If you're a fan of the Quebec music scene, chances are this man looks familiar.
You've probably seen him on stage with several stars of Quebec chanson such as Paul Piché, Michel Rivard,
Daniel Bélanger, and, most recently, Zachary Richard. You might even know his name, after hearing him emphatically introduced as:
"À La Guitare . . . Rick Haworth!"
If, after all of that, you still don't know who Rick Haworth is, here's a rundown on this most talented guy. Rick Haworth is known for his guitar-playing, songwriting, and production work. Being fluently bilingual has allowed Rick to work with a who's who of Quebec's artists. After a background as a country music pedal steel guitarist, he started off in the Francophone music world by playing with Michel Rivard as part of Rivard's backup band, the "Flybin String Ensemble." The same members of this band eventually ended up working with Paul Piché. Rick's unique style carries over to acoustic and electric guitar, and was influential to Paul Piché's work in the early 80's when Piché started to move away from an exclusively folk sound. As Piché said in the liner notes of his 1986 release, Intégral:The stork, extravagant by nature, had no choice but to deliver to an English Protestant family. However, adolescents, whose penchant is for the pleasures and vices of life, are driven to associate with the "mauvais français." One Python, sprinkled with holy water, can cause one to have many wicked improvisations on one of many guitars, with a loving gaze. It is not certain that people like the new Piché, but it keeps the laughter going and I am thankful for that. He has definitely been a catalyst in the musical evolution of the group. Rick, I have listened to you play for many hours, and I am hypnotised -- the music is my friend.People apparently did like the "new" Piché, because his albums started selling like never before, as well as attacking the charts in Quebec. Rick has also written, or co-written, the music for some of Piché's songs ("Voilà C'que Nous Voulons," and "Je Lègue à la Mer," to name only two), as well as that of other artists. In the early 90's, Rick Haworth started working with a bright new star on the Quebec music scene, Daniel Bélanger. Rick produced Bélanger's platinum-selling debut Les Insomniaques S'Amusent, and became his bandleader. In 1996, Rick was awarded with a Félix (the Quebec equivalent of a Juno, which is the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy), at the Gala de L'ADISQ for producer of the year as a result of Bélanger's second album Quatre Saisons dans les Désordre, which also marked a significant change in direction for the singer/songwriter. In recent years Rick has worked with lesser known acts and newcomers, such as producing Sylvie Paquette's second album Oser. On the English side, he played guitar on country/folk artist Ray Bonneville's Solid Ground, as well as lap steel on a couple of Mack Mackenzie's albums in the band Three O'Clock Train.
Even though each artist on Rick Haworth's resumé has his or her own style, listening to their albums audibly reveals Rick's touch, a sort of underlying atmosphere. Live, he has a very uninhibited stage presence, and even though
he is a performer who is "behind the scenes," he is a driving force in the music of everyone with whom he collaborates.
Born in 1955, Montreal guitarist Rick Haworth began his musical career in high school by choosing the trumpet as his instrument ! Afer playing in numerous
jazz-rock and blues-rock bands as a guitarist, he studied Communications at Concordia University.
In 1977, he had one of his first professional gigs with Steve Faulkner, known as Cassonade. Rick Haworth is known for having an impressive
list of credentials. He is probably the best-known guitarist in Quebec. Ever modest, he would like to mention some of his
closest collaborations, at risk of forgetting some. Kevin Parent, Zachary Richard, Daniel Bélanger and Lhasa
figure prominently on this long and prestigious list (producing, recording, and touring). Since 1982, without a doubt Michel Rivard
and Paul Piché are the artists with whom Rick Haworth is most associated : since 1982, he has worked on all of Pichés albums
and also all those of Rivard, and with a few exceptions, been on all of their tours. And replaced hundreds of guitar strings in the process.
A truly compulsive listener of music,
he listens as much to the music of India as that of American roots, while also giving ear to Splatterdcell from David Torn, and Miles Davis.
Amongst his favourite guitarists, he lists
Ry Cooder, Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris), Bill Frisell, Kelly Joe Phelps, etc. His incredible musical flexibility
led him to play with the Mai Tai Orchestra, a Polynesian kitsch-lounge band in Montreal. Rick Haworth is also a
known guitar collector.
Site Contents
What's new at this site.
And now . . . The Magneto Page
A selected discography of albums that Rick
Haworth has performed on and/or produced.
News of Rick's projects and appearances.
A list of artists with whom Rick has worked.
Many photos of Rick in action!
Several articles about Rick from newspapers and magazines, in French and English.
The Rick Haworth Museum of Instruments - a look
at some of the instruments that Rick plays.
Resources for Guitarists on the Internet!
Credits, thanks, and links
This site was awarded five stars by Guide-Internet, was mentioned in the magazines 7 Jours and Echos Vedettes,
and on the television programs GénérationW and Les 3 Mousquetaires.
See this site in French.
