Rick lives up in the hills of Virginia City, Nevada!  One of the last remaining old west towns spawned from the famous 1850’s Silver Ore rush called the Comstock Load. A step back in time,,,just like Rick (!)  Wild horses hang out front of his beautiful log home…doesn’t get any cooler than that!

Ricks been in the music business for over 45 years, (he won’t let you count past that), a multi instrumentalist playing banjo, guitar, mandolin, dobro plus some awesome pedal steel guitar.  His reputation as an outstanding teacher on his instruments spans all the way across the country teaching the Pete Wernick Method Bluegrass workshops.

With a lifetime list of connections to the Bluegrass world, Rick found himself in the position of President of the Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association for many years helping shape and grow the largest Bluegrass Festival in Northern Nevada.

 A founding member of the band Young Country, since he was a teen there’s never been a time he wasn’t’ in a band playing one or more of his instruments and singing.  Currently, he’s in three bands Westwind, Overland Express and Southwestern Pilgrimage with his wife Karen and old friends Randy Brooks, writer of Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, as well as with his buddy Rod Phillips who plays with Michael Martin Murphy and Jim Stafford.

Rick can also boast performing on stage with The Osmonds, Porter Waggoner, Glen Campbell and Michael Martin Murphy.

We’re certainly blessed to have ‘Mr. Rick’, ‘Ricky’ ‘Sparky’, here at Mountain Music Parlor! Guess you could say he’s kind of a big deal!

Always a smile on his face, an instrument in his hand he’ll immediately start pickin’ n singin’ you a song. His casual sweet attitude and dedication here for MMP and for his students, you can’t help but love the guy.

Music is his life and taking lessons from him is a treat in itself.
Call to learn with Rick. …it’s the best experience ever!