Thompson, Rick

Websites:  No
Origin: Ottawa, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Born Christmas Eve 1943 in Ottawa, Rick grew up in the Nation’s Capital, eventually entering the Services at age seventeen. Service jam sessions and concerts were the first signs of his interest in a musical career which began to materialize in the motor city of Detroit soon after completion of military service. At the outset music was a means of supporting a career in motor racing. As a sign of things to come, Rick's music was country, even in the face of the predominance of the Motown of the sixties.

Rick remained a Canadian Citizen and returned to Canada in 1972, joining an Ottawa rock group as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. During this stage of his career, he developed a Presley routine that received wide acclaim throughout the Ottawa area. Realizing through all this that country was his true destiny, Rick began writing country music and playing Ottawa Valley club dates in the late seventies.

Rick wrote, recorded and released his first local hit single “Singin’ Country in the City” in the Fall of 1981. Local acclaim accorded this release led to the prompt release of two follow-up singles “Free Living Man” and “She’s My Life” and ultimately this, his first album. Planning of a second album is now underway.

Rick Thompson: vocals, harmony vocals (tracks A1–A3, B1–B4), rhythm guitar
Dusty King Jr.: bass (tracks A1, A2), harmony vocals (track B2)
George Brothers: bass (tracks A3, A4, B1–B4)
Satch Rheaume: bass (tracks A5, B5)
Ron Prescott: drums (tracks A3, A4, B3, B4)
Sam Henry: drums (tracks A1, A2, B1, B2)
Terry Morin: drums (tracks A5, B5)
Gil Glazier: lead guitar (tracks A1–A4, B3, B4)
Bruce Ireland: lead guitar (tracks B1, B2)
Jon Park-Wheeler: lead and rhythm guitar (tracks A5, B5)
Gary Spicer: rhythm guitar (tracks A3, A4, B1–B4), steel guitar (tracks A1–A4, B1–B4)
Roger Coulomb: rhythm guitar (tracks A1, A2)
Al Bragg: piano (tracks A1, A2, B1, B2), steel guitar (tracks B5)
Matt Horner: piano (tracks A3, A4, B3, B4)
Ted Gerow: piano (track B5), keyboards (track A5), strings (track B5), flute (track B5)
David Dennison: synthesizer (tracks A3, A4), strings (track A4), celesta (track B3), claves (track B4)
Chris Cauley: saxophone (track A1)
Andy Clarke: harmony vocals (track A5)
Lyn Miles: harmony vocals (tracks A4, B3)
Terry Tufts: harmony vocals (tracks A4, B3)

All songs written by Rick Thompson except: “Diane” by Ron Rogers; and “American Trilogy” – trad. arr. Rick Thompson
Produced by Rick Thompson and David Dennison
Engineered by David Dennison
Recorded at Snocan Studios, 2415 Holly Lane, Ottawa, Ontario

Cover design by John Cook, Industrial Design, Ottawa, Ontario
Cover photo: Whitney’s General Store, Highway 15, Morton, Ontario

This album is dedicated to my wife, Diane, and to the memory of Mike Trottier – "I miss you old friend."

Special thanks to Ray & Beulah Robillard for believing in me.