BIO: MICHAEL RIX 

BANJO COUNTRY ARTIST, SONGWRITER, AUTHOR, ACTOR, CULT SURVIVOR

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Michael Rix "Ricks" is an American banjo country artist and author in Nashville. He is best known for his skills as a banjo player and is recognized throughout the country. Ricks is the author of the book From Cult to Country: An Asthmatic’s Journey to Find More Air.

You’ve probably seen him in the Bank of America National marketing campaign of Ken Burns PBS “Country Music” (currently airing).

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Spend five minutes with Michael Rix and two things become clear: He is no stranger to hardship and hard work. And, he is the most unique banjo player in country music today. Many words describe him. Take your pick: Country Songwriter. Gifted vocalist.

Multi- instrumentalist. Cult survivor. Actor. 

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Author. Banjo enthusiast. Mentor. Proud American.  He has become well known in Nashville music circles since here a little over 10 years ago. He chuckles at the occasional quizzical looks he receives from listeners not accustomed to seeing a black banjo player performing country music. * knew I was different when I arrived in town," he states.

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"No one else playing the local bars and songwriter's rounds looked or sounded like me. Banjo players are hard to come by and typically aren't the lead instrument". Lots of prayer and gut instinct told him he was home; and, that it was time to bring the banjo out of the shadows to center stage.

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In 1990 a teenaged Michael Rix watched in silent horror as his baby brother was allowed to die by cult member parents who believed modern medicine was of the devil. His life had become increasingly bizarre since his parents withdrew from society and carried their children with them. In addition to eschewing all modern conveniences, Michael and his siblings performed manual labor around their secluded farm. Prayer was the only medication allowed, and Michael struggled to breathe daily due to having a severe case of asthma. Realizing he could suffer a similar fate to his baby brother, he mustered up the courage to tell his father he would leave one day and never return. When that day finally came, he stepped out on faith into a life of freedom, and never looked back!

 

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