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{{Infobox musical artist
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'''Jerry Ricks''' ([[May 22]], [[1940]] – [[December 10]], [[2007]]) was an American [[blues guitar]]ist.
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Jerry Ricks
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = Gerald Lawrence Ricks
| alias = "Philadelphia" Jerry Ricks
| birth_date = {{birth date|1940|5|22}}
| birth_place = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| origin =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|12|10|1940|5|22}}
| death_place = [[Rijeka]], [[Croatia]]
| genre = [[Country blues]]
| occupation = Guitarist, singer
| instrument =
| years_active =
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
}}
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'''Gerald Lawrence "Jerry" Ricks''' (May 22, 1940{{spaced ndash}}December 10, 2007), often billed as '''"Philadelphia" Jerry Ricks''', was an American [[country blues]] [[guitar]]ist and singer.


==Life and career==
Ricks was born and grew up in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], playing [[trumpet]] as a child; he started playing guitar in local [[coffee shops]] in the late 1950s. He worked as a booking manager for the Second Fret Coffee House in Philadelphia from 1960-1966, coming into contact with many key figures in the blues revival ([[Son House]], [[Lightnin' Hopkins]], [[Libba Cotten]], [[Jesse Fuller]], [[Mance Lipscomb]], [[Lonnie Johnson]]).
Ricks was born and grew up in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], playing [[trumpet]] as a child. He started playing guitar in local [[café|coffee shops]] in the late 1950s. He worked as a booking manager for the Second Fret Coffee House in Philadelphia from 1960-1966, coming into contact with many key figures in the blues revival, including [[Son House]], [[Lightnin' Hopkins]], [[Libba Cotten]], [[Jesse Fuller]], [[Mance Lipscomb]], and [[Lonnie Johnson (musician)|Lonnie Johnson]].<ref name=allmusic/> He recorded with [[Mississippi John Hurt]] in 1964.<ref name=wirz>[http://www.wirz.de/music/ricksfrm.htm Jerry Ricks discography, ''Wirz.de'']. Retrieved 13 November 2016</ref>


In 1969, Ricks toured with [[Buddy Guy]] on a [[State Department]]-sponsored [[East Africa]]n tour. After returning to the U.S. briefly to do field work in [[Arkansas]] for the [[Smithsonian Institution]], he moved to Europe in 1971, remaining there until 1990. He did come back to the states in 1972 and 1973 and recorded with [[Hall & Oates]] on ''[[Whole Oats]]'' and ''[[Abandoned Luncheonette]]''.
In 1969, Ricks toured with [[Buddy Guy]] on a [[State Department]]-sponsored [[East Africa]]n tour. After returning to the U.S. briefly to do field work in [[Arkansas]] for the [[Smithsonian Institution]], he moved to Europe in 1971. He lived in Europe for most of the 1970s and 1980s, only returning to the US in 1972 and 1973, when he recorded with [[Hall & Oates]] on ''[[Whole Oats]]'' and ''[[Abandoned Luncheonette]]''.<ref name=allmusic>[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerry-ricks-mn0000336614/biography Biography by Richard Skelly, ''Allmusic.com'']. Retrieved 13 November 2016</ref> In Germany, he recorded several albums with [[Oscar Klein]], and in Italy recorded with [[Giulio Camarca]].<ref name=wirz/>


Ricks recorded 13 solo albums in Europe, but his first American releases did not arrive until 1998, when [[Rooster Blues]] released his ''Deep in the Well''. The album was nominated for three [[W.C. Handy Award]]s. ''Many Miles of Blues'' followed on the same label in 2000.
His first solo album, in 1984, was recorded in [[Zagreb]], at that time in [[Yugoslavia]], and he also recorded albums in [[Hungary]], [[Austria]] and [[Switzerland]]. He returned to live in the United States in the early 1990s.<ref name=gibson>[http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/News/en-us/Finger-Pickin%E2%80%99-Delta-Blues-Leg.aspx "Finger-Pickin’ Delta Blues Legend “Philadelphia” Jerry Ricks, Dead at 67", ''www.gibson.com'', December 13, 2007]. Retrieved 13 November 2016</ref> His first American releases did not arrive until 1998, when [[Rooster Blues]] released his ''Deep in the Well''. The album was nominated for three [[Blues Music Award|W.C. Handy Award]]s. ''Many Miles of Blues'' followed on the same label in 2000.<ref name=allmusic/>


In 2007 Ricks and his wife moved to [[Kastav]], [[Croatia]], and on December 10, 2007 he died at the age of 67 in [[Kastav]].
In 2007 Ricks and his wife moved to [[Kastav]], [[Croatia]]. He suffered a [[stroke]] that year, and a benefit concert featuring [[Shemekia Copeland]] and [[David Bromberg]] was held in the US to help pay his medical bills. He died on December 10, 2007, aged 67, in a hospital in [[Rijeka]], Croatia.<ref name=gibson/>

The biggest blues festival in Croatia, Kastav Blues Festival, is established in honour of 'Philadelphia' Jerry Ricks. It's being held from 2008 and is still ongoing. Every year in the first week of August, eminent names of national, european and global blues scene come to [[Kastav]], [[Croatia]] to honour Jerry's inheritance.

