In 1974, Rick went on the road again, this time with Don Preston, guitarist for Leon Russell. “I went to high school with Don, and it was fun working with him,” Rick states. “Don was one of my childhood idols.” They played show clubs from New York to California, and recorded an album in San Francisco for Shelter Records. Chris Stewart from Paul McCartney’s band and Scottish soul singer Frankie Miller were on the session.While on tour with Preston in Detroit, Rick went for breakfast in a hotel café, and saw Howlin’ Wolf sitting at a table. Rick introduced himself, and was invited to sit down and dine with the blues legend. Wolf told him that his piano player had quit the band the night before, and he needed someone to play piano that night at his gig at the Shelby Hotel’s Savoy Lounge. “I said I’d be honored to play with him. I got to play all night with the man I consider to be the greatest of the Chicago blues gods. I was scared. I’m not really a piano player, and Wolf didn’t use organ. But, I remembered his songs from his records, and Wolf liked my playing. Somebody made a video of the three shows we did. I’d sure like to have a copy!” |