{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{BLP sources|date=May 2026}} {{under construction}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | honorific_prefix = Sir | name = Ric Steel | image = Ric Steel doing what he does.jpg | image_size = | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|12|02|df=yes}} | birth_place = Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. | death_date = <!--{{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}--> | origin = Memphis | instrument = Acoustic | genre = Country music | occupation = Singer, guitarist, novelist, song writer with major cuts and awards. | years_active = 1962–present | label = Bmi. Panache. | website = http://www.RicSteel.com }}
'''Ric Steel''' (born 2 December 1952) is a Tennessee-based singer, guitarist, author, and patent holding inventor.
==Early life== Born to traveling musicians, Ric hails from Jackson, Mississippi. At age 10, he began singing professionally as the lead in an operatic performance by Gian Carlo Menotti called "Amahl and the Night Visitors."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inentertainment.biz/singers/ricsteel/ricsteel.php |title=In Entertainment.biz |publisher=In Entertainment.biz |accessdate=2014-05-06}}</ref> At 11 years of age he moved with his family to New York, and performed at the New York World's Fair for two years. After that, he went to Belmont College, and it was there in Nashville where he got to perform his music, write for The Oak Ridge Boys, and perform with some of the greatest Nashville stars. Those artists associated with Ric are listed in his biographical information. His most recent major cut as a writer was by Lee Greenwood on the "Wounded Heart" album. The song was called "Who’s that knocking on my heart?“ and "God Bless The USA" was featured on the same disc.
Over his lifetime, Ric has spent 40 years as an accredited, Bmi writer and award winner. Some of his awards include a gold medal from the country of Germany as the best country singer, and an honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. His song, "Love, Work & Money" was also nominated for a Grammy to the New York, Grammy committee but never made it to the Grammy awards televised show as it did not have enough votes country wide to attain that honor.
According to Nashville publishers, Ric is still writing every day and touring the world nine months a year as a featured artist. {{As of|2026}}, he frequently performs on cruise ships such as The Enchanted Princess.
==Musical career== Steel has had two Billboard charted singles, including "The Radio Song" at #57 and "Whose Baby Are You" at #59.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artistecard.com/RicSteel |title=Ric Steel main website International Vocalist / Guitarist / Entertainer |publisher=Artistecard.com |accessdate=2014-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicvf.com/Ric+Steel.art |title=Ric Steel Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts |publisher=Musicvf.com |accessdate=2014-05-06}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Steel, Ric}} Category:1952 births Category:American country guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:Singer-songwriters from Mississippi Category:Singers from Nashville, Tennessee Category:Musicians from Jackson, Mississippi Category:Luther Rice University alumni Category:Singer-songwriters from Tennessee Category:Guitarists from Mississippi Category:Guitarists from Tennessee Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:Country musicians from Tennessee Category:Country musicians from Mississippi Category:20th-century American male musicians