The first thing you notice when you greet Rick is his deep speaking voice. That warm alluring voice has served him well as a commerical voice talent and actor/on-camera talent. His voiceovers have included numerous radio and television ads, audio books and other narrations. He has appeared as the on-camera spokesperson for clients in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, and throughout the Southeast, as well as a few good character roles in music videos. He even had a line in the TV movie, "The Dottie West Story".
Rick's deep, rich speaking voice transforms easily into a very compelling baritone as he performs with the smoothest of character, style and story telling ability. He has proven to be a radio friendly talent throughout 1998 and 1999 with the release of his first two singles that both went up to #1 on National secondary radio market
"Don't You How Better Than That?" in 98', and "You'd Be The First To Know" in 99'.
Rick says he came into country music through the back door. As he made a slow gradual progression from interpreting the music of folk artists such as Jim Croce, James Taylor and Emmy Lou Harris to Merle Haggard. Waylon and Willie and Alabama, he became more more fascinated by the emotional maturity of country music. While in the U.S. Navy on a Mediterranean cruise, he played his music in every port accompanied by whatever musicians the local culture would yield, i.e. Flamenco guitarists in Spain and accordionists in Italy and France. After discharge, while attending college in the beautiful Northwest he began to write, playing his new music in a trio he formed for local performances. After graduation Rick returned home to Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, opeing shows for Alabama, Loretta Lynn and the Oak Ridge Boys. Rick and his band also played several dates on the prestigious Wheeling Jamboree radio show on station WWVA. It was in Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium during a Pirates vs. Mets twilight double-header that he was asked to sing the National Anthem before a crowd of 25,000. Shortly afterward he moved to Nashville without his band where he peaked the interest of Harlan Howard and RCA Records with his quartet White Crow although the act was never signed to the label.
______________________UPDATE_____________________
Rick co-produced with Bob Corbin an important and rewarding project called Home Free; a new CD released November 11th, Veterans Day, 2003.. This 12 track compilation CD has some great artists such as, Rick Lance, T. Graham Brown, Ricochet, Moe Bandy, Lane Brody, Corbin Hanner, Don Ellis, Sheri Jo Porter and many more. Rick is especially proud of this particular project since he is not only an artist on the cd, he is the co producer.
He was the photographer on the project, and released Home Free on his own label, Duke Records.
Sponsored by Veterans' Outreach, Inc.
This production is an incredible collection of country music written and performed by some of Nashville's finest. With a patriotic slant to the music, the album paints a beautiful portrait of life and living in the USA. All proceeds of Home Free will benefit American Veterans through the many assistance programs of Veterans' Outreach, Inc.
Rick was brought into the project after being invited in as an artist with his song "Sarge" and soon began recruiting other Nashville talent as co producer. . As a veteran, he is very proud to be a part of such a noble effort and thankful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Get Rick behind a microphone and people stop dead in their tracks with just a few spoken words, his soft smile and his dry sense of humor. As he sings his very first notes they are drawn in to capture every lyric in his song. Women are charmed, men are amused and as for Rick Lance, well, he believes in the power of music.
Rick won an
IMA 2000 Independant Music
Awards,
for taking the Country/Bluegrass category for his single "Break My Heart"
(Track #1 Dark Horses CD)
Music Resource Group
The record is currently being played on college radio
across the USA.
