Rick Cua
Encyclopedia
Rick Cua is an American
Dove Award and Grammy Award
-winning Christian rock
singer, songwriter
, bassist
, author
, and ordained minister. He is a former member of the Southern rock
band, Outlaws, whom he joined in 1980, but left in 1983 to pursue a full-time career in Christian contemporary music, the year after, wherein he gained popularity throughout most the 1980s as a leather-jacket-wearing rocker with an arena rock
sound featuring big, shout-along choruses; but upon signing to Reunion
in 1988, his works began to take on a softer, more radio-friendly tone that included "sentimental ballads and pop-rock anthems in the style of Michael Bolton
." Cua left Reunion in 1992, creating his own label, UCA Records, on which he recorded three studio albums in the 1990s but received little radio play. He has been married to Diana since 1970. They have two children, a son-in-law, and a grandson.
Cua took a hiatus from recording in 1998 and went to work as Vice President of the Creative Department at EMI
Christian Music Publishing, where he stayed until 2003. Following that executive stint, Cua became focused on managing his own two companies: Rick Cua Entertainment, which manages artists and works in music publishing, film and TV licensing; and All For The King Music, offering coaching and inspiration to lay
musicians through workshops and free electronic delivery of original worship music.
Celebrating his 25th year in ministry, Cua released his twelfth album, Won't Fade Away, in 2007. It was his first album in ten years.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Dove Award and Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and ordained minister. He is a former member of the Southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band, Outlaws, whom he joined in 1980, but left in 1983 to pursue a full-time career in Christian contemporary music, the year after, wherein he gained popularity throughout most the 1980s as a leather-jacket-wearing rocker with an arena rock
Arena rock
Arena rock is a term used to describe rock music that utilised large arena venues, particularly sports venues, for concerts or series of concerts linked in tours...
sound featuring big, shout-along choruses; but upon signing to Reunion
Reunion Records
Reunion Records is a Christian music record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee and operating under the Provident Label Group. The label was founded in 1982 by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton.-History:...
in 1988, his works began to take on a softer, more radio-friendly tone that included "sentimental ballads and pop-rock anthems in the style of Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton originally performed in the hard rock and heavy metal genres from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s, both on his early solo albums and those recorded as the frontman of the band Blackjack...
." Cua left Reunion in 1992, creating his own label, UCA Records, on which he recorded three studio albums in the 1990s but received little radio play. He has been married to Diana since 1970. They have two children, a son-in-law, and a grandson.
Cua took a hiatus from recording in 1998 and went to work as Vice President of the Creative Department at EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Christian Music Publishing, where he stayed until 2003. Following that executive stint, Cua became focused on managing his own two companies: Rick Cua Entertainment, which manages artists and works in music publishing, film and TV licensing; and All For The King Music, offering coaching and inspiration to lay
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
musicians through workshops and free electronic delivery of original worship music.
Celebrating his 25th year in ministry, Cua released his twelfth album, Won't Fade Away, in 2007. It was his first album in ten years.
Discography
External links
- Rick Cua's Official Website
- CrossRhythms Interview: The Singing, Bass Playing Veteran Who 'Won't Fade Away'
- [ Allmusic.com: Rick Cua]