I was born in MEMPHIS just a few blocks from a little recording studio owned by Sam Phillips. About 6 weeks later a 19 year old Elvis Presley would record THAT’S ALRIGHT MAMA in this studio and the world would never be the same. Over the next couple of years artists like Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis took this “Rockabilly” music all over the Southland and beyond.

So I was thrilled  to be asked to provide the voice-over and production for the:
1st Annual MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL ROCKABILLY FESTIVAL.

Keith Cadwallader at Lenz Crack Productions did a great job with animating the video.

Ok, so its a week late. But considering my posting history… better late than….

I am grateful for founding fathers like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams… and even Alexander Hamilton. And I am grateful to live in a country where more than one point of view is allowed. And for those who think that theirs is the only acceptable POV, I’m sure the Bolshevists  thought similarly about theirs. As my Nanny used to say, “there’s two sides to every pie crust”.

Be well, do good work and may…God Bless America!

Another GREAT voice came to Memphis recently to record a song written by the dad of a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. My friend Kerry Kernan helped produce this song with Darius Rucker. Enjoy:

If you’d like to give a gift to St. Jude here’s a link to my fundraising page:  http://heroes.stjude.org/VoxRick

http://heroes.stjude.org/VoxRick

So, it is official. I won’t be able to run the St. Jude Half Marathon that I had been training for all summer. My physical therapist says my knee injury is not healed yet. I know that injuries are part and parcel with most athletic sports, especially for those of “a certain age”, but dang!

This makes the second St. Jude event that I have not been able to take part in. Last year’s marathon was canceled at the 11^th hour due to icy streets.

Then I am reminded of why I was participating in the 1^st place, to raise much needed funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that is making a life or death difference in so many kid’s lives.

While our family has not needed the services of St. Jude, we do know the importance of having specialized treatment available for childhood diseases. My sweet grand baby, Molly, was born with a vascular condition that is being treated at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

Every good marketer knows that your message should have a Call To Action – so CLICK THE LINK, and, as Marlo Thomas says, “Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life and give to those who are not.”

http://heroes.stjude.org/VoxRick 

You are awesome! Thanks!

Recently, I had the honor of emceeing the 1st Epitome of Soul Award Show. Here’s a behind the scenes peek.

They say that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. It appears that in my steps towards this year’s St. Jude Memphis Marathon event… I have stumbled.

You may recall that last year’s Marathon was canceled due to icy roads, bridges and overpasses. Some of us went ahead and ran the course anyway. And like the old Elvis songs says, “I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell”! But all was not lost. Collectively the event raised over $ 8 Million for the children at St. Jude.

So this year, as soon as the cold weather abated, I laced up my Brooks and hit the asphalt again. By August I was running about 3 miles every couple of days and I had actually shaved 2 minutes off my average mile from last year. So I guess I was feeling pretty jiggy when the 1st St. Jude group training event rolled around. That is when I forgot to heed the cautionary words of Coach Kevin, “run your own race at your own pace.”

That’s right. I thought I could keep up with the faster kids in the class, and I did… sort of… until about mile #3 of our 4 mile outing. That’s when something in my left knee decided the gig was up! OUCH!!

Since then I’ve been applying ice, bandaging, cold laser treatments and getting chiropractic adjustments. But my running has been reduced to walking. I confess I’ve been a bit whiney but then I think about the kids who have a real fight on their hands, the kids at St. Jude. It’s hard to imagine having to endure surgery, chemo and radiation therapy, while other kids are just being kids.

So we run the race. (Some of us will walk) We remind folks that we are fortunate to have a place like St. Jude to turn to when our kids are sick and we are scared.

Thanks for helping keep St. Jude a happy refuge for families who have children fighting cancer..

Be well,

Rick

This was fun to voice: the promo video for The Gary Goin Group – Mixed by my friend Kerry Kernan

To reach our dreams we must have goals.
To reach our goals we must have discipline and consistency.

I had a happy experience this AM watching Charlie Rose & Gayle King. I saw an ad that I recently voiced as a sponsor of CBS This Morning.

While watching the same program I was then saddened to learn that VO great Hal Douglas had passed away.