Rickey Medlocke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rickey Medlocke
Medlocke performing live in 2009 (with his customary Gibson Explorer)
Background information
Born	(1950-02-17) February 17, 1950 (age 75) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Southern rock, hard rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1969–present

Rick Medlocke, born on February 17, 1950, is an American musician. He is famous as the lead singer and guitarist for the Southern rock band Blackfoot. He is also a member of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Medlocke first played with Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1971 to 1972. During that time, he played drums and sang on some early songs. These songs were later released in 1978 on an album called "First and... Last." In 1972, he went back to Blackfoot. Then, in 1996, he rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd as a guitarist. He still tours and records with them today.

In 2008, Rickey Medlocke was honored. He was added to the Native American Music Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Musical Start

Rickey Lynn Green was born on February 17, 1950, in Jacksonville, Florida. His grandparents raised him. His grandfather, Paul "Shorty" Medlocke, was a bluegrass musician. He taught Rickey to play a small banjo.

Rickey started performing on stage when he was only three years old. His musical skills grew a lot over the years. By age five, he began teaching himself to play the guitar. At age eight, he was playing drums in his grandfather's band.

Over the next few years, Medlocke learned many instruments. He mastered the banjo, guitar, drums, mandolin, dobro, and keyboards. He also had a nice singing voice. He taught himself to sing and play guitar at the same time.

After high school, Medlocke started his first band. It was called Fresh Garbage, named after a Spirit song. In this band, he was the lead singer and drummer. The band later changed its name to Hammer, and then to Blackfoot.

Rickey Medlocke's Music Career

In the 1970s, Rickey Medlocke worked with Lynyrd Skynyrd as a session musician. This means he played on their recordings but was not a full-time band member yet. In 1971, he sometimes played drums or sang lead on songs like "One More Time" and "Comin' Home."

Medlocke sometimes played drums alongside the band's original drummer, Bob Burns. However, he really wanted to be a guitarist at the front of the stage. So, in 1972, he decided to restart his band, Blackfoot.

Success with Blackfoot

Blackfoot began touring and creating popular songs. Two of their hit songs were "Train, Train" and "Highway Song." His grandfather wrote "Train, Train." Rickey and Blackfoot's drummer, Jackson Spires, wrote the lyrics and title for "Highway Song." The music and other parts were arranged by the band Blackfoot. Medlocke stopped the group in the early 1990s.

Rejoining Lynyrd Skynyrd

For a while in the 1990s, Medlocke thought about doing other jobs. But in 1996, he got a call from Gary Rossington. Rossington asked him to rejoin Lynyrd Skynyrd. He wanted Medlocke to be a lead guitarist and help write songs.

Rossington asked Medlocke if he remembered how to play famous songs like "Free Bird" and "Tuesday's Gone." Medlocke rejoined Skynyrd and has been a member ever since.

Sometimes, Medlocke takes short breaks from Skynyrd. He joins other musicians on stage, like Blackberry Smoke and Shooter Jennings. He also performed with American Idol finalists. For example, he played "Sweet Home Alabama" with Bo Bice from season four. In 2023, he performed with Colin Stough in Hatley, Mississippi, after Colin made the Top 3 on American Idol season 21.

Rickey Medlocke's Albums

With Blackfoot

With Lynyrd Skynyrd

• Street Survivors (1977) (played drums and sang chorus on "One More Time" from 1971-1972 recordings)
• Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978) (includes early recordings from 1971 and 1972)
• Twenty (1997)
• Lyve from Steel Town (1998)
• Skynyrd's First - The Complete Muscle Shoals Album (1998) (includes early recordings from 1971 and 1972)
• Edge of Forever (1999)
• Christmas Time Again (2000)
• Vicious Cycle (2003)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour (2003)
• God & Guns (2010)
• Last of a Dyin' Breed (2012)

See also

In Spanish: Rickey Medlocke para niños