An outstanding career musician, Rick discusses working with the Circus...

Rick Morton has been playing music since he was ten years old. His musical story started when a grade school music teacher walked into his classroom and announced "anyone interested in playing a stringed instrument, go with me." He followed and chose the violin because his oldest brother played one. Rick has been studying the violin since elementary school and doesn't have a favorite style of music and likes most all of it. In addition to the fiddle, he took up the mandolin and guitar in 1976.

Working with the “Circus” is part teacher, parent, and referee. We gather our musical ideas and material from what’s “out there”, then settle on a style we think fits our “Circus” sound…which is a little different and has a unique feel, I think.

When Rick is not working with or traveling with the Circus, when time allows, he plays with several bands and enjoys spending time with his family. He also has a serious head fiddle collection too and enjoys his great companion and guard dog, Axel Van Ruun House.

Rick has given numerous private music lessons for many years and also had the privilege of taking fiddle music to the public schools in a program entitled, “Harwelden, Artists-in-the-Schools.” Along with good friends and fellow musicians, Shelby Eicher and Mark Brunner, they presented the program about 40 times a year.

Career Highlights

The “Rockin’ Acoustic Circus” is privileged to have such a fine musical influence, teacher and leader in Rick Morton. He is certainly not new to the world of acoustic music. In 1988, he and Ronnie Dunn (of the famous country hit duo, “Brooks & Dunn”) won first place in the national “Marlboro Talent Round-up Contest” held in Nashville, TN. In 1989, he toured and played with Ricky Skaggs, George Strait and Kathy Mattea. In 1994, Rick recorded with the “Tractors,” whose country music CD sold over 3 million copies. Prior to taking on his role as "Ringmaster" for the Circus, Rick had a large student base, giving private instruction in fiddle, violin, mandolin, guitar and electric guitar.