Move to Ohio gives 'a complete 180' to musician's career

SHELBY - Ricky Mitchell twisted his arms to support the slipping pile of musical equipment he was lugging into a Shelby venue.

"I do start the shows the same every night," the 26-year-old said once he finally reached the stage.

It's a routine the singer-songwriter completes at least 100 times a year — enough to pay the bills and keep him working at his craft full-time. He sets up his mic, then connects his pedals, amplifier and guitar. When's it all together, he opens with "Steal My Kisses" by Ben Harper — it's a simple song that uses every piece of his equipment.

"It’s a sound check without shouting 'test' a hundred times," Ricky said.

From there, it could be any number of the 300 songs he plays well.

"I base it off what people are reacting to," Ricky said.

His first big break

Music wasn't a priority during the first half of Ricky's life.

"I had piano lessons when I was very young, but I didn’t stick to them whatsoever," he said.

He grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and finally "started playing music with a sense of purpose" at the age of 13. The excitement didn't last.

"They kicked me out," Ricky said. "At that point I was fed up with the whole process."

But he wasn't fed up with music. He explored the scene, and discovered barbershop quartets. Unfortunately, that idea also left him disappointed.

"It’s kind of hard to start a quartet when you’re in high school and all the other guys are laughing at the idea," Ricky said.

Success came in the most unusual way during his senior year of high school when Ricky went with his dad and one of his friends to a bar to watch a man sing. The two older men gave the singer $5 to let Ricky sing a couple of songs. The man liked what he heard, so he invited the youngster back.

"He got really drunk during the first set," Ricky described his next trip to the bar. "By the second set he walked up to me, slapped $20 in my chest and said 'please finish this show.'"

The next chapter of his career

Ricky played across Tennessee the next the six years. He got a little better, found what he thought was love and slipped into a downward spiral of depression.

"I ended up drinking a lot and that kind of stuff," Ricky said.

From seven hours away, his Shelby friend, Marshall Elgin, helped Ricky get his life back on track. Marshall had just bought a house on Taylortown Road, and Ricky had nothing keeping him from the Buckeye State.

"We figured we would have a go at it and see what happened," Ricky said.

He's lived in the Shelby house since December 2016.

"It’s been far better than I ever could have hoped for," Ricky said. "It’s been a complete 180 from what I was used to living like."

Love will find a way

Falling in love again was an unexpected surprise that did wonders for Ricky's music.

"The happiness has improved as well, which is nice," Ricky said.

It was his best friend's sister, Stephany Elgin, who capture Ricky's heart. He didn't even know her when he moved to Shelby.

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"There was a night where there was a bonfire," Ricky said, "and due to some circumstances, it was just me and her talking the whole night."

Ricky enjoyed the evening, but wasn't sure Marshall would enjoy hearing about it.

"There was some tiptoeing to test the waters to make sure it was OK," Ricky chuckled.

Now the two are nearly inseparable.

A bright future ahead

Shelby has given Ricky a chance to really hone his craft, including his abilities in the recording studio. He and Marshall covered most of the walls of their upstairs rooms with sound-reducing material, giving them places to create the best sounds possible. They also put together software packages that will allow them to enhance and mix everything on their own.

"My guitar playing has come a long way as well," Ricky said. "I can turn the amp up and practice without causing World War III with the neighbors."

His latest album, "Wishing Wells," came out March 13. The album was a success with those who follow his online presence, and visit his shows. Ricky, though, is still a little critical.

"If I hear one of the songs, I hear the problems I had when I was mixing it," Ricky said. "You spend hundreds of hours on these things and I don’t know what it sounds like to anyone who isn’t me, being so close to it."

His plans for the future aren't completely set, but he suspects his next full album will be a couple years away.

"There will be smaller things between now and then," Ricky said. "The process is going to involved a lot more musicians than anything I’ve done before."

ztuggle@gannett.com

419-564-3508

Twitter: @zachtuggle

Upcoming shows

• Noon Saturday at the Renaissance Theater, Mansfield

• 1 p.m. Saturday at Kingwood Center Gardens, Mansfield

• 6 p.m. Sunday at Martini's on Main, Mansfield

• 7 p.m. Wednesday at MVP's Sports Bar & Grille, Mansfield

• 6 p.m. Thursday at Twin Oast Brewing, Catawba Island

• 5 p.m. Friday at the Ashland Balloon Festival, Ashland

• 7 p.m. June 30 at Shorty's, Delaware