Rick was born in Franklin County, Virginia, to musical parents. He grew up in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains in a home that made up for what it lacked in money with lots of love and music. His parents worked hard, but they always took time for music and encouraged their three children to do the same. As a child he stood on a chair so he could play his Daddy’s upright Bass and “jam” with the adults. The Altis “Parlor” always had guitars, basses, and other instruments lying around and while most of those instruments cost as much as his Dad made in six months, he was always encouraged to pick them up and play.

The teen years brought on an interest in the contemporary music of the day and Rick started playing in various rock bands throughout the 60’s and 70’s. In the early 80’s, Rick came back to his roots and was an original founding member of the popular bluegrass group “The Cabin Fever Band”. With them he recorded two albums and toured for fourteen years. During that time he also penned a number of original bluegrass songs.

Rick at 6 years old, already performing

Live show at "The Wharf " in Staunton VA- 1988

Rick onstage at The Statler Brothers "Happy Birthday USA" Celebration in 1987

Larry and Rick were friends from the first day they met and shared a love for all music but had never really gotten a chance to play together. They knew that their talents would complement each other but the time slipped away with promises of “We’ll do an album together someday.”

Well, someday is here! We hope you enjoy Taylor-Altis’s first album, “Old Friends” and catch a show and say Howdy to us. Rick is playing bass and guitar now with "High Ground"