Ricks fathered two children: Philadelphia icon Jamie R. Ricks (1963-2017) and visual artist Kellie L. Ricks (1964-2020).


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:39fqxqugldse~T1 Jerry Ricks] at Allmusic.com
⚫
*[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gg0PNIOmeGrBjaLtqZ1Ojph74iXQ Blues Guitarist Jerry Ricks Dies at 67]. [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] via [[Google]], December 12, 2007.


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080116072306/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gg0PNIOmeGrBjaLtqZ1Ojph74iXQ Blues Guitarist Jerry Ricks Dies at 67]. [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] via [[Google]], December 12, 2007.
* [http://www.wirz.de/music/ricks.htm Illustrated Philadelphia Jerry Ricks discography]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricks, Jerry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricks, Jerry}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:American blues guitarists]]
[[Category:American blues guitarists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:American expatriates in Croatia]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]

Latest revision as of 21:31, 31 March 2022

Jerry Ricks
Birth nameGerald Lawrence Ricks
Also known as"Philadelphia" Jerry Ricks
Born(1940-05-22)May 22, 1940
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedDecember 10, 2007(2007-12-10) (aged 67)
Rijeka, Croatia
GenresCountry blues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer

Gerald Lawrence "Jerry" Ricks (May 22, 1940 – December 10, 2007), often billed as "Philadelphia" Jerry Ricks, was an American country blues guitarist and singer.

Life and career[edit]

Ricks was born and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, playing trumpet as a child. He started playing guitar in local coffee shops in the late 1950s. He worked as a booking manager for the Second Fret Coffee House in Philadelphia from 1960-1966, coming into contact with many key figures in the blues revival, including Son House, Lightnin' Hopkins, Libba Cotten, Jesse Fuller, Mance Lipscomb, and Lonnie Johnson.[1] He recorded with Mississippi John Hurt in 1964.[2]

In 1969, Ricks toured with Buddy Guy on a State Department-sponsored East African tour. After returning to the U.S. briefly to do field work in Arkansas for the Smithsonian Institution, he moved to Europe in 1971. He lived in Europe for most of the 1970s and 1980s, only returning to the US in 1972 and 1973, when he recorded with Hall & Oates on Whole Oats and Abandoned Luncheonette.[1] In Germany, he recorded several albums with Oscar Klein, and in Italy recorded with Giulio Camarca.[2]

His first solo album, in 1984, was recorded in Zagreb, at that time in Yugoslavia, and he also recorded albums in Hungary, Austria and Switzerland. He returned to live in the United States in the early 1990s.[3] His first American releases did not arrive until 1998, when Rooster Blues released his Deep in the Well. The album was nominated for three W.C. Handy Awards. Many Miles of Blues followed on the same label in 2000.[1]

In 2007 Ricks and his wife moved to Kastav, Croatia. He suffered a stroke that year, and a benefit concert featuring Shemekia Copeland and David Bromberg was held in the US to help pay his medical bills. He died on December 10, 2007, aged 67, in a hospital in Rijeka, Croatia.[3]

The biggest blues festival in Croatia, Kastav Blues Festival, is established in honour of 'Philadelphia' Jerry Ricks. It's being held from 2008 and is still ongoing. Every year in the first week of August, eminent names of national, european and global blues scene come to Kastav, Croatia to honour Jerry's inheritance.

Ricks fathered two children: Philadelphia icon Jamie R. Ricks (1963-2017) and visual artist Kellie L. Ricks (1964-2020).

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Biography by Richard Skelly, Allmusic.com. Retrieved 13 November 2016
  2. ^ a b Jerry Ricks discography, Wirz.de. Retrieved 13 November 2016
  3. ^ a b "Finger-Pickin’ Delta Blues Legend “Philadelphia” Jerry Ricks, Dead at 67", www.gibson.com, December 13, 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2016

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jerry_Ricks&oldid=1080370378"