Bobby Ricks - Biography
Born Robert Ricketts - Stage name Bobby Ricks
Bob was born and schooled in Sydney Australia. From a very young age, his parents encouraged him to follow his obvious drawing to music. Mum and dad have since passed away, but would be delighted with their sons musical progress.
His dad possessed a beautiful baritone voice and was a multi instrumentalist. Several sisters played piano. Bobbys young sister Patricia sings like a bird, while his big brother Fred, inspired him. Freddy was a professional singer and guitarist. He still sounds great on the rare occasion of a party or visit. So Bobby was naturally sent to piano lessons under Mrs Weir. Later away from family influence in the army, a guitar became the main weapon.
Upon completing his trade time as a motor mechanic, Bobby did a stint with the Australian regular army, coming back to civilian life via military hospital.
Doug Gilmour super salesman in Brisbane, Queensland Australia, heard Bob rehearsing in the kitchen of a home Doug was renting to him. It was from this point on ,a career in floor shows began. Doug got him a successful start at Tommy's night club in Brisbane and suggested instead of Ricketts he should call himself Bobby Ricks. Bob could not get used to the fact, that just for doing something he loves, mainly singing, people paid him for it.
After a few years of touring around doing floor shows, Bobby was advised by a friend to join a versatile band as a front man. It would help to develop the voice, as the grind was longer and harder than forty five minute floor shows. This proved a good move. He was pulling songs from the Fifty's to now, Ballads, Rock and his beloved American Country Music.
Never being one to be idle, original compositions started to flow, between all the behind the scenes rehearsing and fault finding. At one stage, about a hundred new songs were sitting on Bobs home office desk, ready to be sent to EMI. But, not to be, for a fire destroyed the song's along with the family home.
Two men that will always remain close to Bobs heart, are Daryle Levis his first manager and Slim Dusty, a legend in Australian Country Music in his own time. He spent many months on tour with Slim and his talented wife, Joyce. Daryle booked Bobby into top venue's. The two were a great team. Bob has received many accolades and awards for his efforts, especially for the Country Music Industry. Has performed on lots of major shows including television. His best recording was "Room at the Top of the Stairs", and says there\'s more to come. Its not just a matter of singing great, one must develop other skills to go with the song. There are many choices and means to do this, he says.
After many ups and downs, successes and failures, Bobby and his beautiful wife Patricia, along with a dozen kids, (two marriages) arrived at a great moment in their lives. With their three remaining children they moved into the Australian bush, among the gum trees, dingo's (wild dogs) snakes, kangaroo's, spiders, beautiful wedge tail eagles, many other wild animals and Patricia's menagerie of animals, where they built a stone home.
Today, Bobby works as a Solo Entertainer and when called for a Duo with long life friend Shane Leonard Peters "Whozaskin". The pair with their Unique gifts of vocals and songwriting, not to mention their incredible ability to entertain their audience's with great humour. They are top Professional Entertainers with that magic, many duo's lack.
