Rick Tippe marks his 30th wedding anniversary later this month admitting, with an impish grin, that he hasn’t exactly stuck to his end of the deal for the past 15 years.
That blunt confession, from one of Maple Ridge’s favourite sons, is literally music to my ears –and others calling themselves connoisseurs of exceptional country-rock.
You see, the proudly independent King of Honky Tonks and Cool, promised wife Bonnie – before all the adoring fans, hits, the standing ovations, overseas concerts and heart-breaking thank-yous – that he would write songs, but never play in a band.
Well, as he sings, “yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery” – but his next few days are hectic as he prepares to perform at the two-day Rockin’ River Music Fest.
Tippe admits to being “extra excited” as his band tunes up for Sunday’s 6:45 p.m. gig, just before the legendary Ronnie Milsap closes the Mission Raceway Park show.
“I was a millworker, in construction for 12 years and a realtor for another two and now I get to play on the same stage as Ronnie? Man, somebody pinch me,” says Tippe, while juggling phone calls on Tuesday from his home north of the new Golden Ears Bridge.
The fact Tippe is even around these parts performing is amazing – and we’re not just talking about his close call with disaster last year when he fell off a stage and landed on his head while playing at Abbotsford Agrifair.
“I love B.C. I’m from here. You couldn’t get me to move,” says the son of Canadian and B.C. country music hall of famer, Elmer. “This is the best place on Earth for sure.”
Tippe started playing guitar at age eight, wrote his first song three years later and was earning royalty cheques by his 16th birthday.
In the early-’90s, insisting to Bonnie he was just “dabbling,” he and guitar player Chris Rolin put together a small demo tape for Nashville. They hit it big.
Their first two albums, Should’a Seen Her Comin’ and Get Hot or Go Home, spawned an impressive 12 Top 40 singles. The hits, despite being an independent artist without the huge marketing dollars, never stopped until 2006 when Elmer had a stroke and Rick called time out to look after his “biggest musical influence.”
His latest album, 2008’s The Power of One, contains the monster hit Forever, which has become a wedding anthem across the country. He’ll undoubtedly play this money-making gem Sunday, along with his other treasures Get Hot or Go Home, The Craziest Thing, Shiver ‘n’ Shake, Radio On and The Future Is Looking Brighter.
Another emotional song that has generated touching notes is Keepin’ The Faith, written for cancer survivors and cancer fighters, with proceeds from CD sales going to help find a cure.
Tippe pauses, and almost tears up, when recalling the heartfelt letters – many without happy endings, but with moving praise for his inspirational lyrics, including the poignant “Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”
He reveals his performing days are now numbered, citing his 51st birthday in December and a new passion – his online project Ricky’s Music World, where he can use his experience to help aspiring musicians pursue dreams.
“I’m working on this one with Bonnie,” he says smiling. “We really want to see somebody from around here reach that superstardom level of a Shania [Twain] or a Paul [Brandt].”
If, in fact, he pulls the plug on his must-see, high-energy act, it will be a huge loss for concertgoers who enjoy getting their money’s worth from a classy showman with turbo twang.
“If I die tomorrow, no regrets,” Tippe says. “Can you name another job where people clap for you every 3½ minutes, shout out your name and send notes saying your songs made a difference in their lives?”
The Power of One, indeed.
* Check out Rick's great website, and music samples, at www.ricktippe.com
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