RICK McKAY: The Story So Far....

Having learned to play guitar at 9 years old Rick went on to make his first live appearance at the age of 11 as part of an instrumental duo. After playing lead guitar in a number of bands while still at school he eventually started his own band, The Silhouettes.

1987 saw the release of Rick's first record. It was a 7-inch E.P. (extended play) single, which contained 4 of Rick's own songs. In the same year he was offered the role of “Young Elvis” in the theatre production of Forever Elvis. The show became the first rock musical to tour the Soviet Union at the end of 1989. Rick stayed with the show until 1990, when he left to pursue his solo career.
Between 1989 and 1992 Rick toured the cabaret circuit, opening shows for such names as Mike Reid, Roy Walker, The Searchers, The Rockin' Berries, and many others. He also released his first solo album, “Beggars can be choosy”. The album contained 12 songs, 10 of which were written by Rick.

Rick also enjoys playing in pubs as a solo artist using just his acoustic guitar to accompany him. He has kept this up throughout his career mainly because he enjoys the close contact with the audience. His extensive repertoire of songs from the 50's & 60's rock 'n' roll era, mixed with a selection of country songs, proving to be a crowd pleaser every time.

Rick joined his first country band, Hicksville, in 1992 and later formed his own country band. In 1994 he made a trip to Nashville in and was spotted by an independent record label owner who signed him to GMC Records. Rick moved to Nashville in July 1994 where he worked in the Carousel Club in the world famous Printer's Alley, when he wasn't writing songs and recording. He moved back to England in the middle of 1995 and went back on the road with his band. Over the next couple of years Rick worked between England and the USA, working on his career here, while making frequent visits to Nashville as a songwriter.

Throughout 1998 Rick toured with the duo, North and South, before once again putting his own band back on the road. The band toured until the end of 2000 when Rick left to concentrate on his new theatre production The Thunder Rolls in which he played the lead role. The show was a tribute to the music and career of Garth Brooks. Rick co-formed the duo Pure Country with his wife Jodie Mitchell in 2002 and specialise in traditional country music both old and new. Pure Country continue to record but only play occasional dates due to the couple having a young family. Rick McKay now performs mostly as a solo artist.