Life & Work with Rick Daum of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Daum.

Rick, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I became serious about playing guitar when I was 15 after I heard Deep Purple and Richie Blackmore. And started playing out live when I was 17 and went out on the road soon after that. When I was in my early twenties I was in a successful local/regional act called Popa Doc. We supported tons of big bands from the era; like Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Kansas, Steve Miller and more. I was also able to work with producers like Eddie Offord and Jeff Glixman. Then I started another successful local Atlanta band called Dreamer. After I got married and had my son, I was in various cover bands throughout the 90s. In the late 2000s I started getting serious about my original music and started recording and releasing music in 2015. My son, who plays drums and I were finally able to lock down a line-up to play live in 2024 and have been playing as much as possible ever since.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being on the road was pretty rough. Traveling in bad vehicles, sleeping in sketchy “band houses”. Living out of my suitcase for almost 13 years of my early career, I was lucky to eat a meal a day. And when I was in cover acts it got a little easier because we were able to have week-long residencies and stay in hotels sometimes. Now a days I’m retired. I work on my music in my studio and get to play out live and make people happy. That has made it all worth it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I make original, instrumental hard rock/riff rock. I’m most known for my lead breaks and guitar solos. I think my approach to music and my ability to take influence from different styles is what sets me apart. I am very proud to able to make music that people enjoy and getting to play out live with my son is an added bonus.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see real music taking a stand. And with AI music being so prevalent, people are fed up and starting to be more interested in physical media. I see a major shift coming in the way people make and consume music.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rickdaum.bandcamp.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickdaummusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095280933215
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/VLiyypeShm8