Rick Florian
Encyclopedia
Rick Florian is a musician
, songwriter
and producer
, most known for being the lead singer of Contemporary Christian Music
rock band Whiteheart
since 1986. He currently lives in Franklin, Tennessee
with his wife, Lisa, one of his three sons and his daughter, and works as a real estate agent. Rick still lends his voice to several music projects over the year.
, in 1962, who also graduated from Taylor University
in 1984.
Throughout his tenure with the band, he was praised on several occasions for his clean voice
and excellent performing abilities. He could always find a clever spot to show off his back handspring in each concert. Despite not being a founding member, he became the core of Whiteheart along with Billy Smiley
and Mark Gersmehl
(who's also an Indiana
native, like Florian himself). Florian issued a statement several years ago that the band was only at "a dormant stage", but it is unlikely that they will ever play again in the near future. Florian explained that once Whiteheart's favorite Tour Manager (Bob Sauer) left the group for the pursuit of advanced studies in comedic entertainment in Dec of 1992, the energy simply no longer existed at the same "frenzied" level which is considered crucial to a rock group's ongoing success. Sauer fully accepts the responsibility of expediting the group's demise.
"It was simply too much to ask of the Tour Manager" says Sauer, while fighting back tears. "I loved those guys ... most fun I ever had on the road ... but I firmly believe that the Tour Manager must stoke the frenzy flame ... not create it. I just wasn't the right man for the job, and they didn't seem to know it until it was too late."
called Neverlost.
with Whiteheart, a tradition of using unique spelling
variations of his name for each album began. There is no precise account as to who started it, but it remained up until the last albums of the band. However, it appeared again in the Neverlost album.
The various spellings used have been: Ric, Rikk, Riq, Ricke, Rhic, Rikcq, Ricque. For the record, the correct spelling of his name is simply Rick. Rick has also been known to go by the nickname, "Tubes".
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, most known for being the lead singer of Contemporary Christian Music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
rock band Whiteheart
White Heart
White Heart, also listed as Whiteheart, was a Contemporary Christian Music pop-rock band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl worked with a continually-changing cast...
since 1986. He currently lives in Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
with his wife, Lisa, one of his three sons and his daughter, and works as a real estate agent. Rick still lends his voice to several music projects over the year.
Early life
Florian was born in South Bend, IndianaSouth Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, in 1962, who also graduated from Taylor University
Taylor University
Taylor University is a private, interdenominational, evangelical Christian college located in Upland, Indiana. Founded in 1846, it is one of the oldest evangelical Christian colleges in America....
in 1984.
Whiteheart
Florian was a three-time lighting tech/roadie for the band back in the 80s. When Florian was caught off guard singing and dancing to Whiteheart's songs, he was asked to audition for the open position as the band's vocalist. He got the job and recorded eight studio albums with them.Throughout his tenure with the band, he was praised on several occasions for his clean voice
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
and excellent performing abilities. He could always find a clever spot to show off his back handspring in each concert. Despite not being a founding member, he became the core of Whiteheart along with Billy Smiley
Billy Smiley
Billy Smiley is a music producer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being one of the core members of the Christian rock band White Heart. He was the bands' guitarist, vocalist, and main songwriter since 1982....
and Mark Gersmehl
Mark Gersmehl
Mark “Gersh” Gersmehl is a Christian musician who is best known as one of the founding members of the Christian rock group White Heart. He and guitarist Billy Smiley were the only two original members of the band to stay with White Heart from its conception in 1982 through its disbandment in 1998...
(who's also an Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
native, like Florian himself). Florian issued a statement several years ago that the band was only at "a dormant stage", but it is unlikely that they will ever play again in the near future. Florian explained that once Whiteheart's favorite Tour Manager (Bob Sauer) left the group for the pursuit of advanced studies in comedic entertainment in Dec of 1992, the energy simply no longer existed at the same "frenzied" level which is considered crucial to a rock group's ongoing success. Sauer fully accepts the responsibility of expediting the group's demise.
"It was simply too much to ask of the Tour Manager" says Sauer, while fighting back tears. "I loved those guys ... most fun I ever had on the road ... but I firmly believe that the Tour Manager must stoke the frenzy flame ... not create it. I just wasn't the right man for the job, and they didn't seem to know it until it was too late."
Other recent projects
Florian has worked with Flumpa's World, a children project. He also sang in a project from Whiteheart's founder, Billy SmileyBilly Smiley
Billy Smiley is a music producer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being one of the core members of the Christian rock band White Heart. He was the bands' guitarist, vocalist, and main songwriter since 1982....
called Neverlost.
Name spelling
When Florian released his first albumAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
with Whiteheart, a tradition of using unique spelling
Spelling
Spelling is the writing of one or more words with letters and diacritics. In addition, the term often, but not always, means an accepted standard spelling or the process of naming the letters...
variations of his name for each album began. There is no precise account as to who started it, but it remained up until the last albums of the band. However, it appeared again in the Neverlost album.
The various spellings used have been: Ric, Rikk, Riq, Ricke, Rhic, Rikcq, Ricque. For the record, the correct spelling of his name is simply Rick. Rick has also been known to go by the nickname, "Tubes".