mowing grass. I just love it even if it is hard, dirty work. I hope all of you are enjoying the beautiful weather.

 I recently found out from Aubrey Clark that “The Gospel Vault”, WGVR Radio in Baltimore, MD has chosen 5 songs from my “FOUNDATIONS” CD for airplay. This is wonderful and an answer to prayers. Things are slowly but surely coming together.

 April 29th, I performed along with several other acts here in my hometown at First Baptist Church Goodlettsville, for a big benefit concert to help two area churches damaged by the April 7th tornados that hit middle TN. It was a big success, Praise the Lord! I was even shown performing on the evening news. The emcee for the concert was the beautiful Holly Thompson from our local NBC affiliate, Channel 4, and I just had to get my picture taken with her.

 The next weekend found Lana and I, (and Rosie) , in Indiana visiting my father, then on to Sharps Chapel, TN to Chapel Valley Studio to start my next recording project. I am still working on getting things together for my next project and am pulling out all the stops. It should be great! Then we went on to Knoxville, TN to a big PRAISE 96.3 FM Radio listener appreciation concert. It was absolutely fabulous.

 
I am going to close with an e-mail sent to me by our dear friend, also a great singer and musician, Garry Valentine. Read it closely; it has a powerful and profound message. (I do not know who sent it to Garry or who wrote it.)

 CHEROKEE WISDOM:   Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two “wolves” inside us all.

One is Evil!  It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

 What a great story to pass on to our kids and a
lesson to be learned by us all.

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APRIL 2006

Well, here it is again, time for me to ramble, rant, gripe or be positive and insightful. Lana tells me I’d better choose the later. (Although I’m good at the first part)

 I hope every one of you are enjoying the beautiful springtime. When everything starts growing and turning green and the flowers start blooming, it sort of picks up the ol’ attitude a bit and the “allergies” too. It is a bit of a shame how Christians need an attitude adjustment, me included. What have we done with love, fellowship and unity? Sounds like topic for a good sermon, doesn’t it? I’ll leave that to the preachers though.

 I am currently right smack dab in the middle of selecting material for my next recording project. It is so hard! I have to make sure the songs are meaningful, right for my voice, of a certain style, and even marketable and saleable. Then there’s the photography, licensing, studio, producer, musicians, graphic designer, and the list goes on and on. A lot of time and money is involved, but worth it. I try to put out the best project I can possibly do. I believe that we serve the VERY BEST and we should give our best in return, don’t you agree? Think what He has done for us and it will put that in perspective.

 This month I have a birthday. They seem to roll around faster and faster as you get older.  Apparently I’m getting younger as Lana says I am very “childish.” Please remember I accept checks, gift certificates, and cash. Ha! Ha! (Hey, I need to pay for this recording somehow.)

 Lana and I went to the Southern Gospel Music Fanfair in Chattanooga for two days of concerts, visits to exhibitors, talks with DJ”S, checking out promoters and just plain old fun. We got to visit with friends we met on the cruise, sang in restaurants, and hobnobbed with the rich and famous, the has been’s, the have not’s and wanna be’s. Guess where I fit in? Be careful.

 We have been busy sending out promo packs to various churches, promoters, talent agencies, radio stations, and more. I still need your prayers and support. This is a very hard industry with so many wonderful artists trying to share their ministry in song.

 In closing, I do believe in what and whom I sing about and am determined to succeed at it. I will strive to bring you, my fans and supporters, quality music with a positive message. I hope I always stay true to “a song from the heart.”

