Rickâs Bio
âSongwriting is turning the heart inside out and letting the world hear its meditations. If a song is truly authentic it is a Christ event, a giving of your life for the benefit of those who have ears to hear,â says Rick James, who began his musical journey at the age of 5 singing as the youngest member of his traveling family of evangelists. At age 15 Rick began learning to play the guitar and by the age 17 he was performing on the stage of the world famous Ryman Auditorium and working as an assistant guitar teacher in the Doc Stone school of music in Dickson Tennessee.

While attending Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, Rick recorded his first CD of all original music titled, âWorkin' On Commissionâ. In 2001, shortly after moving to Ohio, Rick also released his second CD titled, "With Empty Hands" and in 2008 he released a third recording CD titled, âA Little Lower Than The Angelsâ, which showcases not only Rickâs musical ability but his impassioned songwriting.

Music has been a way for Rick to experience Gods healing as well. In 2006 Rickâs 7 year marriage crumbled leaving him wondering where to go next. âIt was like a death had occurred, only worse because there was no corpse to mourn. You pray for the healing of the marriage but when the healing doesnât come it shakes you to the core.â With the support of his church family, good friends, and much prayer Rick was able to pick up the pieces and begin ministering to the broken hearted in new ways that he had never been able to relate before. âEverywhere I go it seems like God opens new doors for me to speak to people who have been through or are going through a broken marriage. They often need someone who has been there to help them see that the pain doesnât last forever and that God is our source of hope and healing.â

Rick is an experienced international recording artist, a sought after guitarist, a studio musician, a top 3 indieheaven.com songwriter, an impassioned worship leader with several songs on CCLI, an ordained minister, and a tenured youth pastor. Rick has traveled extensively in the United States and Africa performing his music on radio stations, TV programs, churches, coffee houses, and many other venues where original Indie music is welcomed. Rick also performed for 10,000 people at the 2009 Church of the Nazarene General Assembly in Orlando Florida where two of his songs were featured in the worship services.

Whether Rick is accompanying himself using his Jam Man loop station like his hero Phil Keaggy; or playing electric guitar with his four piece band, Rickâs performances do not disappoint, incorporating several instruments into his live sets including guitar, piano, harmonica, percussion, and various other instruments. Rickâs contemporary Christian acoustic rock and country music is accessible to a broad range of people, his main goal is to offer a quality music program while being a servant to the needs of his audience.

Worship of the living God is Rick's main focus and he customizes his stylings based upon the needs of a particular venue. While playing in Africa in 2008, Rick was honored to play with several great African musicians and singers and even shared a song he wrote while staying with the Kenyan people. Traveling internationally or close to home, Rickâs desire is to serve the people with which he has the opportunity to minister to.

Rick is available for festivals, coffeehouses, churches, retreats, camps, and any other venue that is conducive to live music. "Few things give me the joy and fulfillment that playing music and singing to the Lord does. To me, music is a form of prayer. I believe prayer should always be our number one focus as the body worships together since prayer is our response to God by our thoughts and deeds. I think of leading worship as leading prayers of praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and repentance unto the Lord. I canât think of a higher privilege. Even the humorous songs I write have this goal in mind." To read more about Rick, hear his music or see performance videos, please visit Rickâs website at www.rickjamesmusic.net or www.myspace.com/rickjamesmusic.

Rick is based in Springfield, OH. When he is not on the road, he works as the part-time music pastor at Springfield First Church of the Nazarene in Ohio. To book Rick for your event please call (937) 206-1146 or email us at RLJames29@yahoo.com.