Ricky Ross (musician)
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Richard Alexander Ross (born 22 December 1957) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and broadcaster who is the lead singer of the rock band Deacon Blue. Alongside his discography with Deacon Blue, Ross has released a number of solo albums, his first, '' So Long Ago'' was released in 1984.


Biography


Early life

Ross was born in
Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...
, Scotland, in 1957 and attended the High School of Dundee, an independent school.


Deacon Blue (1987–present)

Ross is a founding member and lead singer of the rock band Deacon Blue. The band released their debut album, '' Raintown'', on 1 May 1987 in the United Kingdom and in the United States in February 1988. Their second album, ''
When the World Knows Your Name ''When the World Knows Your Name'' is the second album by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It was released in 1989 and attained the number 1 chart position in the UK Albums Chart. "Real Gone Kid" was the band's first Top 10 hit single in ...
'' (1989), topped the
UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...
for two weeks, and included " Real Gone Kid" which became their first top ten single in the
UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
. Deacon Blue released their fourth album, ''
Whatever You Say, Say Nothing ''Whatever You Say, Say Nothing'' is the fourth studio album by Scottish rock band Deacon Blue, released in 1993. Changing from producer Jon Kelly to the team of Steve Osborne and Paul Oakenfold, this album presented a change in musical styl ...
'', in 1993. The band split in 1994, following which Vipond began a career in television. Five years later, the band held a reunion gig, and this led on to a new album, ''
Walking Back Home ''Walking Back Home'' is an album by Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue released in 1999. It was their first album since reforming that year after disbanding in 1994. A part studio/part compilation album, it contains nine of their earlier s ...
'', with the band now working on a part-time basis. The band released another album, '' Homesick'', in 2001. Though
Graeme Kelling Graeme Hunter Kelling (4 April 1957 – 10 June 2004) was a Scottish musician and the original guitarist with the Scottish pop band Deacon Blue. Born in Paisley, Scotland, Kelling was brought up in Mount Vernon in the East End of Glasgow and ...
died from
pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of t ...
in 2004, the band has continued and 2006 saw Deacon Blue returning to the studio to record three new tracks for a ''
Singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...
'' album – including the track " Bigger than Dynamite". Deacon Blue's next album was ''
The Hipsters ''The Hipsters'' is the sixth studio album released by Scottish pop group Deacon Blue. The album was released by Demon Music on 24 September 2012, making it their first studio album in eleven years. The album's lead single, "The Hipsters" was ...
'', in 2012. The band released another album, ''
A New House ''A New House'' is the seventh studio album by Scottish rock band Deacon Blue, released on 8 September 2014. The album consists of 11 tracks. Track listing Standard edition Personnel * Ricky Ross — vocals *Lorraine McIntosh — vocals *Jam ...
'', in September 2014. '' Believers'', was released in September 2016. A concert recording of their return to the Barrowlands, Glasgow, was released on 31 March 2017. The band's tenth studio album '' City of Love'' was released on 6 March 2020. In February 2021, they released their eleventh studio album entitled ''
Riding on the Tide of Love ''Riding on the Tide of Love'' is the tenth studio album by Scottish band Deacon Blue released on 5 February 2021. The lead single from the album, the title track "Riding on the Tide of Love", was released on 27 November 2020. Background and re ...
'' to commercial success in both the UK and their native Scotland. As of 2012, Deacon Blue's total album sales stood at six million, with twelve UK top 40 singles, along with two UK number one albums.


Solo work (1984–present)

Before the formation of Deacon Blue, he released a solo album '' So Long Ago'', on the Glasgow independent label Sticky Records. After the band's break-up in 1994, Ross resurrected his solo career and
Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film with heroic elements Epic or EPIC may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and medi ...
released his second solo album '' What You Are'' in 1996. As Ross's first solo album ''So Long Ago'' was a minor release on a relatively minor label, ''What You Are'' became his first solo release on a major label and as such is generally regarded as his debut solo album for a major label. Ross released another album, '' New Recording'', on his own label in 1997. After Deacon Blue's reunion in 1999 and the release of their ''
Walking Back Home ''Walking Back Home'' is an album by Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue released in 1999. It was their first album since reforming that year after disbanding in 1994. A part studio/part compilation album, it contains nine of their earlier s ...
'' and '' Homesick'' albums, Ross entered into a new publishing deal with Warner Chappell UK, and released another solo album, '' This Is the Life'', through
Chrysalis Records Chrysalis Records () is a British record label that was founded in 1968. The name is both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders' names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis. It started as the Ellis-Wright Ag ...
's short-lived Papillion label, in 2002. Papillion had released Deacon Blue's ''Homesick'' album the previous year. As part of his publishing deal with Warner Chappell, Ross began co-writing with other artists. He currently spends more time writing than on his solo career or Deacon Blue projects. To date he has written for and with James Blunt, Ronan Keating,
KT Tunstall Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall (born 23 June 1975) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. She first gained attention with a 2004 live solo performance of her song " Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on '' Later... with Jools Holland''. Th ...
, David Sneddon,
Cathy Burton ''Mirage'' is the fourth studio album by Dutch DJ and record producer Armin van Buuren. It was released on 10 September 2010 by Armada Music, and was preceded by the release of the lead single, " Full Focus" on 24 June 2010. The album features co ...
,
Gareth Gates Gareth Paul Gates (born 12 July 1984) is an English singer-songwriter and actor. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show ''Pop Idol'' in 2002. As of 2008, Gates had sold over 3.5 million records in the UK. He is ...
,
Emma Bunton Emma Lee Bunton (born 21 January 1976) is an English singer, songwriter, actress, and media personality. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Baby Spice. With over 100 million recor ...
, Will Young and Jamie Cullum among others. The most recent solo album released by Ross is ''Short Stories Vol.1'', released in September 2017. In 2005, Ross released the album '' Pale Rider'' through P3 Music. In September 2009 Ross and McIntosh released ''The Great Lakes'', an album on the Cooking Vinyl label, under the name McIntoshRoss. 2013 saw the release of Ricky's latest collection of songs, the 12-track ''Trouble Came Looking'', on the Edsel Recordings label. He also did a wide-ranging UK acoustic tour in support of the album which saw him play small, intimate venues, alongside Gregor Philp. Ross released the album ''Short Stories Vol. 1'' with the label earMUSIC on 15 September 2017. The album incorporates new songs with a mix of Deacon Blue song's such as "Wages Day" and "Raintown".


