Edutainment
During a radio interview many years ago, Rick coined this phrase while describing his one-man act that combined acting and music together to teach American History. Blend education and entertainment together, and you get edutainment.
Wild Bill Hickok
In 1976, Rick portrayed a very young Wild Bill Hickok for the Spirit of the Wild West Show during America's bicentennial celebration. In the years that followed he would play as Hickok in several wild west gunfight shows. His prowess as the renowned gunfighters led up to him being invited to be a part of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show exhibition at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, TN in 1999. After scripting The Dead Man's Hand, which tells the story of Hickok's fate in Deadwood, SD, Rick took the show on the road. Complete with a Western song concert, the show was a hit on the rodeo and horse show circuit.
General George Washington
After camping several days at Valley Forge, PA in 1976, on the same site where Washinton and his army had setup winter quarters, Rick came back to Tennessee a different person. Near the stump where Washington had prayed, he heard a voice speak these words, "Go, tell my story!" He may not be the exact height of the General, but when Rick goes into character, George Washington comes to life. Rick's old Virginia accent and colonial dialect set the stage for a stellar presentation. You will instantly be teleported back to 1776, to the day Washington sees the Betsy Ross flag for the first time and the hardships of Valley Forge. Without a doubt, Rick's presentation will make you proud to be an American.
Colonel David (Davy) Crockett
When Walt Disney brought Davy Crockett to the TV screen in 1955, Rick wasn't even born just yet. By the time Disney placed the Crockett series into reruns (early 1960's), Rick was in elementary school. Being a fellow Tennessean, he took a great interest in learning more about Ole Davy. Jump forward nearly forty years later (1999), to the day the assistant-director of the Tennessee State Museum asked Rick if he could do another character besides Wild Bill Hickok. Itching to portray his childhood hero, he answered swiftly and from then on, Rick has done portrayals of Col. Crockett. Being from the backwoods of Tennessee himself, his presentations are so realistic, you can smell the bear stew brewing in the pot and see the deer hides drying in the sun.
Captain Meriwether Lewis
Rick has driven up and down the Natchez Trace Parkway several times and on one such trip he happened upon Grinder's Stand Inn near Hohenwald, TN where Meriwether Lewis died on October 9th of 1809. This was during the period he was researching and writing the script for An American Journey. Always mesmerized by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, he sunk his teeth deep into the subject. He decided to write a sperate show script for Lewis, so more attention could be drawn to the Explore's mysterious death. Some claim suicide was his demise, while others believe Lewis was murdered and robbed during the night at the Grinder's Stand Inn. In first-person, Rick gives the compelling details so the audience can decide for themselves the fate of Meriwether Lewis.
Captain Tod Carter
American History is filled with thousands of tragic stories, and Captain Tod Carter's is certainly one that will tug on your heart strings. In late 1988, Rick found himself moving to Franklin, TN to start a new job with the Evan's & Hale Advertising Agency in Brentwood. Being a history hound, he sniffed out the Carter House, which was engulfed during the Batlle of Franklin on November 30th, 1864. As his tour guide and friend, Thomas Cartwright (of History Channel fame) told the fascinating story of Tod's military adventures, Rick was totally captivated. So inspired, he wrote the song, Follow Me Boys that evening. In the days to come, magazine articles would be written for the Civil War Courier, a book titled The Mint Julep Letters and a one-man play simply called, He Came Home To Die.
