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Dick McVey was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains near
Beckley, WV. His father, mother, and uncle sang in a gospel trio with his
father accompanying them on guitar. Dick was raised around country and
gospel music and always "fooled around" with the guitar.
In 1964, The Beatles and other English groups heavily influenced Dick. His
desire to play their songs on guitar led him to take the instrument
seriously. His father showed him some chords and within a year, Dick had
taught himself a number of pop songs and started his own band. He played
area school functions and community events and built the band into a
regional favorite.
It was during these early years that Dick so loved performing that he
handled all the affairs for the band. He scheduled the rehearsals, he
booked the band, he prepared all the publicity, he acquired financial
backing, arranged for transportation and equipment and handled all the
problems. These experiences prepared him for a career, not only as an
entertainer, but also as a businessman in the business of music.
Throughout his lifetime, Dick held several "day" jobs, but always had a working band. He played lead guitar and sang in groups in the late 60s, and switched to bass guitar in the early 70s. In 1978, Dick and his band decided to hang up their regular jobs and go on the road full time. The band was called "Visions," and they were an immediate success on the road, primarily due to their versatility and showmanship. They traveled all over the US, and eventually, in 1981, played 5 weeks in Nashville.
During their time in Nashville, Dick was thrilled when an old friend
invited him to go backstage at the Grand Ole
Opry. It was then and there
that Dick made the decision to make Nashville his permanent home and
establish himself as a musician and a music business executive.
Dick has always been a goal-oriented person and his first and foremost
goal was to seek a job playing with a major artist and get a spot on the
Grand Ole Opry. His plan was to write letters to everyone in Nashville
from his home area in West Virginia. Those people included Grand Ole Opry
star Little Jimmy Dickens. His letter reached Dickens the very week
Dickens fired his bass player, and Dick was hired. His first goal in
Nashville had been achieved, and much faster than he expected.
Since then, he has worked as bass player, road manager and frontman for
Dickens, Leroy Van Dyke, Jean Shepard, Nat Stuckey, Stonewall Jackson,
Johnny Paycheck and Tom T. Hall. He played the Grand Ole Opry at different
times with different stars throughout the 80's and 90's, including the
1988 Grand Ole Opry Birthday Celebration on national television.
Dick has worked as an opening act for nearly every major country music
artist in the business, including three months with Merle Haggard in 1982,
and several months in 1983 opening for Jerry Lee Lewis. He has worked in
nearly every aspect of the music business including selling T shirts,
setting up sound, driving the bus, recording, and engineering sound both
live and in the studio. He also had extra parts in two major motion
pictures that were filmed here in Nashville; "Marie" starring
Sissy Spacek and "What Comes Around" starring Jerry Reed.In 1986, Dick founded the
Musician's Referral Service in Nashville, with
the goal of helping Nashville musicians find work. The service has been
used by such artists and shows as Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, Chely
Wright, David Lee Murphy, George Ducas, Holly Dunn, Tracy Lawrence, George
Jones, Billy Dean, Tanya Tucker, Opryland, Disney World, Euro-Disney and
several Branson and Myrtle Beach Theaters.
In 1988, Dick founded D & T Records and produced sixteen national
chart records in a row (never missed). Several records reached the # 1
spot on the independent chart and one hit # 52 on the national charts -
quite a feat for a small label. One of the records Dick produced was a
pick hit in Billboard, three were pick hits in Cash Box Magazine, sixteen
were top twenty on the national independent charts with fourteen reaching
the top ten.
In October of 1989, Dick started handling publicity and promotion work for
the legendary George
Jones. As a result of his efforts, George was
featured on the cover of Music City News the very next month (November
1989 issue), with a two-page article inside. Dick received a gold album
from George for his publicity work. Dick continued to coordinate special
projects for George, including a showcase for his guitarist DeWayne
Phillips. Eight major labels were in attendance. Dick and George
co-produced the recording session for DeWayne, and the tape was submitted
to the major record labels. Every act Dick has represented has had their
publicity published in one form or another in fan and trade magazines.
Many of Dick's publicity clients have been featured in Music City News
Music Row and
Country Weekly.
Since 1993, Dick has had his own recording studios, however, in 1996, Dick
realized a lifelong dream by acquiring a 32 track digital, master quality
recording studio in the heart of Music Row. The studio was installed to
record and work with singers in a state-of-the-art facility that is both
comfortable and affordable. With studio costs rising daily, it gives acts
the opportunity of getting first hand recording studio experience under
Dick's direction without the added pressure of paying high studio costs.
Dick has also recorded master quality band albums and award-winning
songwriter and singer demos in his studios.
In June of 1993, Dick was selected the 1993 "Independent Producer of
the Year" by Tracker Magazine in Nashville, based on a poll the
magazine took of country music radio disc jockeys. (He was nominated for
the award again in 1998.)
In July of 1993, Dick was offered and accepted the position as Bureau
Chief for the Nashville office of Performance Magazine, an international
trade magazine with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Tampa and
Fort Worth. He was promoted to the position of Senior Editor (April 1997).
