After a series of expulsions from both high school and art college, followed by an undistinguished (to say the least) attempt at holding down a 'real' job, he let nature take its course and has been a professional musician ever since. He has toured extensively throughout Canada, with occasional forays into Great Britain and the United States with a mixture of traditional, contemporary and original songs.

Rick currently resides in Toronto, Ontario, where he writes music, teaches acoustic techniques on guitar, banjo, mandolin and dulcimer, runs workshops on songwriting and professional development for musicians, does custom leather work, and hosts the radio show Acoustic Workshop on CIUT-FM 89.5. A 25-year folk-music veteran, Rick is a crowd favourite at festivals and other folk venues. 

In Rick's own words:

"I can't describe the feeling that came over me the first time I heard a recording of Leadbelly. Compared to what I was listening to on the radio -- Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, even Elvis -- it was so passionate, with every song painting a picture. I set out to try and understand where his music came from and to play it with the respect it deserved. It was the same with Appalachian old-time country music, Irish dance tunes, the Child ballads of England and Scotland, the gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt and the topical songs of the Quebec chansoniers. When I first heard the music of the Weavers and Pete Seeger, and realized that an issue-oriented song could change the course of history, I made my first attempts at songwriting. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, when someone asks "What kind of music do you play?" they want a simple answer and I'm not able to give them that." 

"After being on the road for more than 20 years playing every conceivable (and inconceivable) venue, I think I was quickly approaching burn-out. In order to be more selective about where I played, I had to find another source of income to supplement what I earned from music. So today I do custom leatherwork, some teaching, and freelance writing and illustration. It's allowed to me to focus on my love of folk music and hopefully to continue playing festivals and clubs where I feel I have something to contribute." 

This One's the Dreamer
released 1999 

This One's the Dreamer
CD $15.00 ON SALE AGAIN SEPTEMEBER 8, 2003

1. This One’s The Dreamer 
2. Patrick Spencer
3. Salty Dog 
4. There Comes a Time
5. Come to Lower Canada 
6. Fa Sol La
7. Deep Fork
8. Catspaw’s Rag 
9. Sing With the Angels 
10. The Wind and the Rain 
11. City Boy’s Dream 
12. In My Life 
13. Those Gin Mill Syncopators 
14. When We Gather Once More 

Lifeline
CD $15.00 ON SALE AGAIN SEPTEMEBER 8, 2003

1. Sold Long Charlie/Jim's Polka
2. Pitman Blues
3. If Jesus Was a Picker 
4. Alouette/La Bastringue
5. Bachelor's Hall 
6. Obray's Fancy
7. Lifeline
8. Company Town
9. Docherty's Jig/Stairsteps
10. Wildgoose
11. Margins of My Neighbourhood
12. Hutchison's Ramble 
13. Birth of Robin Hood
14. Angus Fraser
15. Handful of Songs
16. Rag, Eh? 
17. Old-Time Riverman
18. Voices of Struggle
19. Same Old Songs