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Hillbilly-Music.com—The People. The Music. The History.
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About The Artist Dick's professional musical journey seems to have begun in the mid to late 1950s. He was working with various bands on the river boats in the Cincinnati, Ohio area from 1956 through 1958. He did appearances on radio stations WCKY and WNOP in the area. In 1956, he was working at a country music park in North Vernon, Indiana that was hosted and operated by Asher Sizemore. In 1967, he was the front man for Bill Haley's band in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1968, Dick was one of the ten talents that were discovered in the Schaefer Talent Hunt contest. Over 1,000 people entered that contest. The ten winners were given a chance to sing the Schaefer jingle and be heard over the radio airwaves. According to Dick, his version was heard in 15 different states and in Puerto Rico as well in 1969. On October 5, 1968, Billboard was telling readers of a package show sponsored by the New Jersey Servicemen's League promoted as "Northeast Country Music Showcase in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. In addition to Dick, other performers were Del Reeves, Jan Howard, Johnny Dollar, The Country Music Gents, The Mueller Brothers, the Henderson County Boys and Thelma Porch. During 1968 Dick appeared on the Les Severs televsion show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also appeared on Ralph Emery's all night show over WSM - an appearance he says was courtesy of Cal Smith. The Colorado Country Music Association gave him a Golden Guitar Award in 1968. In early 1970, Dick signed a personal management contract with Marve Hoerner of Triple T Talent. At that time, Dick was reocrding for the Chestnut Records label which was based in Philadelphia. He appeared on the annual Fan Fair Banquet show with Jack Greene in 1969. His own fan club was named the "Best New Fan Club of the Year" in 1969 as well. In addition, the Colorado Country Music Association gave him a Record Award in 1969 as well. But just a few moths later, Dick was reported to have broken his ankle falling off a ladder and had to cancel a number of personal appearances while he recovered. He made guest appearances several times in 1969 and 1970 on the famed WWVA World's Original Jamboree show in Wheeling, West Virginia. While in Wheeling, he also appeared on Mac Wiseman's show. While pursuing his recording career and doing personal appearances, he was also working as a disc jockey. During 1968 and 1969, he worked at radio station WTTM in Trenton, New Jersey. He moved to radio station WBUX in Doylestown, Pennsylvania in 1970. For a time, Dick and his band hosted a 'live' country music show that aired over WTTM from the Frontier Room in Bordentown, New Jersey. That club is no longer in existence. Over the years, he had the experience of being the opening act for many of country music's legends. They included Dave Dudley, Freddie Hart, Little Jimmy Dickens, Cal Smith, Hank Thompson, Carl Smith, Faron Young, the Carter Family, Jean Shepard, Tommy Cash, Jett Williams, John Conlee and many others. He has been a member of several country music organiztions. These included the Allegheny Mountain Ole Tyme Music Association, Inc., the Florida Country Music Association, the Colorado Country Music Association, the North East CMA. He was a member of the Long Island, New York American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Local 569. Currently (2011) he is appearing on the WDVR-FM Hearlands Hayride Show that is broadcast live on the second and fourth Saturday nights from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in Sergentsville, New Jersey. The show originates from the Virginia Napurano Cultural Arts Center in Sergentsville. The show has been on the air for over five years and is the only 'live' country music show in the eastern United States. Dick is also the host to jam sessions every first, third and fifth Wednesday every month at the Meiserville Inn on Route 104, five miles south of Pennsylvania Route 35 in Mt. Pleasant Mills, Pennsylvania. If you cannot catch him there, you might catch him at the Middleburg VFW on 1555 Paxtonville Road in Middleburg when he hosts another jam session every second Sunday of the month from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. And on other Sundays of the month, you could find Dick at Mary's Restaurant from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at the Old Schoolhouse at Routes 11/15 in Port Treavorton, Pennsylvania. Credits & Sources
Related Web Links
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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)
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