biography
John Szetela - Lead Guitar
Zack Stewart - Drums
Joshua Carre - Bass
Rick Monroe takes life experiences that we all share, the events that touch our hearts and creates music that speaks directly to the soul in each of us. Whether in an intimate setting accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, a good old honky-tonk, or on stage playing with his band to thousands at an outdoor festival halfway around the world, Rick strives to connect to his audiences. With a perfect blend of Alt Contemporary/Classic Country, a dash a Roots Rock, a big swig of Texas Swing and a ton of showmanship, he is always a huge crowd pleaser.
Against The Grain, his last release on the Divorce Records spawned two charting releases, single "I Remember The Music" and a haunting remake of the Allman Brothers classic "Midnight Rider". The video for “Midnight Rider” a collection of “snapshots from the road” taken with Rick's own camera, debuted on the syndicated television show Extra and is still in rotation on CMT appearing often on Wide Open Country.
Live performances are where Monroe thrives and the road is where he gets the inspiration for his music. His extensive touring history includes performances throughout the United States, Russia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Hungary, Honduras, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Bahamas, Germany, England, Netherlands and Switzerland, sharing the stage with a who's who of musical greats. At the request of Pete Peterson, US Ambassador to Vietnam, Rick performed at the week-long 4th of July celebrations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Mihn City. Monroe was honored to sing the US National anthem for the 5-year anniversary of the re-opening of diplomatic relations between the countries. This marking the first time the anthem had been sung at a public event in Vietnam in over 25 years.
He followed that up with a Command Performance for the former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev on the USS Sequoia Presidential Yacht, Washington, DC. This lead to a trip to Russia where Monroe performed at several orphanages and was a featured performer on REN TV's Bulat Okudzhava Festival in Moscow, Russia. After touring Europe for the 3rd time, Rick proved once again that country music is alive and well across then pond! “Our tour took us thorough Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland and at each stop the venues were great and the crowds enthusiastic. It's also amazing how country music really breaks down the language barriers. Because country is the stories of our lives the lyrics are clear and it is easy for people to understand, no matter what language they speak.”
“It's said we were all born with a calling, I feel like I won the lottery that mine is to play music and entertain others.”