Who is Rick Victor?

One of the most common questions we receive is: "Who is Rick Victor?" We recently located an archived version of his old GeoCities website through an altavista search. Here is the biography from that website:

Rick Victor was born in a small suburb of Scranton Pennsylvania to Daria and Gladice Victor, both Eastern European immigrants. Soon after birth, Rick began entertaining his parents by imitating what he heard on the radio and television. When he was only three years old, he played the role of a monkey in the Wizard of Oz when the St. Hubbins Church performed the saga in 1957. By age 8 he was singing with the now famous "Joy to be Alive" gospel singers, who toured all the way from Nanticoke to Carbondale and everywhere in between.

At age 12, he turned his back on gospel music and formed the infamous psychedelic rock band "Loaded Britches" and they toured most of the Wyoming Valley. Bands such as Jefferson Airplane have been known to claim that the Loaded Britches song "Technicolor Pierogy Blues" was a major influence.

The members of Loaded Britches remained a band throughout the latter half of the 60s and the early part of the 70s. The band became widely known for their love of experimentation with nearly every aspect of their personal and musical lives. They experimented with different musical instruments, Eastern philosophy, drugs, lacrosse, sexuality, and, most of all, name changes. After Loaded Britches, they became "Anthracite Chowder", then "Goat Sushi", then back to "Loaded Britches", before the band faded out after Rick lost his spleen in a motorcyle jousting competition.

Being a ground-breakeing musician, Rick refocused his energy after the accident and studied the musical trends of the mid 1970s. He formed the disco band "Lead Hunk" in 1977, and even scored a hit with his rendition of the old Martin Gumbo song "Daddy was a Door Knob" which went to number 117 on the greater Scranton area radio review list of waltz songs in 4/4 time.In the 80's Victor joined forces with the electric punk band "Donkey Pilot." This band was generally hated by critics by today retains a strong underground following, especially in the Throop area. After seven tumultuous years with Donkey Pilot, the band broke up due to what Rick has called "a failure of the other band members to appreciate a true artist."

After a year "finding himself" while living in an abandoned coal breaker, Rick emerged in the fall of 1989 and began to form the band that he still performs with today - "Rick Victor and the Victones". Finally, with the Victones, Rick has gained the creative control that he has always wanted and deserved.Today, Rick Victor lives in Scranton PA occasionally spending time with his 4 ex-wives and 17 children. Rick still performs with the Victones, although his bad back has limited the number, although not the intensity, of his performances.

His performances are truly amazing - a rare blend of thrusting rhythm with bland ballads.  If you ever have the opportunity to see Rick Victor perform, don't pass it up.  It will be something you will never forget.