 Rick

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MARCH, 2006

I can’t believe it’s time for my “Latest Words” again. Where does the time go? We live so fast, stay so busy doing this and that and before we know it, it’s time to start all over again. I hope we, including myself, never get so busy that we forget to stop and give thanks and praise to the one who makes all of this possible. We have so much and there are so many that have nothing. Take a look around the corner and it kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

 The later part of March, Lana and I are going to Chattanooga, TN to the Southern Gospel Music Fanfair for 2 days. Some of Southern Gospels leading quartets, trios, and soloists will be performing each evening. There will be daily seminars and concerts, and a talent contest. Then there is the big exhibition hall with artist’s booths, talent agency’s and recording studio representatives, and a whole lot more. It is so much fun just to walk around and browse. You never know who you might run into. So as usual, I’ll be talking, (Lana calls it running my mouth), and taking a lot of pictures with our new “state of the art” digital camera that neither Lana nor I can quite figure out. We get into some fairly heated discussions over this. (I usually win; don’t tell her I said that.)

 I feel nice this month and feel like giving some “THANK YOU’S”:
To Tom Sabella of Page2Management for all of his hard work in helping me in so many ways; to look and be professional in all aspects of music. What a guy! To Alvin Abuelouf of Forefront Digital for what I think is a great all around website, computer help (and oh, how we need help), and graphic design for all our business needs. To all of the people at Chapel Valley Studio, especially Shane and Travis Roark, for making me sound as good as they can,  and also to Paul and Jetta Roark for being more that just talented, but for being just plain nice people. To all who read my website and follow my career; keep the comments and suggestions coming, I need them and appreciate them. To Lana for putting up with me. Even I have to admit that I am a handful at times. I get on my own nerves sometimes. And as always, to the reason for which I sing, the master of the universe, the great creator, our savior and king, and the list goes on.

I love you all, as my friend Mike said, “more than cornbread.” Till April (my birthday is the 6th).

 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

 Rick

P.S. Our thirteenth anniversary is the twentieth of this month.

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FEBRUARY, 2006

Well, here it is February already, the month of love. Love is the most powerful of all emotions. My, oh my, how we need more love in every aspect of our lives. What has happened to it?

The last part of January took Lana and I on a Caribbean cruise to Nassau, Bahamas. (Rosie the dog, and Pansy and Percy the parakeets, had an animal sitter, Brad. It was Rosie's first time to have a sitter. He may never be the same again.) It was absolutely fabulous! There was food, fellowship, food, morning concerts with Bible study, food, shopping, food, and great evening concerts. Oh, yes, did I mention food? There was formal dining each evening, daily sit down breakfast and lunch, buffet style dining for every meal, and even midnight buffets.Of course, free room service was available all the time.

I had the honor of performing three different times, the first being Sunday night at the resort when I kicked off our adventure. I also sang for a morning Bible study and for one evening concert. I was privileged to share the stage with such gospel greats as Tony Gore, John Lanier, The Roark's, Diane Sherrill, Trevor Thomas, and many, many more. It was so refreshing to see people from many denominational and religious backgrounds together as one enjoying fellowship, great gospel music, and the beautiful scenery designed by God.

I hope you are enjoying my website. It has been very trying, but fun getting it up and running. Please keep your comments and suggestions coming. This website is for you. I cannot do any of this without you.

Now, I am ready to start "phase two" of my ministry and career, bookings. I would be honored to come to your church, special event, Senior or Youth group. I will do my best to bring you a concert of quality music and even some laughter.

I'll close this "Latest Words" with something sent to Lana and I by our new dear friend we met on our cruise, Mike Irwin.

"Who loves ya?" 

Rick

January will take Lana and I on our first ever Caribbean cruise, hosted by the Sonshine Group of Sharps Chapel, TN. I will be performing on stage with the likes of the "Roark's", "Tony Gore & Majesty", "Trevor Thomas", and many other Christian artists and speakers. I just hope I do not get motion sickness and I easily do. I've heard the food is endless, yeah, like I need to gain more weight. Oh well, I'll diet when I get back. Rosie will be spending her first time away from us with a live-in puppy-sitter.Oops, I guess it should be "dog-sitter" as her first birthday is January 17. I hope the sitter lives through the experience.

As the old hymn says: "Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." How timeless and true!

A song from the heart,

Rick