Lucky for those who have the chance to hear Nick Riley perform, humble beginnings have no bearing on the amount of talent or stage presence an individual possesses. Never was that case more true than in that of Nick Riley. Born in Minneapolis in July of 1978, once he hit age 5, he was pretending to play guitar with anything that bore a slight resemblance, including the family broom. Finally at the age of 12, his mom bought him his first guitar....
Lucky for those who have the chance to hear Nick Riley perform, humble beginnings have no bearing on the amount of talent or stage presence an individual possesses. Never was that case more true than in that of Nick Riley. Born in Minneapolis in July of 1978, once he hit age 5, he was pretending to play guitar with anything that bore a slight resemblance, including the family broom. Finally at the age of 12, his mom bought him his first guitar..and he blew his first amp the very night. From that point on, it was evident to him, that there was something to be discovered in the strumming of the strings. Inspired by those such as SRV, Buddy Guy, Santana, and the Allman Bros, by age 17 his passion for music led him to make big plans to move to Austin and pursue his career . But just before those plans materialized he was introduced to a dynamic band that offered him the opportunity to hone his skills playing and writing rock, gospel, blues, jazz and funk. For a young musician this was an invaluable opportunity to learn from a group of seasoned musicians with a lifetime of experience and a solid foundation of musical influence. During the 10 years he spent as a member of this band they toured all across the country playing for audiences in all types of venues ranging from small storefront churches to the State Theater in downtown Minneapolis, MN.
That time brought him to a valuable realization that if he wanted the type of career in music that he hoped for that he would need to step back and refine what he really wanted his musical future to look like. For the past two years, he has been on a self imposed hiatus and willingly traded in the crowds for the opportunity to perfect his songwriting skills and developing his vocal talent in preparation for that big opportunity that lies just around the corner. That patience, experience, and talent are about to converge in the form of a talented guitarist who imparts such heart and passion into his performances that the audience can’t help but feel the heart and feeling behind the performance down to their very souls.
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