Rick Roberts (musician)
Rick Roberts ( born 1950 in Florida) is an American singer / songwriter who became famous in the 1970s and 1980s through his work with the musical group The Flying Burrito Brothers and Firefall.
- 2.1 Flying Burrito Brothers
- 2.2 Solo
- 2.3 Firefall
Biography
Childhood
Roberts was born in 1950 in Florida and was a big fan of early Byrds. Later he lived in Washington, DC, South Carolina and Colorado, where he performed as a singer with a guitar in club. At 19, he hitchhiked to Los Angeles to start up there in the upper layer musicians. He had a year to knock on every door until Ed Tickner, Manager of the Flying Burrito Brothers, was aware of him.
A dream come true for him when he first was allowed to contribute vocals on the LP Byrds Untitled background, even if it was not mentioned on the record sleeve.
The Flying Burrito Brothers
In 1970, he was finally admitted to the burritos, which had, by beaten as a quartet since the separation of Gram Parsons. At the ex - Byrd Chris Hillman Page (vocals, bass, guitar, mandolin ) and Michael Clarke (drums ) and Bernie Leadon (vocals, guitar) and Sneaky Pete Kleinow ( pedal steel guitar) he took in 1970 to an extensive tour through Europe in part, during which he developed an intense songwriting partnership with Hillman. With new material, the burritos went in winter 1970/71 back in the recording studio. In early 1971 they released their third LP, The Flying Burrito Bros. ', in which three of Roberts' own compositions, ( Four Days Of Rain, Colorado and Why Are You Crying ) were among the strongest and most compelling songs on the album.
Shortly after the release of the LP Pete Kleinow left the band and was replaced by Al Perkins ( pedal steel guitar) in April 1971. In June, the country fiddler Byron Berline joined the group. Disappointed because he had been transferred by Rick Roberts in the second row as the lead singer, was also Bernie Leadon and joined in August of the first companion of Linda Ronstadt, before he, with other musicians of this formation, which founded Eagles.
Chris Hillman, who began his musical career as a bluegrass mandolin player, reinforced the Country section of the group by Kenny Wertz (guitar, banjo) and Roger Bush ( bass) and informed her stage show soon in a part with classic burrito songs, funky Rhythm and blues and Rick Roberts new songs as well as one with pure bluegrass under the working title, Country Gazette. A compilation of live recordings of this program by the end of 1971 was released in early 1972 as the album under the title, Last Of The Red Hot Burritos ', the last album of the original Flying Burrito Brothers.
After also Hillman, Clarke and Perkins had left the group, had the burritos meet other performance obligations, however, they did, now under Roberts' leadership, a tour through Holland and Scandinavia, reinforced by the musicians Don Beck ( pedal steel ) and Eric Dalton ( drums). The band toured now under the name, The Hot Burrito Revue '. Rick Roberts refused for a long time the release of recordings of this tour because he recognized their weak quality, finally agreed to but after a Dutch record company had exerted tremendous pressure on him. Ariola Records released In 1973, the double LP, Live in Amsterdam '. 1974 published the recordings on two different albums again, In Concert ' with the country rock program, and, Bluegrass Special' with the Country Gazette program.
Solo
After the tour, the band broke up and Roberts began a solo career. He recorded two albums, Windmills (1972) and, She Is A Song ' (1973 ), the latter by Chris Hillman produced and published by the publishing firm of Stephen Stills.
Firefall
1973 died Ex-Byrd/Ex-Burrito Gram Parsons. His Mitsängerin and backing band were still under the name Emmylou Harris and The Fallen Angels. Guitarist of the band was Jock Bartley. At a gig in New York, she shared the stage with Rick Roberts. Bartley and Roberts were friends and founded in 1974, together with Mark Andes (vocals, bass) and Larry Burnett (vocals, guitar), the band Firefall. Shortly thereafter came the drummer, ex- Byrd and Burrito ex- colleague, Michael Clarke (drums), added. Stage manager of the band was Dallas Schoo, who also played on the album Elan guitar. By 1981, Firefall were able to record several chart hits, including their biggest success, You Are The Woman ' ( # 9 on the Billboard charts).
Since 1982
After the dissolution of Firefall Roberts made his way as a solo singer, at a time in the New Wave and punk music were popular and were given country-rock musician with major record companies no longer contracts. Two ex- Byrds, which fared as well, Gene Clark and Michael Clarke, secured their existence from the mid-1980s, having appeared with the so-called Byrd's tribute bands. The band members parted, subject to availability, from. Rick Roberts was particularly in 1985/86 and again in 1990, along with Gene Clark and Sneaky Pete Kleinow, active. 1991, Firefall went back on tour. Rick Roberts participated until 1993. Afterwards he drew largely from the music business.
On 10 April 2008 Bartley organized a Firefall reunion concert at which, except the late 1992 Michael Clarke, all former band members took part. Rick Roberts was also present, but was for health reasons, not on stage.
2010 Rick Roberts returned to the music. He published three 4- song EPs on iTunes and launched its website.