The position afforded him the luxury of being invited to every major music
function in Nashville and the ability to "rub elbows" with
decision-makers in every facet of the music industry, including the major
record labels. By being able to talk with these people and discussing the
business, Dick gained an edge in knowing what the major labels are looking
for with regard to new acts.
In 1994, Dick produced an album for Cissie Lynn, daughter of Loretta Lynn
and sister to "The Lynns." Early in the project, Loretta heard
Dick's production on the first three songs, liked what she heard, and
agreed to sing a duet with Cissie on the album under Dick's direction.
This was first and only time Loretta has recorded with any of her children
in the studio and is one of the highlights of Dick's career as a producer.
In April of 1994, Dick was selected as one of "Music Row's Decision
Makers" by Music Row magazine, and was included in the 1994 edition
of "In Charge - Music Row's Decision Makers."
On display in Dick's Music Row office are gold and platinum record awards
from Vince Gill, Tracy Lawrence and John Berry for his publicity
contributions to their careers. In June 1995, Dick received an award for
producing and arranging the first place song in the 9th Annual St. Louis
Music Contest. Another song he produced and arranged placed in the top 5
of the same competition. Dick has also recorded songs, which won awards in
Atlanta and the State of Wisconsin. All the songs were recorded in his
studio.
In 1996, Dick produced and arranged an album of country songs for children
titled "Country Kiddie Boogie" which was picked up by Sony
Music. Since 1996 he has also had such notable artists as Hal Ketchum,
Mark Collie, Danny Shirley (Confederate Railroad), Lacy J. Dalton, Helen
Darling and Judy Rodman recording in his studio. His studio was also
selected to mix a special acoustic project on Trisha Yearwood, which was
originally recorded in Australia.
In 1997, Dick was selected by The Nashville Network as an expert on the
country music concert industry and appeared on Today's Country" with
Crook & Chase, a television show which was available to over 50
million households. Dick was interviewed along with Alan Jackson, Garth
Brooks, Tracy Lawrence, and Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown).
In April, 1998, Dick was selected as a "Lifetime Member" of the
prestigious National Registry of Who's Who In America."
In May 1998, he hosted a roundtable discussion featuring such notable
Nashville music figures as Bruce Hinton, CEO of MCA Records / Nashville
and Rick Shipp, president of the William Morris Agency / Nashville.
In June 1998 Dick's liner notes were featured in the best-selling book "Chicken Soup For The Country Soul," on the very first page.
In August 1998, Dick was hired to handle publicity and promotion for The
Bellamy Brothers and their annual Snake Rattle & Roll Jam, which was
held, near their home town in San Antonio, Florida. His company, All Star
Publicity, was recently was named 
"Public Relations Firm Of The
Year" for 1998 at the Golden Music Awards held in
Nashville.
From January, 1999 through September, 1999, Dick hosted a weekly radio
show on one of his hometown radio stations, WPMW-FM 92.7 in Mullens, WV.
The show covered virtually all of Southern West Virginia. Dick reported
Nashville news and had interviews special guests including newcomers like
James Prosser and Trace Adkins, to country legends like Charley Pride and
Little Jimmy Dickens.
In late 1999, Dick constructed a 32-track recording studio in his home. With increasing crime and traffic problems in Nashville, Dick felt the studio in his home would allow him more time to devote to his family and his music and less wear and tear on his vehicle and body. Having the studio in his home also means lower prices for his clients.
In 2000, Dick's love of playing music and performing on stage was satisfied as he was named music director, bandleader and bass guitarist with the Music City Showband that backed a touring package of Opry legends. Dick performed with a host of country legends like Jack Greene, Little Jimmy Dickens, Stonewall Jackson, Jeanne Pruett, Jeannie Seely, Hank Thompson, David Frizzell, Bobby Bare and others.
In 2001 Dick signed a management deal with 24-year-old Travis LeDoyt, touted as the "world's best young Elvis." Travis is currently working the casino circuit where he is receiving accolades and standing ovations nightly. He was featured in a New York Times photo shoot as the person most naturally resembling Elvis Presley and D. J. Fontana, Elvis' original drummer says this is a close as you will get to seeing an actual Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's. Check out the website at www.travisledoyt.com for more information about this amazing act.
In June 2002, Dick took the position of bass guitarist with award-winning artist Holly Dunn and played shows across the US and the Grand Ole Opry with her until her retirement in November, 2003.
In October, 2002 and February 2003, Dick recorded audio for the syndicated television series "Nashville Country Connection" for the UPN Television Network.
HOLLY DUNN
In May 2003, Dick recorded, mixed and mastered Holly Dunn's new album, "Full Circle" containing 10 great gospel hits. The album and all of the other Holly Dunn albums are available at www.hollydunn.com.
Dick is still as driven as ever, and continues to make contributions to Nashville's music scene. He is currently handling career development and publicity for several promising unsigned acts and looks toward each new year with increasing optimism. He always has one goal in sight while looking for another to achieve.
NOTE: (Dick's son Richard McVey II is currently editor for American Profile Magazine)
Dick McVey is endorsed by Warwick Bass Guitars
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