Growing up in various places in the U.S., Greg Rickard learned about love, rhythm & blues and electronics from a 1973 Panasonic clock radio. As a youth in Dallas, he worked at the first Chili’s restaurant (decades later filming a commercial for them playing piano for Miss Lavell White), visited the Maple Avenue studios of KCHU, and saw Meatloaf, Queen and Gil Scott-Heron on seminal tours.
He was a catering bartender during high school in Brazil and played B3 organ in a blues band. Saw Milton, Gil and Hermeto, but also Chick Corea, Earl Hines and Earth, Wind & Fire.
On return to the U.S., he saw Miles Davis on the “Man With the Horn” tour. While studying chemistry and computer science in college, he worked programming early PCs from Texas Instruments and Balcones Computer Corporation. He was production manager, on-air producer and host for NPR affiliate KAMU-FM, and as host of “Blue Noon” on student radio KANM. Played guitar and piano and acted on campus and off. Saw gutbucket blues, roadhouse rock, and roots reggae at Dr. G’s thanks to booking agent Willie Bennett.
He followed love and music to Austin, acting in 70 Scenes of Halloween at the Chicago House (“his diatribes sound mint-new and remarkably fresh” – Robert Faires, Austin Chronicle, July 10, 1987) and Sludge. He played polkas, two-steps and waltzes in Texas dancehalls, beer gardens and SWSX, and gospel at church on Sunday. He joined KAZI-FM as a jazz DJ in 1990 naming his show after Thelonious Monk’s tune “Let’s Cool One.” Programmed computers for a mom-and-pop and a major chip developer. Saw legendary shows at Antone’s (on Guadalupe), The Austin Outhouse, Liberty Lunch, The Cactus Cafe, Auditorium Shores and The Paramount Theater.
He later followed love and money back to Dallas where he lives walking distance to a record store and a jazz club.
devnull@gregrickard.com