get more info at www.rickgarvin.com

Review for the CD "Evolution" = "Evolution" is at once the title of the first solo album by singer/songwriter Rick Garvin and an apt description of the changes in his sound as he has moved from region to region and band to band. In 2008, Garvin's music shifts easily - and ear-pleasingly- from folk to swing to reggae to ska. A highly recommended debut. - Mark Rheaume - CBC Radio

 Garvin has played as a solo artist since about 1975, and also in many groups in a wide variety of styles including blues, folk, country, Latin, and African. A multi-talented musician with a velvet-smooth voice, Garvin brings well crafted songs that are both entertaining and thoughtful.

 Born and raised in Ontario, Garvin moved out to Vancouver Island (a fantastic place to hear many different musical styles) in 1977. Then in 1999, after many adventures in music and life, he moved to Alberta to experience the prairie culture, and that's where he remains today.

Rick was heavily influenced by the Ontario folk music scene in the seventies, starting with Gordon Lightfoot as a teenager in school and continuing on with coffeehouse shows by Stan Rogers, Brent Titcomb, David Bradstreet, and many others. In university, Garvin was stirred by the reggae wave in the early seventies with Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, and of course Bob Marley, and also by the new country/swing/bluegrass movements of the times. Those styles have continued on to this day to influence his musical direction, which can best be described as eclectic.

 Among the better known bands were the Real Live Dance Band, Stone Whistle, and Jambo Salama. He also appeared several times on west coast television in the early eighties performing original songs.

The Real Live Dance Band in the early eighties was a rock/blues/commercial pop band that had a loyal local following in dances, clubs, and festivals throughout BC and Alberta. Garvin played guitar and saxophone in this band, and it was here that he first learned traditional Irish tunes on mandolin from a bandmate, Peter Gilmore.

Stone Whistle was a Celtic rock fusion band that played mostly hall dances and festivals, and some clubs, in the mid-nineties on the Canadian west coast. Stone Whistle played all original and Celtic traditional tunes. Garvin contributed vocals, guitar and mandolin to this project. The band released a CD called "Salamanders" in 1995.

Jambo Salama was an African/Latin project fronted by Prince Nallo of Sierra Leone and based in Victoria BC, that played hall dances, festivals, and occasional club dates in the late nineties. The band was known for its all-original music and for its high spirited gigs and loyal fans.

After moving to Edmonton in 1999, Garvin played bass in the Tracy Cadman Band for a couple of years, a "new country" band based in northern Alberta.  For the most part, however, Garvin has spent the past few years with his wife and family.

Besides performing, Garvin also did live sound for a wide range of bands for many years in the eighties and nineties, including John Lee Hooker, Leo Kottke, James Cotton, the Dead Kennedys and Ian Tyson, west coast world-beat bands such as Alpha Yaya Diallo and Ngoma, and numerous outdoor festivals.  He also worked in the film and video production industry for several years in the nineties.

However, Rick put it all aside to focus on earning a living, but now returns, finally, to making music.

 A Sample of Rick's festival appearances:

 Renaissance Faire, Comox Valley BC, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985

Islands Folk Festival, Duncan BC, 1993, 1994

 Yale Music Jamboree, Yale BC, 1995

 Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle USA, 1996

 Victoria Folk Fest, Victoria BC, 1998

 Athabasca Magnificent River Rats Festival, Athabasca Alberta, 2001

Homefest, Edmonton AB, 2008

Uptown Winterfest, Edmonton AB, 2009

Revelstoke Musicfest, Revelstoke BC, 2009

 Recordings:

Rick Garvin - "the Family of Man" -2009 - this latest collection of songs speaks to our common links as human beings- from personal hopes to universal dreams. Recorded in an acoustic country/folk-to-western-swing range of styles, it moves the listener gently with perception and humour toward insight.

 Rick Garvin - "Evolution" - recorded in 2001 and 2007 - The first solo album was finally  released in the spring of 2007. The album was the result of requests from relatives and friends for a collection of favourite songs. Although some of the songs date back years (or decades), this was the first time they have been gathered together. Two songs, "Round Round" and "Little Piggies", were added from the earlier Stone Whistle CD rather than re-recording them.

  Stone Whistle - "Salamanders" - released 1995 - Stone Whistle was a Celtic rock fusion band based in Victoria BC, which became very popular on the dance hall circuit around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands in the mid 90's. Their debut (and only) CD released in 1995, "Salamanders", received critical approval and modest airplay on local college and public radio, and the CBC nationally. The album also got some airplay in Poland, where it was well received. Rick played guitar and mandolin in Stone Whistle, and also contributed vocals and some songs.

get more info at www.rickgarvin.com