User:Rick olsen

Rick Olsen, singer and musician, was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1941. Began playing and performing in 1962 at Michigan State University. Performed in the "Rathskelle" at the Gables near the college that year. Traveled to California in 1963 for the summer and stayed there for 3 years.

Formed several, short lived, groups in that time.Met and married Jeri Gulbrantson. They sang together and had a coffee house the "Little Greenwich" for about 6 months. Appeared as a duo in many clubs. At "The House Of The Rising Sun", in Redondo beach, we worked with Lee Elliot and Stewart. This club also had Linda Rhonstadt with the Stone Ponies and The Irish Rovers and our duo also performed as the opening act at the "Never On Friday Club" in Long Beach.

With 1st child in tow "Kirsten" moved to New York City around Christmas in 1966. Began performing at the "Back Fence Bar" in the Village. Jeri left the next year and Rick worked in clubs around the city, such as "The Crock of Gold" and "Brendans" in uptown Manhattan. Met and married Jan in 1968. Worked at the "Silver Edge", the "Camelot" and at the "Throgs Neck Inn" in the Bronx. Worked at "Henry'"s at the corner of 5th Avenu and 68th Street in Brooklyn.

Worked several clubs in Long Island City. These gigs were set up for me by my friend Charlie Smalls. Charlies's mother and Jan met each other in a laundromat. Charlie's mom talked about her son and Jan talked about her husband. Soon, we became friends. Charlie got me booked in the neighborhood as a soul folk singer.While working at the "Neck Inn".

While working at the "Neck Inn", I ran into Jeff and Mark, known as the Dornan Brothers. They were a popular Irish duo. Jeff set me up with work on the Jersey shore that summer at the "Dew Drop Inn". Then I came back to Queens and worked at a club owned by a member of the Yankees, Ron Kliminski.

Ron Kliminski recommended me to to Mike, who owned the "Mountaineer Inn" in Hunter Mountain, New York. I worked there during the winter of 1970, and my second child Rick was born that summer. Decided to try other ski areas and found much work at Mt Snow in Vermont.