Rick Price
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Rick Price

Heaven knows Rick Price has enjoyed the type of enduring success that many struggling young artists will only ever dream of. His musical journey started early on in Beaudesert, a small semi-rural community south of Brisbane. “I was a child performer, we played at all the barn dances around the little country town I grew up in. We had a family band called Union Beau, everyone loved music and we were all self-taught. I played with my brother and sister, and uncles and aunties – it was really tremendous.” he smiles.
He began writing his own songs in the late ‘80s and from there his career was on an upward trajectory. By 1992 he was one of the most played artists on Australian radio. His debut single ‘Not a Day Goes By’, peaked at #5 on the Australian charts and sat comfortably in the Top 40 for 20 weeks, but that would prove to be only a taste of what was to come.
Price’s next single ‘Heaven Knows’ was his second Top 10 hit that went gold, making him the only Australian artist with two songs in the Top 10 at the time. It wasn’t long before the industry heavy-weights took notice and announced ‘Heaven Knows’ as the APRA Song of the Year.
Almost overnight the soft-spoken young man from country Queensland became instantly recognisable. He possessed the look of a rock star, thanks to his long flowing locks, and the voice of an angel. “I do get a lot of lovely feedback from people who were fans in the ‘90s. I realise these songs have taken on a life of their own, and it’s always nice to hear that something I have written has resonated with someone,” he says humbly.
Price spent most of the ‘90s travelling the world, while continuing to release music (including the much-loved ‘Tamborine Mountain’). In the 2000s he spent time writing, recording and producing with other artists such as Melinda Schneider, Lisa Chappell and David Franj. In 2009 after completing a sold-out run of shows in Tasmania with good buddy Tommy Emmanuel, Price settled in Nashville Tennessee, where he currently resides – proving you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.
Tennessee Sky is his 10th studio album (out July 10). It celebrates his love of gospel music and showcases his versatility as a songwriter on toe-tapping tracks like ‘Work That Fire’, or the moving ‘You Are Not Alone’.
Price produced it himself in Nashville with the help of a wildly successful PledgeMusic Campaign. “It was extra exciting to do it that way because it was purpose driven in that I really felt like I had a job to do, and that I had to bring it home for my fans. I’m super proud of the record, it’s the best I can do right now that’s for sure, I left no stone unturned,” he laughs.
Price says he sought out some of the best musicians in Nashville to play on Tennessee Sky. “I found some quite renowned musicians. A wonderful pedal steel guitar player, and a beautiful upright cello and violin player. I also worked with some Australians, my mate Tommy Emmanuel, [Golden Guitar winner] Tamara Stewart and Anthony Snape.”
To celebrate the release of his highly-anticipated album Price is returning to Australia as part of the Tamborine Mountain to Tennessee Sky tour. He will be joined by song writer and comedian Greg Champion, and musician/song writer Mike Rudd. “I’m delighted to be sharing the stage with these guys and we will certainly be there doing our best.”
Release: Tennessee Sky will be available at all good retailers from July 10
When&Where: Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran – July 12, The Capital, Bendigo – July 16 & GPAC, Geelong – July 25
Written by Natalie Rogers