I first met Rick Cua when he came and taught
a bass seminar for Kramer guitars at the
small Christian record and instrument store I
managed in Lomita, CA (The Carpenter Music
Store on Pacific Coast Highway). I only had
about nine bass players show up (I told you we
were a small store) and as I watched Rick pour
into those guys so much information about
being a Christian musician that day I knew that
I would always like this guy (not to mention I
was a big fan of the mainstream Southern Rock
band he used to play in – The Outlaws).
But over the course of the next 30 years I
could never have imagined how much I would
grow to love and respect Rick – for his humility,
integrity and love for the Lord. We would go
on to co-produce eight years of the Christian
Musician Summit conferences in Buffalo, NY
The Outlaws at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia at The Roundup, a huge Southern Rock Festival
together. My partner in those – Matt Kees (our
faithful designer of this very magazine) and
Kingdom Bound Ministries. Rick was part of
the leadership of the Kingdom Bound Festival
(a long-standing and still running Christian
event in upstate New York). We got to know
and love the Kingdom Bound folks and
Rick’s band mates from Blues Counsel would
become our house band. All great players and
each one contributed so much to helping us
train musicians.
During this time Rick also started writing
a regular column in my Christian Musician
magazine (before it merged with [WM]).
Again, he would pour himself into our readers
sharing insights and Godly wisdom. This would The Outlaws continue for many years. When Rick moved [WM] Let’s talk bass. Rock, Funk, Soul, to become a versatile player and my need to
more and more into Pastoral Care another Rhythm & Blues, Jazz Fusion – you have played pay the bills that pushed me forward. The club
gifting of his became evident to me… not only so many different styles of bass. Rick how did dates, playing Top 40, the weddings and bar
was he a trusted friend who I could openly you wrap your arms around so many different mitzvahs playing more legit stuff, all the jazz
talk with about any topic – business, personal, genres and become proficient in them all? gigs playing Bop & Fusion, the Rock, Soul, R
& B, Reggae & Latin, etc. …I was never bored
walking the Christian life – but when I really
needed some important vocational advice Rick [Rick Cua] Playing bass for well over five became a counselor to me that the Lord used decades made me comfortable with a lot of in the hour of my need. I am grateful for who different styles. This was out of shear necessity. [WM] You came to a fork in the road as a bass
he is in my life, and I want to introduce you (our And, wanting to always learn and grow put player. You had two opportunities – play bass
readers) to this professional bass playing man me in a curious place that drove me to figure for the Southern Rock band The Outlaws or
of God… meet Rick Cua. it all out. I had to play whatever the different the Jazz Fusion group Spyro Gyra. Tell us your
gigs called for. So that was it, it was my drive process in deciding which way to go?
May 2020
and to this day very grateful for that.
Subscribe for Free...
115