Includes the following topics:
BRIEF BIO
WHAT FOLKS SAY ABOUT RICK SCOTT
THE GREAT GAZZOON
DOWN SYNDROME RESEARCH FOUNDATION
CHILDREN'S RECORDINGS * PIED PUMKIN
THEATRE YEARS * THE 5 ELEMENTS
YUYU MIMI
"His gift for enriching and healing the human spirit will not soon be forgotten."
Rogue Folk Review
BRIEF BIO
Rick Scott is an award winning singer, songwriter, storyteller and actor who combines music and laughter in lively, participatory concerts for all ages. His gift for combining warm hearted humor and poignant human commentary has earned him a devoted following from four generations around the world.
Over 45 years he has performed over one thousand shows in schools, festivals and concert halls in Canada, the US, Australia and Southeast Asia. He’s Goodwill Ambassador for the Down Syndrome Research Foundation. He offers inspirational keynote concerts for educators and caregivers and MUSIC AS A SECOND LANGUAGE song writing workshops for people who don’t think that they’re musical.
Rick has released 18 albums including a 4-CD musical audio novel and seven children’s CDs honored with three Juno nominations and Parents’ Choice, Family Choice. NAPPA Gold, iParenting Media, Children’s Music Web and Canadian Folk Music Awards. In 2014 with the Vancouver Island Symphony he premiered MY SYMPHONY, an educational concert seen by over 10,000 children. In 2018 he was awarded the Nanaimo Cultural Excellence Award. In 2019 he was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.
In 2017 Rick teamed up with brilliant young keyboardist Nico Rhodes to perform as the inter-generational duo ROOTS & GROOVES, releasing an eponymous CD and touring far and wide to encores and ovations.
WHAT FOLKS SAY ABOUT RICK SCOTT:
"His gift for enriching and healing the human spirit will not soon be forgotten."
Rogue Folk Review
"Incredible musicians, wonderful entertainers. Rick and Nico reinvent ten."
Duncan Showroom 2019
"Thank you for the incredible show... Great tunes, a wonderful stage presence
and a magical way of connecting with the audience." Victoria Folk Club, March 2010
"Rick's music speaks to kids and their parents and to me... It's delightful, educational,
accessible and innovative. It's funny, clever and warm. It's not only important to
Canadian music-it's essential." Jurgen Gothe, CBC Radio
“Rick teaches with such an entertaining flair that kids don’t mind that they’re learning.”
Fred Koch, Chicago Parent, www.bestchildrensmusic.com
"Rick Scott will have you smiling like a child with his engaging big folks repertoire.
What lucky adults to be growing younger to the heartfelt stories and songs of this
ageless elder man boy." Pam Edgar, Host CHLY 101.fm
“Inspired best describes Rick Scott’s musical keynote. His wonderful sense of humor
and genuine love of life clearly moved conference delegates. His talent and ability
to teach others to fly is a gift.” Beverly Revin, Early Childhood Education & Care
"If Randy Newman made a happy album for kids… Pure music… incredible!"
Lord Litter, Germany
4-CD MUSICAL AUDIO NOVEL - THE GREAT GAZZOON: In 2012 Rick released THE GREAT GAZZOON – A Tall Tale With Tunes & Turbulence, a 4-CD musical audio novel co-written and produced with Valley Hennell and illustrated by Linda Sanborn, with financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts and FACTOR. A folk tale told by a folkie, GAZZOON is the story of how one boy’s love of music transforms his community. It has been honoured with Family Choice, Parents' Choice and Vancouver Island Music Awards, Sirius XM Radio and APA Audie Award nominations, and Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books For Kids And Teens. www.gazzoon.com
DOWN SYNDROME GOODWILL AMBASSADOR:
Since 1995 Rick has served as Goodwill Ambassador for the Down Syndrome Research Foundation and regularly performs concerts and appears on their behalf. Founded by Jo Mills, this organization which began in a trailer on a vacant lot in Burnaby, BC now offers a multi million dollar facility providing educational programs and services to families and children with Down Syndrome.
In 1995 Rick wrote the song ANGELS DO for his granddaughter Mielle and released it on the Juno nominated PHILHARMONIC FOOL. A video of the song starring Mielle was broadcast for ten years on Treehouse TV, and became an anthem for the special needs community.
Click through to see the song and a spoken introduction in which Rick speaks of the impact of Down Syndrome on himself and his family.
In August 2006 with Fred Penner Rick was master of ceremonies for the World Congress on Down Syndrome in Vancouver. They wrote and performed the theme song UP SIDE OF DOWN with Valley Hennell and recorded it with Pied Pumkin on PUMKIDS, which won a Canadian Folk Music Award.
CHILDREN’S RECORDINGS
Rick's seven children's recordings, co-written and produced by his longtime partner Valley Hennell, have been honored with many kudos:
*PUMKIDS – Tuneful Tales For Kids & Kin, created with Joe Mock and Shari Ulrich of Pied Pumkin, won Best Children’s CD in the Canadian Folk Music Awards and Western Canadian Music Awards, and Parents’ Choice and NAPPA Honors Awards in the US.
