Dedicated to my friend and fellow musician Rick Strong.
Thanks to everyone who made Rick’s dream become a reality.
I had the pleasure of playing in Rick’s band Strongwall for about 4 years. During this time we played all around the Toronto, London, Peterborough and even Timmins areas. I was introduced to many great musicians and had the chance to jam with them. This was truly a fantastic experience and I learned so much.
I eventually moved back to Windsor and kept in touch with Rick. We began working together on music for an album, sending cassette tapes back and forth between Windsor and Toronto, exchanging ideas and building on songs. The ideas we had started to take shape, and eventually we were set to record with more songs than we thought.
In 1984 we started recording at KINCK studios. Again I had the pleasure to work with some of the musicians that Rick introduced me to earlier. Travelling back and forth from Windsor to Toronto for these sessions was an experience that I will never forget. The recording sessions ran smoothly with Fred Petersen engineering. The first album was taking shape quickly and as we were putting on the final touches, we were already thinking about the next phase which was album number two.
All together we ended up with four original albums and one “best of” album. We started in 1984 and our last release was in 1991.
My only wish is that Rick Strong could be here now to see how much people enjoy his music.
Some special notes from Rick Strong, written inside the album covers.
From: R&R Dinosaur
Thanks to all the people that helped make a dream become reality. It took 25 years for these albums to be made, but with the quality of the people and the musicians that helped, it finally came into being. These albums in record form, have now been sent to 68 countries, all 50 states, 10 provinces, and 2 territories.
And it is only the beginning!
Love always, Rick Strong
From: Dinosaur Tracks
The R&R Dinosaur travelled the world, and was well received by all. Landing in 68 countries and all 50 states, I can only hope that Dinosaur Tracks will be welcomed in the same manner, and maybe? we will finally get some recognition from the music industry as a whole, and the Canadian industry in particular. That would be the culmination of my dreams, and quest, since I started writing music so many years ago!
If not, then I will at least have had the satisfaction and pleasure to have written all these songs, working with all these talented professionals, and recording 5 albums of my own music! Hope you enjoy the finished product.
Love always, Rick Strong
From: In the Middle Of the Road
I have been involved in the music industry since 1959 and I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the business! I have recorded and performed on stage with some of the best musicians in the world starting with Don Triano, Elliot Feldman, and all the way up to Ben Mink, Allanah Myles, Rheal Lanthier and my music partner Rick Stanczuk, plus many more too numerous to name. I wrote most of the music and words on the albums, but Fred Petersen and Rick Stanczuk arranged and played the songs, and brought them to life in ways that I never dreamed of! Hope you enjoy the music as much as we do!
Love always, Rick Strong
From: This is Country?
When I was a young boy, my uncle Gord played guitar and sang country music at all of our family gatherings. My aunt Betty and uncle Bill gave me my two most cherished and favourite toys, a record player and a small guitar, on which I played and loved the Blues and old Rock & Roll. With these influences I always loved all types of music. So, for my mother, my uncles, and my aunt, and all the rest of the family that cared enough to point me in a direction, I dedicate this music to you!
Love always, Rick Strong
