By Arthur MuhlThursday 11 Jan 2024MusicReading Time: 2 minutes
The songs of Rick Price were a staple of Australian radio during the 1990s.
Even to this day, you’ll still hear “Not a Day goes By”, Heavens Knows”, “Tenterfield Saddler” and “River of Love”. At the height of his success, Rick would often team up with close friends and fellow performers Tina Arena, Tommy Emmanuel, Margaret Urlich and Jack Jones from Southern Sons.
In the years since, no one can accuse Rick Price of ‘sitting on his Fender [guitar]’ and waiting for the passage of time to render him irrelevant.
Projects over the past two decades have included unique tribute shows and related recordings about country music icon John Denver, the music of the sixties, the Californian beach sounds of the seventies – and now most recently, Rick Price’s reinterpretation of classic gospel songs and hymns of faith.
Source: Supplied
‘I want to bring joy, uplift people, leave them (people) feeling moved emotionally.’
The album “Wayfaring Stranger” was released in September 2023. The collection of inspirational favourites including ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘Wade in the Water’ and ‘Will the circle be Unbroken’ which have been covered by legends such as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Eva Cassidy, Olivia Newton-John, Ray Charles and Ed Sheeran. Now it’s time for Rick Price. ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ has been supported in tandem with a concert tour travelling the east coast of Australia, with final performances in South-east Queensland at the end of this month.
As Rick Price told 96five’s Arthur Muhl, gospel music and faith have been a strong influence in his songwriting.
‘I grew up listening to all the soul singers as a kid – Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding… I really connected with it… Songs like ‘Amazing Grace’, that is a song that’s been sung in our family over the years.’
‘I’ve wandered off the reservation of goodness, kindness, clarity and sensibility more than once…’
These days, in conversation with Rick Price there’s an unhurried sense of humility and gratitude.
‘What is mostly on my bucket list is a daily connection to [that] joy and living in the present moment, being with what’s happening right now and being grateful for whatever comes.’
‘When I tap into love and kindness, when I tap into gratitude… I have a better day.’ Rick Price
Rick Price will be performing songs from the Wayfaring Stranger EP as well as revisiting hits like ‘Heaven Knows’ and ‘Not A Day Goes By’ at the ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ Tour at the Helensvale Tavern on the Gold Coast on Wednesday 24th January with his final performance taking place at Lefty’s, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane on Thursday 25th January.
Listen to the full interview in the audio player above.
All Images: Supplied