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Biography
'On the
Edge' Country that's Built on the Classics
Early History
Ricky Lynn Gregg was born Aug. 22, 1959, in Henderson, Texas, to Lucille
and Melvin Gregg. At the tender age of 5, Ricky learned to sing by emulating
his mother's vocal harmonies in their small Baptist church in Longview,
Texas. Ricky's father instantly recognized this extraordinary talent,
pulled a chair up to the pulpit and had Ricky sing harmonies while Melvin
played the guitar. Every Sunday for the next five years, father and
son would perform gospel for the congregation.
Musically influenced by his father and four older brothers, Ricky drew
inspiration from a truly eclectic collection of artists. While the core
country of Merle Haggard and George Jones were being played in one room
of the house, the smooth and rocking sounds of the Temptations, Rolling
Stones and the Beatles could be heard from another.
Ricky joined his first band at the age of 10, playing guitar alongside
his older brother, Dennis. After Ricky's first paid gig at age 12, he
had his heart set on a career in music. From that point on, he began
to develop his own rockin' style shaped by artists such as Aerosmith,
Boston, and Jeff Beck. When Ricky hit high school, his band began playing
banquets, nightclubs and bars in and around Longview, a town known for
producing renowned musical acts.
Playing rock, funk, Motown, whatever the crowd wanted, Ricky would oblige
with his dynamic vocals, guitar and harmonica. After high school, his
joined the band, the Fort Worth, Texas-based Savvy, and turned the group
attention to songwriting.
"They are four of the best rock/funk musicians I ever had the opportunity
to perform with," Ricky said of Savvy, which won critical acclaim
in Dallas with the group's very first recording.
From 1985 to '91:
In 1985, Ricky joined Head East, a '70s mega-band known for its highly
commercial, hard-rock sound and live following. Although Ricky loves
performing rock, he said it was time to return to his country roots.
He founded the Ricky Lynn Project in 1989, which focused on country,
but uniquely rounded with the flair and energy of rock. Singing country
"Ricky style" gained the Ricky Lynn Project extraordinary
popularity and led to Ricky's hit singles in 1993.
From 1992 to 2001:
Ricky Lynn Gregg joined Liberty Records in 1992 under the management
of then-label chief Jimmy Bowen. Gregg's debut studio album, Ricky Lynn
Gregg, produced three hit singles, "If I Had a Cheatin' Heart,"
"Can You Feel It" and "Three Nickels and a Dime."
In 1993, Billboard ranked Gregg at No. 4 on its list of Top New Country
Artists of the Year. He also received a nomination for Best New Country
Act by Performance magazine. Following the huge success of his 1992
album, Gregg's second album, Get a Little Closer, displayed his edgy
approach to the country genre.
The next year, Gregg chose to leave Liberty, and though he continued
to perform, he wanted to show deep appreciation of his Native American
heritage. He founded the charity, Trail of Hope, which provides clothing,
food, pharmaceuticals and other necessities to underprivileged Native
Americans.
From 2001 to Present:
Co-produced by Gregg, Barry Beckett and Eddie Gore, Ricky Lynn Gregg's
third solo album, Careful What You Wish For, proves to be his most diverse
project. Along with chart-ranking music videos, the album's title single,
"I Wanna Be Loved by You," reached No. 1 for five weeks on
the EMS Music Charts, further confirming that country audiences have
been taken in by Gregg's vocal and instrumental virtuosity.
Following the initial success of Careful What You Wish For, Gregg was
approached by country star Larry Gatlin, who asked him to try his hand
in acting. The off-Broadway production of "Quanah and the Parker
Family Saga," funded by the University of Texas, revolves around
the Native American Comanche warrior Quanah Parker, played by Gregg.
"What an amazing experience," Gregg said, "It felt like
I embraced Quanah's soul."
Cast in the production's lead role and acting alongside such prolific
actors as Anne Lockhart, Barry Corbin, Gerald McRaney, Tom Selleck,
Gregg performed for Congress in Washington, D.C., and in 2005 the production
moved to New York City.
Today, Gregg lives with his wife, LaCretia, on their beautiful acreage
just outside Nashville. The pair are an ideal team, with Gregg's immense
vocal talent and songwriting/performing abilities and former paralegal
LaCretia's natural skills and business acumen that enable her to serve
as her husband's manager and agent.
"I am so blessed to have LaCretia in my life," Gregg said,
" On the road I'm a singer, songwriter, producer, entertainer,
actor and musician, but at home she knows I'm 'just Ricky.'"
Today, Ricky is back to performing his own rockin' style of music at
venues across the United States, with the ever-able aid of his band.
Comanche Peak, all of whom are committed to entertaining their fans.
Composed of Karri Lee (keyboards, fiddle), Les Thomas (drums) and Daryl
Dasher (bass, vocals), Comanche Peak's live performances at casinos
and live-music venues have developed a major following in the Native
American community and beyond, including the heart of country music,
Nashville.
Recently, Gregg served as host to WSM's Midnight Jamboree at the Ernest
Tubb Texas Troubadour Theater in Nashville, and he's also been asked
(and accepted) to perform at three country festivals in Switzerland
and will scheduled to participate in the upcoming CMA World Music Festival
in Nashville.
"We'll give 'em rock, country, funk, old-school rhythm 'n' blues,
whatever the crowd wants," he confirmed.
With his diverse style and charismatic stage presence, Ricky Lynn Gregg
truly has his finger on the pulse of what people want.
DISCOGRAPHY
/ PRESS
Albums:
"Ricky
Lynn Gregg" "Get
A Little Closer" "Careful
What You Wish For"
(Liberty, 1992) (Liberty,
1994) (RMG,
2001)
Singles:
“If
I had a Cheatin’ Heart”
“Can You Feel It”
“Three Nickels and a Dime”
“No Place Left to Go”
“Get a Little Closer”
“After the Fire is Gone”
“To Find Where I Belong”
“Careful What You Wish For”
Videos:
“If
I had a Cheatin’ Heart”
“Can You Feel It”
“Three Nickels and a Dime”
“Get a Little Closer”
“After the Fire is Gone”
“To Find Where I Belong”
“Careful What You Wish For”
Awards:
#4
Top New Country Artist – Billboard Magazine’s ‘93 Year
in Music
Nomination – Best New Country Act – Performance Magazine ‘93
Top Web Site - MultiMedia Interactive - 1997
Television:
ABC’s
In Concert Country
Americana Network
TNN Country News
Countdown at the Neon Armadillo
Nashville Now
Music City Tonight
The Ralph Emery Show
Crook & Chase
Inside Country Music
Wake Up America – America’s Talking Network
Prime Time Country
Good Morning Texas
Good Day Dallas
Today’s Country
Sound Station
Print:
People
Weekly
Country America
Cashbox
Country Music USA
Music City News
Pollstar
Amusement Business
Country Song Roundup
Country Beat
Entertainment Weekly
Music Row Magazine
Country Fever
Country Weekly
Radio and Records
New Country
New York Daily News
Modern Screen
That’s Country
Country Style
Country Spectacular
Billboard
ACM Country Focus
American Songwriter
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