Steve Richard, in 2008, is quickly moving towards his goal of joining other country icons like Montgomery Gentry , Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban as they push the proverbial envelope and rock out on the edge.

Richard’s dynamic stage presence and trademark gritty vocals reflect years of paying dues, and this charismatic singer-songwriter enters the fray with a scorching track record as a seasoned vet on the road. At one point performing 100 club dates a year, Richard has also toured the nation as both a headliner and opening act for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dierks Bentley, ZZ Top, Dickey Betts, .38 Special, Van Zant and Junior Brown.

Coming to Nashville and breaking through as a solo artist, Richard’s lethal mix of talent, charm and ambition quickly earned him the kind of attention and respect from superstar artists, producers and songwriters that some performers take years to achieve.

In crafting his multi-faceted self-titled debut album, Richard worked closely with John Rich, as well as the well-known producer/engineer Michael Bradford (Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker, Travis Tritt) and composer Jeff Silbar, whose two decade long catalogue includes number one country hits for Alabama and Janie Frickie and a Grammy Award for Song Of The Year for “Wind Beneath My Wings” in 1989.

“The album is about that exciting place where country meets rock and roll, and it’s a very ‘LIVE’ kind of record, with songs that come across very well onstage,” says Richard. “The idea was to do songs that tell honest stories which reflect the way I feel whether I wrote the song or not.

“My style of music reflects the love I have for bands like Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, along with the classic sounds of George Jones, Waylon Jennings and Buck Owens, to Cream, The Who and The Stones…you’ve got the picture. It’s very much a rocking record, but is completely steeped in country tradition."

Rich, one of Nashville’s most in-demand writer /producers whose credits include Gretchen Wilson, Faith Hill, John Anderson and Jason Aldean, co-wrote and produced five tracks on the new Steve Richard album: “Faster Faster,” the fiery dance tune “Stomp,” “Everything Beautiful To Me,” the mid-tempo crossover song “I Don’t Need A Reason” and the beautiful ballad “I’ll Never Leave You.” These tracks were recorded and mixed at Sony Studios in Nashville.

The other half of Steve Richard completes a portrait of the artist with tracks recorded at studios in Nashville, Los Angeles, and the singer’s home base of St. Louis. These seven songs—including “Bridge Back Home,” “Make It Into Heaven,” “Lost Time,” and “Write This Song”—were co-written by Richard and Bradford. “Tried and True” and “We Ain’t Saints,” are credited to the writing team of Richard, Bradford and Silbar.

Richard is working with an amazing new band that includes long-time friend and guitarist Tim Mauldin, pedal steel player Kyle Everson, Rob Facelli on bass, Peter Keys on the piano/keyboards and Jimmy “The Dogg” Davis on drums. The singer has already started performing material from his debut both in Nashville and St. Louis. He opened for Halfway To Hazard at the Wild Horse Saloon in Nashville and for Montgomery Gentry at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in St. Louis. Richard closed out 2007 with a month long run on the West Coast and through the mid-West supporting Junior Brown and Flynnville Train. 2008 kicked off with a successful March showcase for the country radio industry at CRS 39 in Nashville, followed by more dates supporting Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dierks Bentley and ZZ Top. Steve and his band have now focused their attention on getting out on the road for the rest of the year. Stay tuned for dates in your area.

Richard says, “We look like a gang of mean outlaws…but the stage is our home and we’re always happy to invite you in. The positive response we’ve been getting with our songs is exciting and gratifying. I think we play the type of music a lot of people like, and we’re connecting with audiences in both rock and country.”