RICKY WHITLEY

Ricky Whitley and seven other writers created the first songwriter’s festival at the FloraBama that eventually turned into the Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Festival, the worlds’ largest songwriter’s festival. He was featured on the Whitmer Thomas HBO comedy special “The Golden One”, filmed live in the BamaDome at the FloraBama. The special featured a song written by Ricky, Jude Hammock, and Jenny Thomas called “He’s Hot”. HBO producers that came in from Hollywood liked and are interested  in releasing Ricky’s pitch film, which he stars in, “Dark Ridge the Movie” filmed in North Carolina. The original song, “Up To Date” written with co-writer Bjorn Nilsen was nominated for a Grammy on LDM Radio in New York City, NY. It was in the top 10 of the top 100 songs on LDM Radio charts.  Both “Up To Date” and “Cool Sailing”, also written with Bjorn, are on the charts in Norway, Ireland and worldwide radio. 

Original creator of Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Festival, World Canoe Association. He is known as the Canoe Guru.  He’s a movie actor, comedian, and Star of HBO Television. He likes to perform acoustic Delta Blues and old country blues music. The Real "Americana" music.

A singer, songwriter, musician, and entertainer: he has performed with Johnnie Shines, John Prine, Bobby Rush, Jimmy Hall, Jimmy Buffet, Gatemouth Brown, Warren Haynes, Allen Woody, Tom Darby (his uncle), and Jimmy Tarleton. 

He is a public speaker and author of his memoirs, "The History of Music on the Gulf Coast"/”The Old FloraBama.”

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