Rick Richbourg, nicknamed “Chocolate” by the Groove Therapy’s vocalist Norm Sconiers, has been performing, writing and recording since his earliest days in music. Currently playing both Lead Guitar in the ‘Classic Rock band ‘Stormfront’.
In addition, Rick offers private lessons for guitar and music theory in his own teaching studio. Furthermore, Rick plays guitar in Praise and Worship bands around the Lower Keys Christian community.
Rick was born in Pensacola, Florida and grew playing guitar along the Florida Gulf Coast, including local hot-spots on the beach, juke joints in Mississippi and night clubs in the famed New Orleans French Quarter.
Rick was a member of the Woodham High School marching band playing snare drum, tom-toms, and playing all of the percussion that had notes (tympani, tubular bells, marimba, bells). Rick also played guitar in the award winning Woodham Jazz ensemble. From there, Rick briefly attend Pensacola Junior College where he studied with Dr. Robert Whitmore who urged Rick to transfer to either North Texas State, University of Miami or Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
Rick is a graduate of Berklee College of Music earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition. Rick has performed in many local and regional touring acts. Twice in the 1980s, Rick was guitarist and musical director for the Sixties Recording Artist Johnny Thunder (“Here we go Loop de Loop”). Rick has played guitar in local, regional and national acts, international symphonic orchestras and a release from his 2001 Album ‘Life is for the Living’ spent 4 weeks as the number one tune on Jazz Tune at SoundClicks.com.
From 2010 – 2020 was guitarist and founding member of the regionally renowed Groove Therapy, playing funk and dancing music for fans and audiences from the Bahamas throughout the South East United States. For Three years they had a house gig at the Downbeat Magazine’s recognized 100 best Jazz venues.
In 2012 and 2013 Rick was on loan to the World Renown Mantovani Orchestra as their principle Guitarst.