THE RICKEY GODFREY BAND

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Rickey Godfrey was born in Greenville S.C. in 1956 the third of four children. His musical training began at the age of 7 while attending the South Carolina School For The Blind. He studied classical piano and voice and in 1970 began guitar lessons as well. In 1972 he joined his first band “The Fresh Licks”, a rock band that won the 1972 South Carolina Battle Of The Bands. In 1974 Rickey and his brother Ronnie, formed their own band “Garfeel Ruff” and were signed to Capitol Records in 1979. While with Capitol, Garfeel Ruff scored and played most of the soundtrack for the movie “The Hitter”. In 1979, The Garfeel Ruff Band also released an album on Capitol Records entitled “Garfeel Ruff”, which went to number two that year on the Carolina upstate rock charts. A few years later some material recorded in 1979 was released on another Garfeel Ruff album entitled “Born To Play” which was wildly received by their fans. In 1984 Rickey released a solo album, “Let The Big Dog Eat”, which sold well in the Southeast. During the mid 80’s Rickey teamed up with boogie pianist, Rudy Blue Shoes Wyatt, and he played on an ADDY Award winning jingle for Foto-Mat. Rickey also played on studio recordings with Sonny Turner, Anita Ward, Bill Pinkey, and Clifford Curry.

Interest from record labels led Rickey to move to Nashville in 1993. Once in Nashville, Rickey began working with artists Donna Fargo, Rufus Thomas, Junior Walker, Sam Moore, and Billy Preston. Rickey has performed throughout the US, Canada and Europe, and has become well known in Nashville for his outstanding musical abilities. In 1994 he played with “The Amy Watkins Band” as they won the Nashville Music City Unsigned Blues Band Competition, in 1997 with another band “The Blues Boyz” won The Pete’s Wicked Ale Blues Competition winning over 35 Nashville area bands. In 1999 Rickey co-wrote “Plumber Man” with Clifford Curry and over the next two years co-wrote produced and played on “She Shot A Hole In My Soul Again” also with Clifford. In 2002 Rickey joined “The SugarBees” a Beach Boogie and Blues Band based in S.C., as lead vocalist. Rickey performed with the band live and recorded with them on several projects. Their cd, “My Baby’s Got It” reached #5 on the Rhythm and Beach charts and the single “Hold You To Your Promise” reached #3. A second single was release by the band entitled “Give It To A Good Man” on the Ripete Records compilation CD “Beach Party” , this CD reached #1 on the Rhythm and Beach charts, and charted at #4 as a single. In February 2003 Rickey teamed up with Greenville SC keyboard player Bobby Simmons, also previously with The SugarBees, and formed The Rickey Godfrey Band. During the summer of 2003 The Rickey Godfrey Band recorded a new single “Can’t Change My Heart” released on Mossland Records, which was voted the #1 breakout song of Fall SOS. “Can’t Change My Heart” reached #1 on the Beach charts in the winter of 2004. In November 2003 Rickey and Andrea Keesee won a Cammy Award for “Best Duo” with the song “Never Let You Go”.

At The 2004 Carolina Beach Music Awards, “Can’t Change My Heart” won Song of the Year, and Rickey’s 2003 released CD “Soul Sensations” won album of the year. The Rickey Godfrey Band won “Band Of The Year”. In 2005 Rickey posted 3 additional top 10’s with “No One Loves You Better Than Me”, Whatever It Takes”, “If Ten’ll Kill Me Give Me Nine”, and finished his latest full length project, “Once In A Lifetime Love”, released on Mossland Records March 10th. 2006. The first single off the new CD “Hotel Happiness” is currently climbing the charts.

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