Other work

Ross currently presents ''Another Country with Ricky Ross'' on BBC Radio Scotland and has covered for Mark Radcliffe, Bob Harris and Dermot O'Leary on
BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 15 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the station broadcasts a wide range of content. ...
. He also occasionally broadcasts for Radio 2 from the yearly Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. For his broadcasting, Ross won the International Country Broadcaster of the Year Award from the
Country Music Association The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre. The objectives of the organization are to guide and enha ...
in 2014. He is also the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Abertay University.


Personal life

Ross is married to Deacon Blue member Lorraine McIntosh and they have four children together. They married on May 12, 1990.


Discography


Solo albums

*'' So Long Ago'' (1984) *'' What You Are'' (1996) *'' New Recording'' (1997) *'' This Is the Life'' (2002) *'' Pale Rider'' (2005) *''Trouble Came Looking'' (2013) *''Short Stories Vol. 1'' (2017) *''Short Stories Vol. 2'' (2022)


with Deacon Blue

* '' Raintown'' (1987) * ''
When the World Knows Your Name ''When the World Knows Your Name'' is the second album by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It was released in 1989 and attained the number 1 chart position in the UK Albums Chart. "Real Gone Kid" was the band's first Top 10 hit single in ...
'' (1989) * ''
Fellow Hoodlums ''Fellow Hoodlums'' is the third studio album by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue, released in 1991. It includes four singles: " Your Swaying Arms", the Top 10 hit "Twist and Shout", " Closing Time" and " Cover from the Sky". It reached no. ...
'' (1991) * ''
Whatever You Say, Say Nothing ''Whatever You Say, Say Nothing'' is the fourth studio album by Scottish rock band Deacon Blue, released in 1993. Changing from producer Jon Kelly to the team of Steve Osborne and Paul Oakenfold, this album presented a change in musical styl ...
'' (1993) * ''
Walking Back Home ''Walking Back Home'' is an album by Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue released in 1999. It was their first album since reforming that year after disbanding in 1994. A part studio/part compilation album, it contains nine of their earlier s ...
'' (1999) * '' Homesick'' (2001) * ''
The Hipsters ''The Hipsters'' is the sixth studio album released by Scottish pop group Deacon Blue. The album was released by Demon Music on 24 September 2012, making it their first studio album in eleven years. The album's lead single, "The Hipsters" was ...
'' (2012) * ''
A New House ''A New House'' is the seventh studio album by Scottish rock band Deacon Blue, released on 8 September 2014. The album consists of 11 tracks. Track listing Standard edition Personnel * Ricky Ross — vocals *Lorraine McIntosh — vocals *Jam ...
'' (2014) * '' Believers'' (2016) * '' City of Love'' (2020) * ''
Riding on the Tide of Love ''Riding on the Tide of Love'' is the tenth studio album by Scottish band Deacon Blue released on 5 February 2021. The lead single from the album, the title track "Riding on the Tide of Love", was released on 27 November 2020. Background and re ...
'' (2021)


EPs

*'' The Undeveloped Heart EP'' (1998)


Singles


References


External links


''Another Country with Ricky Ross''
(BBC Radio Scotland) {{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Ricky 1957 births Living people 21st-century Scottish male singers BBC Radio Scotland presenters People educated at the High School of Dundee 20th-century Scottish male singers Scottish pop singers Scottish rock singers Scottish songwriters Scottish singer-songwriters Scottish pop guitarists Scottish male guitarists Scottish pianists Scottish keyboardists Musicians from Dundee Deacon Blue members British male pianists 21st-century pianists 21st-century British male musicians British male songwriters British male singer-songwriters