*SNOOZE MUSIC - Dulcimer Lullabies for all Ages, is a grandfather's prayer for his children and grandchildren. It features 10 original cradle tunes plus Stephen Foster's classic lullaby SLUMBER MY DARLING, arranged for dulcimer, voice, cello, viola, violin, guitar, bass, music box, trombone and tuba. It introduces vocalist Andrea L'Heureux, who gave birth immediately following recording! SNOOZE MUSIC won 2006 North American Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Gold, Parents' Choice Silver Honor and iParenting Media 2006 Greatest Products Awards.
*THE 5 ELEMENTS - Rick's English / Cantonese collaboration with Hong Kong's foremost children's artist Harry Wong won a 2004 North American Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Gold Award and 2006 Canadian Book Centre Our Choice Award, and was nominated for a 2004 Juno Award as Children's Album of the Year.
*MAKING FACES won Best Children’s Release in the 2001 West Coast Music Awards in Canada and a 2000 Parents’ Choice Approved Award in the U.S. It contains an updated version of Rick's much requested hip hop tribute to Mozart, YO MO CONCERTO, which is also available on VHS and DVD.
*PHILHARMONIC FOOL won a 1999 Children’s Music Web Special Award and was nominated for Juno and Pacific Music Industry Awards for Best Children’s album. The song ANGELS DO has become an anthem for the special needs community, and is seen regularly on Ants In Your Pants on Treehouse TV in a video starring Rick's granddaughter. ANGELS DO is available on VHS and DVD.
*By popular demand, Rick’s 1992 cassette, RICK AROUND THE ROCK, was released on CD in 2004. Contains much requested favorites EH CANADA, ELEPHANT RIDE and YO MO CONCERTO. Winner of 2005 Parents' Choice Recommended and 2006 Canadian Book Centre Our Choice Awards.
*Rick’s first children’s album, THE ELECTRIC SNOWSHOE, was released on cassette in 1989. It released on CD in 2002 and was Parents’ Choice Approved and 2005 Canadian Book Centre Our Choice. It has sold over 50,000 copies and contains many of Rick’s most requested songs: MY FRIEND HAS THE BIGGEST EARS IN THE WORLD, SPIKE McCOOL, SIMON SEZ and SNEAKERS.
PIED PUMKIN:
Rick first rose to prominence in 1974 in the Canadian folk scene playing with Joe Mock and Shari Ulrich in legendary folk trio PIED PUMKIN who pioneered independent folk music in BC and sold 30,000 LPs from the stage.
In 1976 Shari left Pied Pumkin to join the Hometown Band and Rick and Joe continued to tour as the duo Pied Pear until 1983. Then all three went on to successful solo careers. After a decade playing music in Japan, Joe Mock now lives in France.
Pied Pumkin reunited in 1998 and performed one tour a yea until 2008. In July 2012 they will perform at the 35th anniversary of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Starbelly Jam in the Kootenays, and a dozen other BC venues.
Since their reunion Pied Pumkin have released PLUCKING DeVINE, a CD retrospective of favorite recordings from the ‘70s; PIED ALIVE, recorded live in 18 BC communities in 2000; and PIED PEAR COLLECTORS EDITION 2011, combining two LPs from the '70s previously only available on vinyl.
In 2006 Pied Pumkin released their first children's CD, PUMKIDS – Tuneful Tales For Kids & Kin, which won Best Children’s CD in the Canadian Folk Music Awards and Western Canadian Music Awards, and Parents’ Choice and NAPPA Honors Awards in the US. In 2007 and 2008 PUMKIDS toured Canadian children's festivals and folk venues.
DOUBLE VISION WITH DAVID ESSIG
In spring 2009 Rick and veteran blues guitarist David Essig released the critically acclaimed duo CD DOUBLE VISION which they present in concert as a duo and as a trio with bassist Shelley Brown.
THEATRE YEARS
In 1982 Rick appeared as Sufferton in Ann Mortifee's musical REFLECTIONS ON CROOKED WALKING and spent the next seven years performing in stage productions such as the THE LATE BLUMER, BARNUM and ANGRY HOUSEWIVES. In 1989 a series of school shows launched what was to become a memorable career as a family entertainer.
THE 5 ELEMENTS
In 2003 Rick and Valley collaborated with Hong Kong musicians/magician Harry Wong on the dramatic musical production THE 5 ELEMENTS, which premiered in 5 shows at the Hong Kong International Arts Carnival then toured Canadian children’s festivals with 27 shows in 2004. The CD which became the soundtrack for the show was a 2004 Juno nominee and won many awards in the US and Canada.
YU YU MI MI
In 2005 Rick and Valley wrote, performed and produced the score for YUYU MIMI: A LOVE STORY, an multi media production with puppets based on an illustrated book by Hong Kong puppet master Hoi Chiu, which premiered in a puppetry festival Birmingham, England, and was restaged in a multi media production at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in March 2007.