But if your Holiday heart is yearning for the unplugged sounds of the acoustic guitar, plucked harmonics, lush fingerpicking, and mellow solo and ensemble vocals…unencumbered by the distractions of synthesizers, electric guitars and full-blown orchestral arrangements…then your wait may be over.

“Acoustically Christmas” is a genuinely acoustic collection of classic Christmas selections of faith, tastefully arranged and recorded to give you and yours, year after year of timeless Seasonal soundtracking.

A collection of music from award-winning, Folk & Country singer-songwriter Ricky Fitzpatrick, “Acoustically Christmas” marks the high point in his career, captivating fans around the world with his relaxing guitar and a mellow baritone that’s sure to warm you when the December temperatures begin to drop.

"It’s my prayer that God won't see me in these recordings. But that He'll look at me and my choices and my offering, through the blood of Christ, and find me worthy to stand and sing these songs, having Him and His purpose in mind", says Fitzpatrick. "And that my foolish shortcomings of the past year won’t hinder the awesome power of His great mercy and enduring love, as people hear me singing of Him in this music."

Fresh arrangements of songs like “Little Drummer Boy” will wow you as Fitzpatrick coaxes perfectly played drum & percussion sounds from nothing less than, his guitar. The haunting acapella “O’ Come Emmanuel” is chilling in its majesty as you hear layer upon layer of voice upon voice. And visions of James Taylor arise like an old friend, in renditions of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” and “The First Noel”.

Please go to http://www.rickyfitzpatrick.com/music-67.html to listen to a sample of “What Child Is This”, and learn how to order “Acoustically Christmas” online today, with no payment until the official street date of November 5.

Hear for yourself and bring home “Acoustically Christmas” for you, or as a gift for someone special. And have a very Merry Christmas!

###

My hope is that these will be great additions to families' Holiday activities, either around the house, at church, in the car or wherever you have Christmas stuff happening.

"What Child Is This", one of the cuts is already up on the music page (http://www.rickyfitzpatrick.com/music-67.html). I hope everyone is able to go check it out and give me a pre-release report. :)

I'll be recording the CD in The Junk Room studio at our home in Apple Valley and stretching my legs as I wade a little deeper into the mastering process. For the most part, it will continue to be me on all the vocals and instrumentation. But there will be a few special guests here and there (that's all I have to say about that).

And we'll be releasing it around mid to late October. Digitally, it will be in all the big spots...CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, Napster, eMusic, Rhapsody and so on. Physical CD sales, which are becoming more and more overshadowed by MP3s, will be handled directly through me. More on that, coming up though.

Not much else to report yet, but stay tuned and I'll be sure to pass along all new developments as they happen.

Thanks!

Ricky

Not much has been said recently about the Soulfood Music CD that I’ve been so privileged to have songs on. But I just saw that "Guitar Meditations Vol. 3" is in the TOP TEN on Echoes…a nationally syndicated radio program! Now THAT is awesome!

For a list of one of the 130 stations, nationwide, that play Echoes in your area, go to http://www.echoes.org/stattime.html.

And check out GM3 if you haven’t yet at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/guitar-meditations-vol-3/id370454599 (I’m tracks 4 and 10).

Thanks!- RF

May 15, 2010

Georgia Supergroup of Country, Bluegrass and Christian Artists to Record Hurricane Shoals Song

Jefferson, GA – Hurricane Shoals Park is a North Georgia landmark for the people in and around Jackson, Banks and Madison Counties and beyond. For decades, parents and children alike have trekked to the unique spot where the cold waters of the North Oconee River run fast and shallow over vast expanses of exposed granite.

The park is also home to the historic Heritage Village, a working grist mill, one of the few remaining covered bridges in the state, the annual Art in the Park festival, an outdoor amphitheatre and a variety of picnic and play areas available for play, relaxation and special events like weddings, parties and family reunions.

It’s no secret to the music loving public and industry, that North Georgia has always been a hotbed of musical talent. Countless award-winning artists have emerged from the foothills of the North GA mountains area, dozens continuing on the become staples and even legends in popular music.

