A pop-rock singer-songwriter active since the '80s, Australian Rick Price continues to entertain audiences releasing his tenth studio album 'Soulville' last year.
A collection of 1960s soul covers – including Eddie Floyd's 'Knock On Wood', 'Walk On By' by Dionne Warwick, the immortal Aretha Franklin's 'Chain Of Fools' and 'Soulville', Martha and the Vandellas 'Dancing In The Streets' and a stirring version of the time-honoured Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' – 'Soulville' also features one original track.'Farewell But Not Goodbye' is a tribute to the Queen Of Soul, the late-great Aretha Franklin, and was written by Price and fellow Aussie hitmaker John Capek.
Now living in Nashville in the United States, Price has returned to Australia and is currently touring 'Soulville'. "I can't wait to play this album live!" shares Rick.
"I'll be performing tracks from 'Soulville', a collection of songs from the 1960s soul era.
"'In The Midnight Hour', 'Stand By Me', 'Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay', 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'. . . just to name a few.
"Some shows will be with a full band and some will be solo electric. See you soon."
Here, Rick shares a few childhood memories of him learning different musical instruments.
1: Drums
Drums were my first instrument. I used to crawl into my mother's kitchen when I was a baby and pull all her pots and pans out of the cupboards and bang away for hours.Then I discovered her knitting needles made a cool sound on a leather couch. My grandfather bought me my first kit – a set of blue Rivieras (it was love at first sight). The drums came very naturally to me. . . must have been the kitchen sessions!
2: Voice
My voice was my second instrument. My mother played records and always had the radio on when we were kids and I learned to sing-along with all her favourites.Elvis and Johnny Cash were big in our house. . . then of course came my heroes: Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin. . . just to name a few. I learned to sing just by listening to their records; every one, a masterclass.
3: Guitar
It all started at age three with my brother's tennis racket for a guitar and my dressing gown chord for a strap, doing Elvis impersonations at the top of the stairs. I used to watch my older brother and my uncles play. . . mesmerised! They were my teachers.I needed something to accompany myself singing. My first guitar was a Suzuki acoustic; hours and hours sitting on the back steps just picking away trying to get a sound out of the thing. I later picked up the electric and was a bass player in many touring bands before I started making my own records in the '90s.
4: Ukulele
I had an instant love affairs with the Uke. I like to call it the portable joy machine! I dare anyone to pick up a ukulele without it bringing a smile. There's just something inherently joyful in the sound; and it's super light so it's a great instrument for those of us who like to roam around.5: Piano
Piano came much later for me; of course, like most people I tinkered away from time to time but it wasn't till I dived in at the deep end and took a piano bar gig that I actually learned to play. I wonder if that bar owner knew I was faking it. Probably!But I got away with it and eventually managed to knock out a few tunes. These days I love to write on the piano; the songs are always very different to the songs I write on guitar. Amazing how instruments speak to you in their own language.
Rick Price 2022 Tour Dates
Fri 10 Jun - Friends Restaurant (Perth)Sat 11 Jun - Harvey Recreational and Cultural Centre (Harvey, WA)
Fri 17 Jun - Jindalee Hotel (Brisbane)
Sat 18 Jun - The Royal Hotel (Brisbane)
Fri 24 Jun - Sunshine Beach Surf Lifesaving Club (Sunshine Coast)
Sat 25 Jun - Manly Harbour Boat Club (Brisbane)
Fri 1 Jul - Club Burleigh (Gold Coast)
Sat 2 Jul - Westside HQ (Brisbane)
Thu 7 Jul - Maryborough Sports Club (Maryborough)
Sat 16 Jul - Club Hotel (Chinchilla)
