Dark Horses by Rick Lance

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Rick's deep, rich speaking voice transforms easily into a very compelling

baritone as he performs with the smoothest of character, style and

story-telling ability. He has proven to be a radio-friendly talent throughout

1998 and 1999 with the release of his first two singles that both went up to

#1 on national independent country radio (small market ): "Don't You Know

Better Than That?"(October '98) and "You 'd Be the First to Know" (March

'99).

Rick also won the Bluegrass/Country category of the 2000 Independent Music Awards (IMA) sponsored by musiciansatlas.com/Music Resource Group for his Dark Horeses single, "Break My Heart.

Plans are underway to release "Sarge" as the new single from the CD album

"Dark Horses," produced by Don Ellis on Rick's own label Duke Records. (See story below)

Rick says he came into country music through the back door. As he made a

slow gradual progression from interpreting the music of folk artists such as

Jim Croce, James Taylor and Emmy Lou Harris to Merle Haggard, Waylon and

Willie and Alabama, he became more and more fascinated by the emotional

maturity of country music. While in the U.S. Navy on a Mediterranean cruise,

he played his music in every port accompanied by whatever musicians the local

culture would yield, i.e. Flamenco guitarists in Spain and accordionists in

Italy and France. After discharge, while attending college in the beautiful

Northwest he began to write, playing his new music in a trio he formed for

local performances. After graduation Rick returned home to Western

Pennsylvania and formed a five-piece band that toured dance clubs, fairs and

other outdoor venues throughout Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia,

opening shows for Alabama, Loretta Lynn and the Oak Ridge Boys. Rick and his

band also played several dates on the prestigious Wheeling Jamboree radio

show on station WWVA. It was in Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium during a

Pirates vs. Mets twilight double-header that he was asked to sing the

National Anthem before a crowd of 25,000. Shortly afterward he moved to

Nashville without his band where he peaked the interest of the great

songwriter Harlan Howard and RCA Records with his quartet White Crow although

the act was never signed to the label.

Get Rick behind a microphone and people stop dead in their tracks with just a

few spoken words, his soft smile and his dry sense of humor. As he sings his

very first notes they are drawn in to capture every lyric of his song. Women

are charmed, men are amused and as for Rick Lance, well, he believes in the

power of music.

Update 11/5/03

Rick's most recent project is one near and dear to his heart. HOME FREE, a 12-track Country music complilation CD honoring our American veterans will be released officially on Veterans' Day, November 11, 2003. HOME FREE,(formerly called American Pride) sponsored and funded by Veterans' Outreach, Inc., celebrates the sacrifice and courage of our men and women who are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces and illustrates America's values, way of life, traditions and diversities.

Rick was a very busy boy on this project as he is an artist with his single "Sarge" from Dark Horses , he is co-producer with Bob Corbin of the Corbin Hanner Band, he shot all the still life photography working with graphic designer Richard Cook, Nashville, and launched the project from his own record label, Duke Records, Nashville.

HOME FREE's title track is performed by the gravely throated, highly acclaimed T. Graham Brown and is a brand new release for him. This project contains mainly brand new material sung by some of today's best-known artists as well as future stars including Ricochet, Moe Bandy, Lane Brody, Corbin Hanner, James Dean Hicks, Chris Ward, Don Ellis, Sheri Jo Porter, New Glory and Rick Lance.

Veterans' Outreach, Inc. (veteransoutreach.net), a registered non profit veterans assistance organization will be using CD sales proceeds to help fund it's programs including aid to homeless veterans and to help those newly returning servicemen and women.... "to achieve their personal resolve and share in the American Dream."

Veterans' Outreach, Inc. is also a charter member of the National WW II Memorial Society and has registered thousands of veterans for their "Registry of Remembrances" and raised thousands of dollars for the WW II Memorial and a Vietnam War memorial.

For additional information about their goals and programs visit veternasoutreach.net. Or call John Ely, President or Robert Julian, Treasurer at 1-888 2VETNET (8638).Where you may also purchase the HOME FREE CD. And of course, you may purchase the CD from the HOME FREE webpage right here at cdbaby or by clicking the link on this page.

Rick said, " In all my years in music this is the single most important benefit project I have ever been a part of...let us all be HOME FREE!"

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