Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Rix (ricks Legal Last Name). We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michael , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
How I discovered my own personal resilience :
I discovered my own personal resilience by facing my true and original story. Telling the truth about your struggle is often very hard. Its hard because we want people to see us based on our successes. It’s like we are always flashing the sexiest and coolest parts of our resume so as no not show our broken parts.
Sadly, I did this early on in my life trying to survive and access opportunities that I thought would be kept from me if I told my real story.
As a kid i grew up on a faith healing Televangelist style cult/church that didnt believe in medication or medical intervention.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As I mentioned earlier, I grew up in a cult.
This story tells my tragedy to triumph story and how it ultimately created so many opportunities for me to serve and uplift others and discover my resliance and help other see it in there own story.
From age 11-14 I suffered medical neglect. My parents unfortunately desired to express religious devotion and “we are doing good for the world” because we are following these strict dogmatic teachings.
After not receiving medical treatment for my severe asthma for almost 3 years. My youngest brother who was 6months old at that the time suffered Meningitis and ultimately passed away due to not receiving treatment. As my father was so intent on following the doctrine of Hobart Freeman pastor of the cult organization Faith Assembly who did not believe in medicine.
It was during this time that I got my first guitar. I discovered country music style CCM artist Susan Ashton and renowned guitarist now world class producer Dan Huff as well as the songwriting of Wayne Kirckpatrick writer of Change the World by Eric Clapton.
Hearing her sing these really reflective deep emotional country like songs which played on Christian radio and later lesting to the audio recordings on my headphones. I was inspired to put my feelings and emotions on paper with my own songwriting. Little by little I learned to play guitar and make my escape from the pain of my bothers lost and my own internal trauma. My parents were prosecuted and my loving Grandma Sue came and took myself and 6 othe brothers & sisters back (from indiana) to Ohio our original family location. She took custody of us and got us our medical attention.
As kept learning guitar chords on the guitar I bought from my buddy down the street in the trailer park were we lived. I soon had a notebook full of songs I had written,
I continued to listen to other artists like Gospel artists like Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, country artists like Brooks and Dunn, George Strait, influences of rock from Def Leopard & Alanis Morrisette, R&B from arists like Baby Face & Boys II Men continued to open my ear to all kinds of sounds.
Fast forward to making the move to Nashville a little over 10 years ago. I moved there to follow my dream as a country music artist. Thankfully i was introduced to clinical counseling and with the help of Life Coaching deep spiritual therapies and medical intervention. My asthma drastically reduced as I healed the mental truama that was influencing my physical condition,
in 2018 I put my story of mental & medical healing journey in a book called From Cult to Country (An Asthmatic’s Journey to Find More Air). This was my moment of transformation. I began to see that my pain was not for nothing but that it actually impowred me and gave me divine purpose and a reason to see my struggle as ultimately giving ‘ How tos” a tool belt as it were of resources and skills which i describe in my book.
My message is now expressed as Nothing you have experienced is wasted. That your worst pain is now your greatest tool to accomplish your highest good and greatest goals and dreams. Your pain is now being turned into power to work for you and not against you.
It was when I wrote my book that I realized by story of resilience and the battles I had faced had only knocked by down but could not ultimately knock me out.
I continued writing songs and deepening my own healing journey by telling my escape story . These songs are songs of hope and strength and joy. My desire is to continue my journey of encouragement for others who when hearing my story can believe that they too can overcome their own personal challenges with their own resilience!
Here are some my most recent successs projects.
In 2016 I picked up the banjo and discovered an entire new approach to songwriting and performing. I am now working with my music in a whole new way!
Performances with War and Treaty. Zach Bryan’s Quittin Time Tour at Crypto Arena – 2 nights of 20,000 fans each night. With Ian Munsick at Red Rocks 10,000 fans , Carolina Country Fest 2024 5,000 fans, CMA Fest 70,000 fans 2024.
Michael has been seen by millions on national TV, the cowboy channel & on the Bank of America Ken Burns Documentary with Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show (writer of Darius Ruckers Wagon Wheel),
NATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVALS
Pilgrimage Festival in 2022 & 2023. In 2023 Michael opened the festival event attended by 60,000 and dazzled by the Black Crowes Ashley Mcbryde, Zach Brian, the War and Treaty and many others.
Blackberry Jam Festival -2000 people attended his set as opener for Rebecca Frazier Bluegrass & Flat Picker & Guitar sensation John McLaughlin 2022 & 2023
Opened London Fashion Week 2023 with renowned eco fashion designer Jeff Garner. The 1st country music artist to perform at the Burlington Arcade for the fashion runway show. During this event the Robert Redford sponsored documentary Let Them Be Naked was filmed featuring Jeff Garner’s fashions. Michael appeared in the Doc with Jeff & Famous Actor Gerald Butler(Den of Thieves 2025 movie).
Michael closed the New York Fashion Week 2025 event with Jeff Garner at Fashion Institute of Technology at the Justice Film Festival February 12, 2025. Which will showcase the Premiere of the now finished eco & sustainable fashions “Let Them Be Naked” Documentary now having won multiple international film festival awards and is in theatres worldwide.
My most recent banjo country studio album called “I Can See the Sun ” was most recently featured on national tv’s The Rock and Review with Eric Dahl . Acts such as Dolly Parton Garth Brooks, Bonjovi and many others are regularly interviewed on this show.
My Album:
My book From Cult to Country”
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
in 2018 I put my story of mental & medical healing journey in a book called From Cult to Country (An Asthmatic’s Journey to Find More Air). This was my moment of transformation. I began to see that my pain was not for nothing but that it actually impowred me and gave me divine purpose and a reason to see my struggle as ultimately giving ‘ How tos” a tool belt as it were of resources and skills which i describe in my book.
My message is now expressed as Nothing you have experienced is wasted. That your worst pain is now your greatest tool to accomplish your highest good and greatest goals and dreams. Your pain is now being turned into power to work for you and not against you.
It was when I wrote my book that I realized by story of resilience and the battles I had faced had only knocked by down but could not ultimately knock me out.
I continued writing songs and deepening my own healing journey by telling my escape story . These songs are songs of hope and strength and joy. My desire is to continue my journey of encouragement for others who when hearing my story can believe that they too can overcome their own personal challenges with their own resilience!
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes I am looking for collaborative opportunities.
Here are a few of the artists I’d love to collaborate with:
Keith Urban, Jelly Roll, Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra, Dolly Parton, Bonjovi., Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, Keb Mo’
Darius Rucker, Edwin McCain, Walker Hayes, David Grohl of Foo Fighters ….. this will have to do for now cause I could keep going LOL!
Companies :
Chevy, Ford, John Deer, Jeep, Wrangler, Tractor Supply, and Buccees.
Shout to my current collaboration with Recording King Banjos! I am endorsed by their Dirty Thirties (depression era )brand of 5 string banjos.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://michaelrix.com
- Instagram: michaelrixbanjo
- Facebook: michaelrixbanjo
- Linkedin: Michael Ricks
- Twitter: iammichaelrix
- Youtube: michaelrixbanjo
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@michaelrixbanjo
Image Credits
Photo by Scott Infante
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
