Rick Gay

I come from a musical family.  All my brothers and sisters play guitar and sing.  I got a bit more serious with my singing when my daughter Natalie arrived in 1979.  When my son BJ arrived a few years later I got into song writing as well or should I say rewriting some songs with a humorous touch just for laughs.

My new neighbour, Kay Mullhere, heard me singing out the back of my home one afternoon.  She introduced herself and informed me her husband Michael (Mick) was a country music singer.  We became mates.  It turned out he was a member of the Toowoomba Country Music Club.  He talked me into joining.  Then I started entering into the Club talent quests and to my surprise I started winning.  I then started entering song writing contests which I started winning as well.

Through the Country Music Club I met Malcolm Miller, a lead guitarist, Joe Kruger, a great vocalist and bass guitarist and Kevin Ward, a fine drummer.  Together we formed a band called the Four Plainsmen.   For approximately 12 years we played all-over South-East Queensland as well as Northern New South Wales.

I also met Cathy Diete through the Country Music Club and we became a duo, which we surprisingly called ‘Rick and Cathy’.  We played all-over South-East Queensland and did two Australian tours with the late, great and good mate Keith Jamison (Jamo) and the guitar pickin’ chicken, Alisha Smith.  We recorded three Rick and Cathy albums.

I lost my voice in 2005 so gave music away for 17 years, but after a near death experience with an aneurysm my old mate Kevin Brown (aka Brownie), talked me into getting back into music.  After consultation with a vocal cord specialist, it was decided I needed to have some major throat surgery so I might be able to sing again. That was 2022 and with the ongoing help of the specialist I have been slowly getting back into music- doing what I used to love.  It has been a long journey from only being able to sing for a couple of minutes to currently up to about an hour.

I ran onto Rob Breese in Tamworth not long after my throat surgery and again at the Balladeers Homestead.  Rob informed me he liked what I did and we embarked on a solo album which I am very excited about. As part of the album, I have completed a duet with my daughter Natalie (aka Valentina Brave).  It has been a dream come true to do this with her because Natalie and BJ are the reason, I became more enthusiastic about my music all those years ago.

I am now going to keep forging ahead to see where my music journey takes me.  I hope you all enjoy my first solo album and I look forward to catching up with old friends and making new friends along my road of song.