Rick Chelew
Rick was born in 1952 and grew up in California. At eight he learned ukulele chords, at nine he had his first guitar, at 12 his first gig. At 15, Rick discovered Bert and has been in love with the music ever since. In February ’69, he met Bert – and the rest of Pentangle – at the Troubadour in LA, following them to San Francisco where they treated him like an honoured guest. Rick then spent two months following Pentangle up and down in Britain, staying with the band at times. In the early 1980s, Rick and his brother put Bert into a little studio in Los Angeles with Albert Lee and a sympathetic rhythm section and ‘Heartbreak’ was born. Rick continues to perform professionally on guitar & vocals, and also the upright bass.
Fresh as a Sweet Sunday Morning
and describes his relationship with Bert
Rick says “Bert has had (and continues to have) a significant impact on my life, both musically and otherwise, unlike anyone else I’ve encountered. It was such an unexpected blessing to be befriended by my guitar hero, seemingly right out of the blue, back when I was just 16. And who knew this encounter would be a thread that would continue for 50 years! It was so great to hear him playing as good as ever, when invited me to one of his last shows in the US, opening for Neil Young, and to experience Bert sober and with an open heart, with his wife he obviously deeply loved at his side, both of them involved in battles for their lives, but still loving life and treating the world to this unique, totally unself-conscious style of playing and singing.”
“Perhaps the most important thing I learned from Bert is his commitment to authenticity. All his influences when filtered through the soul of Bert, dissolved to become the sound of Bert Jansch, which is like none other. I think 80 Plays is a very unusual, clever and ingenious concept and a great way to honour Bert and his legacy. I’m so glad to be part of it.” Rick also played his own composition It Could be An Antelope on the 80 Plays TransAcoustic guitar against the scenic backdrop of Monterey Bay.
Rick is pictured below with Tommy Emmanuel perusing the notes in the diary travelling with the guitar, with Bert in London (taken in 1979) and in California.
