Rickey Medlocke's performing career began at the tender age of three, when his grandfather, Shorty Medlocke, a renowned Delta blues musician, brought him along to perform on a local television program, "The Toby Dowdy Show". As a miniature banjo player, Rickey accompanied his grandfather on air and at live shows, and his musical talents and natural abilities continued to grow. By the age of five, he had taught himself to play the guitar, and by eight, he was playing drums in his grandfather's band at local dances and auditoriums.
As Rickey's passion for music and performing intensified, he began to excel at playing other instruments, including the mandolin, dobro, keyboards, and particularly the guitar. He also developed a melodic singing voice, teaching himself how to sing and play guitar simultaneously.
During his high school years, Rickey caught the acting bug, performing in school productions of shows like "West Side Story", "Oklahoma", and "Brigadoon". After graduating, he formed a band with his childhood friends, Blackfoot, named after their Native American heritage. The band gained traction in southern Florida, and Rickey eventually joined Lynyrd Skynyrd, playing drums and sometimes singing and writing with the band.
However, Rickey's true calling was as a lead guitarist and primary songwriter, which led him to rejoin Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1996. Since then, the band has enjoyed a major resurgence, selling almost 40 million albums worldwide.
In addition to his music career, Rickey has also pursued acting, making his debut in the film Groom Lake (2002),and appearing in TV shows, films, print ads, and radio commercials. In his spare time, he is working on a book about his music career and a solo album.
