STEVE RICHARD

THE CHARISMATIC SINGER-SONGWRITER ROCKS
ON A BOUNDARY BUSTING DEBUT
FEATURING COLLABORATIONS WITH COUNTRY SUPERSTAR
JOHN RICH (FROM BIG & RICH) AND RENOWNED SONGWRITERS MICHAEL BRADFORD (KID ROCK, TRAVIS TRITT) AND GRAMMY AWARD WINNER JEFF SILBAR
* * *
Richard Has Toured Extensively and has
Opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd,
Dickey Betts, .38 Special And Van Zant

Steve Richard, in early 2008, is quickly moving towards his goal of joining other country icons like Montgomery Gentry , Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban as they push the proverbial envelope and rock out on the edge.

The instantly infectious song “Faster Faster” is about the crazy lifestyles in the 2000s. Written and produced by John Rich of the superstar duo Big & Rich, it's the expected first single from Richard's highly anticipated self-titled debut album, also due to hit the charts the first part of next year.

Richard's dynamic stage presence and trademark gritty vocals reflect years of paying dues, and this charismatic singer-songwriter enters the fray with a scorching track record as a seasoned vet on the road. At one point performing 100 club dates a year, Richard has also toured the Midwest and South as both a headliner and opening act for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dickey Betts, .38 Special and Van Zant.

Coming to Nashville and breaking through as a solo artist, Richard's lethal mix of talent, charm and ambition quickly earned him the kind of attention and respect from superstar artists, producers and songwriters that some performers take years to achieve.

In crafting his multi-faceted self-titled debut album, Richard worked closely with John Rich, as well as well-known producer/engineer Michael Bradford (Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker, Travis Tritt) and composer Jeff Silbar, whose two decade long catalogue includes #1 country hits for Alabama and Janie Frickie and A Grammy Award for Song Of The Year for “Wind Beneath My Wings” in 1989.

“The album is about that exciting place where country meets rock and roll, and it's a very ‘LIVE' kind of record, with songs that come across very well onstage,” says Richard. “The idea was to do songs that tell honest stories which reflect the way I feel whether I wrote the song or not.

“My style of music reflects the love I have for bands like Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, along with classic sounds of George Jones, Waylon Jennings and Buck Owens, to the Cream, Who and The Stones…you've got the picture. It's very much a rocking record, but is completely steeped in country tradition."

Rich, one of Nashville's most in-demand writer producers whose credits include Gretchen Wilson, Faith Hill, John Anderson and Jason Aldean, co-wrote and produced five tracks on Steve Richard: “Faster Faster,” the fiery dance tune “Stomp,” “Everything Beautiful To Me,” the midtempo crossover song “I Don't Need A Reason” and the beautiful ballad “I'll Never Leave You.” These tracks were recorded and mixed at Sony Studios in Nashville.

The other half of Steve Richard completes a portrait of the artist with tracks recorded at studios in Nashville, Los Angeles, and the singer's home base of St. Louis. These seven songs—including “Bridge Back Home,” “Gonna Make It,” “Lost Time,” and “Write This Song”—were co-written by Richard and Bradford. “Tried and True” and “We Ain't Saints,” are credited to the writing team of Richard, Bradford and Silbar.

Richard is working with a new band that includes guitarist Tim Mauldin, the one holdover from the singer's former group. The singer has already started performing material from his debut both in Nashville and St. Louis. He opened for Halfway To Hazard at the Wild Horse Saloon in Nashville and for Montgomery Gentry at the Verizon Amphitheatre in St. Louis. Up next are dates with Junior Brown in the Midwest and Western regions of the U.S.

Richard says, “We look like outlaws up there…but we're just glad to be there. The positive response we've been getting with our songs is exciting and gratifying. I think we play the type of music a lot of people like, and we're connecting with audiences in both rock and country.”