Rick Briggs

Rick began playing banjo at the age of 15 after initially starting out on the guitar. In 1980, he joined the band, Bluegrass Fever, a Charlotte , NC based group that won the band competition at Six Flags Over Georgia, then releasing one album on the Lamon Label. His next band, The Grass Strings, from Albemarle , NC , introduced Rick to working on the road as they regularly frequented festivals and college circuit gigs. In the late 1980’s, Rick made a move into Country Music for a period of about 10 years. He worked professionally performing on keyboards, guitar and banjo with several east coast club circuit groups before being asked to join the Old Dominion Opry in Williamsburg , VA in 1991. He went through two different stints with the Old Dominion Opry due to management changes and finally became their performing Musical Director, Writer and Assistant General Manager before eventually leaving in 1997. Rick returned to his first love, Bluegrass, in 1999 when he joined Boston , MA based Southern Rail. In January 2005, Rick joined former Country Gentlemen member, Jimmy Bowen, in the Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe band. Rick was also a staff member at Acutab’s Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend every November in Roanoke , VA. His background in printing had also helped him assist with the cover art and photography for the original “Team Flathead – The Huber Banjos Sessions” recording in 2003 and Rick’s own banjo was used on the recording played by both Sammy Shelor and Ron Stewart. Rick currently resides in Duncannon , PA.