It is that well-known and respected, collective pool of musical talent that is responsible for the Down By the Waters Edge fund raising project, aimed at raising funds for the park’s never-ending laundry list of additions, upkeep, maintenance, repairs and day to day activities.

In true small-town, Southern fashion, a veritable Supergroup of successful musicians from the Country, Bluegrass and Christian genres, and all who hail from the North Georgia area, are joining artistic forces this Summer, to record a song that they will donate to the Hurricane Shoals Park.

“Down By the Water’s Edge”, a song written specifically for the project by Christian Folk artist and songwriter Ricky Fitzpatrick, will be recorded this Spring and made available for sale to the public, this Fall.

The song will feature guest vocals and instrumental work from an All-Star artist roster that is slated to include Fitzpatrick, Mark Garrison & the members of Bluebilly Grit, Wayne Baird, Dustin Wilkes, T. Graham Brown and John Berry. And according to Fitzpatrick, who is also organizing the entire project, “We have other artists on the list who just haven’t thrown-in yet, so I expect a couple more surprise additions before it’s all said and done.”

The recording expertise and studio time is also being donated by producer and studio owner Lee Davis at Lee Davis Studios in Maysville, GA. Davis who has produced more than 50 independent albums and worked with everyone from Corey Smith and John Berry to Joe Diffie and Billy Dean, will be recording and producing the project.

The song will be debuted September 17 at the annual Art in the Park festival, held in the Hurricane Shoals Park. At that time, Fitzpatrick will officially present the members of the Tumbling Waters Society (the non-profit fund raising arm for the park) with the song, and with 100% of its publishing rights, so they may collect royalties on its sale and use “in perpetuity”, he says. “We want every penny of the money raised by this song to go directly to the park and its activities.”

“Down By the Water’s Edge” will be available September 10, 2010 as a digital download via iTunes, Amazon.com and other reputable digital retailers. Information on the song or on other means of purchasing the song, can be found on the Down By the Water’s Edge Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-By-the-Waters-Edge-A-Song-for-Hurricane-Shoals/120342641310994.

# # #

Story by Jaclyn Weldon White

Now we come to the

second and final installment—

or shall we say the

final verse—of the Jackson

County Sound series in

Living Jackson.

Ricky Fitzpatrick has been

performing professionally

for about 20 years. The

musician, who lives with his family in

Apple Valley, started out playing the

guitar and singing popular songs of the

day in Athens bars and clubs.

“All the songs people love to drink

to,” he said with a smile.

He always considered his style to be

folk, but just about everyone seemed to

think of him as a country singer.

“It’s because I talk with such a

at Southern drawl,” he said.

But Fitzpatrick wasn’t satisfied just

covering other people’s songs. More

and more he crafted his own compositions,

many of which were about life,

people and places in and around Jackson

and Madison counties.

When he began performing it, his

own work was well received, not only

locally, but around the country. He

even performed at New York’s Apollo

Theater. Soon afterwards, Fitzpatrick

decided that he’d only perform his

own music. The decision was met with

mixed reactions. It wasn’t popular in

the bar scene, but he soon found new

audiences in coffee houses, libraries

and bookstores.

In 2009 Fitzpatrick decided to re

cord a gospel CD, taking a collection of

gospel songs and hymns and recording

them in his own folk-influenced style.

It wasn’t a big stretch for a man who’d

actually studied for the ministry in his

youth, but he freely admits the move

was originally based on business. He

knew that the Christian market was a

prosperous one. However, the acceptance

of his new work was overwhelming

and what started as a business

decision rapidly became a life-changing

passion.

“A few months ago,” he said, “I

announced I’ll only be doing Christian

material from here out.”

Fitzpatrick is one of the founders of

The Healing Power of Music, a group of

over 300 musicians—including James

Taylor, Amy Grant and the Imagination

Movers—who take the gift of live

musical performances to hospitals and

nursing homes.

He has a new CD in the works and

appearances scheduled in bookstores,

libraries and at area Relays for Life this

spring. In the fall, he’ll be appearing at

Art in the Park where he’ll donate his

song “Hurricane Shoals” to the Tumbling

Waters Society.

