After 3 straight years, Rick Monroe is back on the Jagermeister Country Tour for 2012. But that's certainly not his only claim to fame. Signed to Render Records in December 2011, Rick's a Country Music road warrior who isn't opposed to taking his music directly to the folks. Rick says, "You know all those reality shows on TV, my life IS a reality show." Getting ready for the new tour in 2012, rick will be in the studio with producer Steve Freeman cutting tracks for his debut album for Render Records. Rick will be taking these new songs to music fans all over the U.S. this spring and via the radio with the launch of his first single "Crazy Not To" headed to radio in mid January. The new 6 song EP also titled "Crazy Not To" will be available in stores and online February 14, 2012.
On virtually every song written and recorded, through his artistry Monroe intentionally creates an amazing picture of a musician's life. Be it one who hits the road, performing at every honky-tonk he can find to wash away the pain of a broken heart -- only to find there was perfection waiting for him right around the corner. or something even more "every day grind" inspired.
The "Nashville favorite" has toured with Josh Thompson and Dierks Bentley on last year's Jagermeister Country Tour.
Monroe's opened for the likes of Pat Green, Charlie Daniels, Dwight Yoakam, Montgomery Gentry, Marshall Tucker, Darryl Worley, Craig Morgan, Eric Church, Emerson Drive, Patty Loveless, Little Texas, Ricochet, The Birds, Black Hawk, Trick Pony, Chely Wright, Sammy Kershaw and Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus. He's toured Europe for the last three years and performed an average of 100 dates a year for the last two years.
No stranger to success Rick's previous album, 'Against the Grain' spawned the hit single 'Midnight Rider'. Having received rave reviews in print and accolades on television shows such as EXTRA and ET, Rick's gritty Midnight Rider video is still a much requested fan favorite.
Due to his expanding sphere of influence, Monroe has picked-up sponsorships from Jagermeister, Resistol Hats, Blue Berry Guitars, GHS, Visual Sound and others.
A true ambassador of the genre, Monroe was among the first country artists to perform in Russia and China. His extensive touring history includes performances throughout Russia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Hungary, Honduras, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Bahamas, Germany, England, Netherlands and Switzerland, sharing the stage with a who's who of musical greats. At the request of Pete Peterson, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Rick performed at the week-long 4th of July celebrations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Mihn City. Monroe was honored to sing the U.S. National Anthem for the 5-year anniversary of the re-opening of diplomatic relations between the countries. This marking the first time the anthem had been sung at a public event in Vietnam in over 25 years.
He followed that up with a Command Performance for the former President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, on the USS Sequoia Presidential Yacht, Washington, DC. This lead to a trip to Russia where Monroe performed at several orphanages and was a featured performer on REN TV's Bulat Okudzhava Festival in Moscow, Russia
Rick Monroe takes life experiences that we all share, the events that touch our hearts and creates music that speaks directly to the soul in each of us. Whether in an intimate setting accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, a good old honky-tonk, or on stage playing with his band to thousands at an outdoor festival halfway around the world, Rick strives to connect to his audiences. He is always a huge crowd pleaser.
