RICK GWINN
- PERFORMING HISTORY I have been in the entertainment business a long time. Below is a chronology of that history. Clicking on File Record will take you to various photographs and documents which will verify most of this history. Clicking on Original Music will take you to mp3 files of four songs written and recorded by me earlier in my career1959 - 1962 At Swarthmore High School. I was the lead soloist in Mixed Chorus for two years, president of Mixed Chorus my senior year and voted Most Musical in the yearbook
1962, 1963. I did Summer Stock for two years with the Adirondack Festival of Music in Lake George, New York. I played many roles in a wide variety of plays, musicals and shows.
1962 - 1964. I was lead soloist and Master of Ceremonies in the Cape May Capers, a variety show of regional importance held in late August in Cape May, New Jersey.
1962 - 1967. I was enrolled at West Chester State College. I was accepted as music major, later switching to biology. At W.C.S.C. I was in two major productions - playing "Frosh" in "Die Fledermaus" and the lead role of "King Arthur" in "Camelot".
1963. I performed at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia in a small chorus for a benefit performance by regionally known cantor, Sammy Appel. I was also a member of a small summer stock company that performed plays and musicals in the Philadelphia area.
1965. I had composed many original songs and recorded six of these as demos at the 919 Sound Studios on Broad Street in Philadelphia. I auditioned with Philips Records in New York City for a recording contract. I didn't meet their needs at the time - but they considered me. That's a lot farther than most performers get. I met Franki Valli & the Four Seasons during my audition. I still have copies of all my demos.
1966, 1967. I was a guitarist and vocalist in a house rock band that played at the Rainbow Club in Wildwood, New Jersey. Our band was the warm up band for many of the famous R&B acts of the sixties, including James Brown, The Flamingoes, The Soul Brothers Six, etc.
1972-1987. I did solo work as a vocalist at St. Phillips Lutheran Church, the Newark United Methodist Church and I performed as soloist at many wedding ceremonies. I performed as a single guitarist/songstylist under the name of Rick Evans at many local Wilmington Area nightspots. Some of these clubs were: Senator Bill's, Haigie's Tavern, The Hitching Post, The Hide-Away Tavern, The Rebel Cork, The Kent Manor inn, The Barley Mill Pub at the DuPont Country Club, and many others whose names have slipped my mind. I was a regular attraction at the DuPont Country Club for eight years. I had a following of loyal fans at all the clubs I worked. In 1987 I became weary of all the late hours and cigarette smoke and retired from live performing.
1989 - Present (Age 54). I have been a successful mobile disc jockey doing mostly wedding receptions at private banquet rooms in northern Delaware. I am the #1 recommended DJ at many local banquet facilities. Several independent caterers also recommend me as their #1 choice to work with for wedding receptions. File Record