###

The Jackson County Sound concludes

with this installment. In the

words of an old-time song, however,

“ … the melody lingers on,” and there

will be more music in this magazine.

Let the editor know if there are other

Jackson County musicians who should

be featured.

Jaclyn Weldon White is the author of

a number of fiction, nonfiction and

children’s books who resides in Hoschton

with her husband Carl.

(The remainder of this article, photos and credits can all be enjoyed for FREE by picking up a copy of Living Jackson magazine at one of any number of local businesses.

For more information on Living Jackson magazine and/or the availability of this issue (April 2010), you can call their offices at 706-367-7761.

And for station or channel info, or for more on the Atlanta Live show, check them out at http://www.watc.tv/atlanta_live.htm.

Please pass the word!

In Christ,

Ricky

3-10-2010

Jefferson, GA - One of the most revered names in music to any guitarist, amateur or virtuoso, is without question, Martin guitars.

C. F. Martin and Co. is arguably the most prominent brand in the world for acoustic guitars, with an endorsing artist family that includes Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffett, Arlo Guthrie, Merle Haggard, John Mayer, Sting and dozens of other musical legends and household names.

March 2010 marks the addition of Martin’s latest endorsing artist, Folk & Christian singer/songwriter Ricky Fitzpatrick.

“This is undoubtedly a high point in my musical career”, he comments. “I’ve used Martin products for many, many years and am extremely humbled and proud to be associated with them as an artist this way.”

Critics have long hailed Fitzpatrick as "the next James Taylor", with a voice that's "as smooth as moonshine".  But he is best known locally, for his narrative Folk songs about the area. Songs like “Pocataligo”, “Jot ‘Em Down” and “Highway 98” have established him and his writings as a fixture for lovers of local music and nostalgia.

His musical career spans over 20 years, in pop, rock, country, folk and Christian genres, performances from “Live at the Apollo” to The Bluebird Café, and over a dozen industry awards for vocal performance and songwriting. He’s also recently celebrated two Number One downloads in the UK, was named as one of the Top Ten Folk artists on Myspace and was chosen as the 2008 GMIA Writer Relations Director for the State of GA.

In addition to his own musical work, Ricky also runs two of his own record labels (F2 Records and RFM Music Group), posts regular offerings to his online devotional blog (http://besidemeallalong.blogspot.com/) and still maintains an active schedule with the charitable organization that he helped to found, The Healing Power of Music.

His latest CD, “Beside Me All Along” is a collection of acoustic, unplugged versions of some of the most timeless inspirational hymns and Holiday songs ever written. Fans of artists like Wes King, Bebo Norman, and of course, James Taylor will find it familiar territory.

For more information on the music of Ricky Fitzpatrick, please visit him online at www.rickyfitzpatrick.com.

# # #

Even so, please add this show to your list of regular prayers and lift it (and me) up, asking for God’s blessing on the evening. With your prayers and God's hand, I know it will be wonderful!

And please spread the word to your friends and invite them to come too. I’ve been suggesting to a lot of local churches to make a “pre-Sunday night” of it and get a whole group to come. You can do the same thing too…let your pastor, music minister or youth leader know. And tell them to feel free to contact me for details and help.

Thanks again and I can’t wait to see you there! Til then…In Christ,

Ricky

Moby has been such a friend and I’m so grateful anytime he plays a song of mine on the air.  I’m about to email him a great big thank you. And if you want to, you can drop him a quick “thanks” too.

Here’s his contact info:

EMAIL: moby@mobyinthemorning.com 

PHONE: 1-888-MOBY-USA

WEBSITE: http://www.mobyinthemorning.com/index.cfm

ONLINE COMMENTS: http://www.mobyinthemorning.com/contact.cfm

And thank YOU!!!

Ricky

Deut 31:6

Very cool.

ReverbNation has been one of my favorite artist sites for a long, long time. But I never used them much. Lately though, they’re really stepping it up and providing us with some great formats for showcasing our music, shows, press and so on.

Take a sec and check it out at http://www.reverbnation.com/rickyfitzpatrick. And if you can, become A FAN and RATE A SONG as you listen to it.

Thank you!!! RF