Biography of Rick Revel

Rick Revel not only loves history, he lives it everyday literally becoming the characters he reveres who have shaped our history. Revel has painstakingly researched down to authentic period clothing, hair, and subtle vocal intonation for each character. Extensively drawing from biographies, autobiographies, letters, and historic texts. He convincingly portrays George Washington, David Crockett, Wild Bill Hickok, and heroic Confederate soldier Tod Carter who died in the Battle of Franklin, TN. A native of Paris, TN Revel grew up on a farm working cattle and horses, logging with his dad, and dreaming of being the next singing cowboy. “If Gene Autry could do it, I figured I could too, “ he remembers laughing. His mom played piano, wrote songs, and the Revel house was filled with the sounds of Johnny Horton, Porter Wagoner, Gene Autry, and the Western Theater.

He started doing Wild Bill Hickok when he was only 19 and for 3 1/2 years worked at Loretta Lynn’s Hurricane Mills Dude Ranch singing and acting in gunfights. One day Moony saw him play at one of the campfires and said, “You need to meet Mama.” Thus began a life long friendship with the Lynn family. “Loretta used to fix me bologna or ham sandwiches and I’d sit in her kitchen and we’d visit.” Moony used to love to show me his horses. He’d cross Belgium draft horses with mules and sit at the kitchen table with binoculars watching them for hours. He was so proud of those horses,” Rick remembers fondly. Encouraged by the Lynn’s and audiences response, gradually Rick began to research and develop other characters putting together a show combining historical readings and his self penned music.

In his own unique way, Revel brings history alive especially for the thousands of young people who have seen his shows at school assemblies across the country. “The overall response has been overwhelming and really inspiring to see people get excited about history and remind them about patriotism,” says Revel. “People tell me that my shows have raised the awareness of patriotism and inspired them to trace their own family tree. It’s very gratifying to me.”

Revel has also hosted his own syndicated talk/entertainment/music variety television show, which aired throughout TN and KY. He has also had success on the positive Christian country charts with his songs reaching peaks at #4,5,10, and 19.  While he is truly a Tennessean, Rick’s goal is to take his love of patriotism, history, and music to the rest of the country and even internationally with a multi media celebration.

    

Rick on the set of Music City Today with
country legend Charlie Pride.