Ric Steel

Early life

Born to traveling musicians, Ric (born December 2, 1952) hails from Jackson, Mississippi. At age 10, he began singing professionally as the lead in an operatic performance by Gian Carlo Menotti called "Amahl and the Night Visitors." When Ric was 15 years old, he wrote 10 songs, cut his first record, and toured Europe performing as a singer. At 19 years old, Ric began his foray into Nashville by playing bass with Johnny Cash and writing for The Oak Ridge Boys publishing company Silverline. Ric attended Belmont College where he studied Medicine, worked at Baptist hospital as a surgical assistant, and later received a degree in Ministry and Counseling from Luther Rice Seminary.

Musical career

As a featured singer, Ric has toured all of the states in the USA as well as almost all foreign countries. Today he makes his way around the world as a headline entertainer vocalist / guitarist for the Cruise Lines. Ric has played with Johnny Cash, Marie Osmond, Alabama, and Tim McGraw. Ric sang the lead in "The Phantom of the Opera" for Marriott properties USA. As a lead performer, he has over 5000 shows to his credit. He recorded over 30 major projects. As a singer Ric has recorded for multiple clients, including Ford Motor Company, the State of Florida, PGA, Chevrolet, and NASCAR.

In the late 80's Ric was awarded the title "Jacksonville's Music Ambassador". He was featured as a vocalist, writer, and producer for the "I Believe In Jacksonville" album. This was done in conjunction with WQIK radio of the same city. He was also awarded a Gold Record during the commemoration of these events.

Steel has had two Billboard charted singles, including "The Radio Song" at #57 and "Whose Baby Are You" at #59. Ric was awarded a golden record. As a composer, Ric is Grammy nominated. Performing for a live TV audience, Steel was a semi-finalist on NBC reality television show The Voice in 2010. Ric was a semi-finalist on NBC reality television show America's Got Talent in 2009. Other accolades include being a Wrangler TV Showdown winner, John Lennon Song Festival finalist, and European Gold Medal winning vocalist. Currently Steel is an entertainer for the cruise industry, having performed all over the world on cruise ships.

Entrepreneurial career

As an entrepreneur, Steel has been a gold medalist four times as an inventor on the internet TV show Edison Nation, and he holds several patents. Steelcreated an idea for a reality show, a docu-series "The Cruiser," which was a finalist in the Reality TV Format Awards and plans to shoot in 2015. Ric also runs one of the best Great Dane breeding facilities in the USA having had Danes since he was a child. www.GreatDanes.ws