I hope Rick sees this post. My very favorite song of Whiteheart is Desert Rose. It is my life story. I am 62. I was in my early 30s when I heard the song. I lived in Tennessee at the time. I had completely dedicated my life to Jesus. It was completely against what my family was doing. I’m so grateful for that song.
I'm 52 now. Vital signs by white heart was my first Christian rock album I bought it in 1984. Then you became the lead Singer. To me your voice changed the whole dynamics of Christian music. I appreciate you and the band. And the inspiration of Jesus to the world. My favorite album of all is freedom.favorite songs. Kingdom Come and let the river flow. God Bless.
Billy Smiley from Whiteheart and John Schlitt from Petra and one of the guys from DC Talk are in a group called The Union of Sinners and Saints and they do older songs and new stuff. Check them out!
Met them after a show on thier Freedom Tour. My friend Jim and I had an ongoing debate which was better: White Heart or Petra. My friend Jim ran up to Rick and said "I think you're better than Petra, but my friend thinks Petra is better!" Rick, humbly, said, "it doesn't matter to me who you think is better as long as Christ is praised". Jim lowered his head like a sad puppy. Lol
I feel that connection listening to White heart Rick is taking about. Songs like Eighth wonder, desert rose, over me, make me cry. So powerful and moving.
Just in case Rick Florian or any of the other guys who played in Whiteheart happen to read this comment that I've decided to leave after watching the video interview... I wanted to leave one specific comment based on one of the things that was said in the last 10 minutes the video where the discussion was about the influence of the music of Whiteheart on the lives of those who chose to listen to it or still do. YES! The music did/does provide comfort or inspiration or challenge a believer in different ways and it has been a blessing. Never doubt for one hot second whether answering the call from God the Father to utilize your talents with music has been worth it or not... THERE IS NO DOUBT. Completely worth it!! Thanks to you all for enriching my life and the lives of those I've known for decades now. You've blessed our lives and the least I can say is THANK YOU! Peace & good vibes to all... I'm looking forward to rocking with everyone some day. In paradise! - Max Giganteum
It was the sound of my new salvation. I about wore out the tape on a summer long mission trip with YWAM. I still love to sing the album in my car (as I push 50)
For what its worth, I was standing right there when his life was changing. I was working stage and the WH bus pulled up. Rick had to go work the merch tables at the Agape Festival, his future first wife came by wanting to know who from WH was doing it. Rick was wearing pajamas and started to head over there. This crazy line of girls (about 8 of them) started following Rick as he left the stage area and started walking over to the merch tents. We just laughed our heads off watching this line of cackling geese following him (and the line grew the farther he walked). I remember the announcer bringing them on stage blared out the wrong record label and seeing Billy look at Mark and rolling his eyes. Lots happened that day.
Whiteheart, to me, was the Christian version of Toto, which is the best compliment I could give a band. I saw them in 1992 on the Tales of Wonder tour and it was such a great concert! Very energetic and inspirational show. Without a doubt my favorite Christian band!
So glad that I accidentally found this!! Such a Whiteheart fan, Ric, Rick, Rique, fan and Gersh fan!! Soulbreather..all of it!! Thank you for posting this
When I discovered the Whiteheart music 20 yrs. ago I was deeply effected by the anointing on their music. The Lord led me to pray for you and it's real blessing to see you blessed and intact after the experience of the spiritual warfare you must have gone through. Satan doesn't like God's people invading his territory and losing people to Jesus. The warfare is real for Christian artists. The enemy is wiley and the deception now is prominent. 🙏
Poetic . . . that is what I particularly appreciated and was drawn to in Whiteheart. That melding of the lyric and the melody. It reminds me of something I once heard, "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words but cannot remain silent." And so when you are able to bring what words can bring and meld it with the unspeakable that Music can bring, the sum of the two is greater than its parts. Whiteheart was masterful at this.
I absolutely loved this interview! I listened to Whiteheart back in the 80's and 90's and even got to see them on their Don't Wait for the Movie tour. Freedom is my all time favorite Whiteheart album. I still listen to it even today. Thank you to Rick Florian and Whiteheart for all of the amazing music over the years!
Saw Whiteheart with Rick at Campbell University in NC around 91, 92? So refreshing to hear his perspectives now, and appreciate his stance on what Christian music has morphed into and then what it should be.
Great interview. Thanks Rick for sharing your musical talent with so many of us. I remember when our local Christian music radio station first played Whiteheart songs in '82 (Hold On, He's Returning, Carry On). I would sing along with the radio in the car. What great songs! Then Rick came along and God blessed us with songs like "Say The Word", "Unchain", "Once and For All, and "The Flame Passes On". I could name a bunch more. Stay humble with Jesus.
I was at Knotts Berry Farm in the summer of 1991 when I walked right by WhiteHeart, and the reason why was because Dc Talk was performing on the other stage. This was back when I was 12 years old, and I was slowly figuring out what kind of music I enjoyed. It would be maybe 6 months later when a friend of mine introduced me to the album Unseen Power from Petra, and I would eventually get the Powerhouse album from Columbia House along with albums from Guardian, Bride, Whitecross and a list of others.
So happy this showed up in my feed. I still listen to Whiteheart frequently to this day. Saw Whiteheart live three times. Helped setting up with the road crew once in Chattanooga. It was Valentines day if remember correctly. Got to meet Rick, Billy, Brian, Mark and Jon. (not that they would remember me ☺️). It was 30 years ago. Was fun times. The music still rocks today! Wish the best for them all. See you on the other side 🙏😅
Rick is such a relatable and humble guy! Tony, thank you for this interview - your questions were terrific and were very good at not interrupting but letting Rick speak!
Went to college at a Taylor U with Rick. He really is a nerd with an amazing voice! Have had him as a realtor here in Middle Tennessee and the same energy he had on stage he puts into real estate. White Heart hasn’t changed him…still a farm kid from South Bend, IN, with a heart for Jesus and people. I see Jesus in him.
I'm one of those "old guys" he mentioned... big fan of Whiteheart from the 1st record to the last. I really enjoyed watching this interview with Rick Florian. Fun to catch up on his life and hear some of the old stories. Great video!
@@vinelifepodcast I'm a HUGE fan of the CCM from the 80's into the 90's, but especially the 80's. White Heart was the top Christian rock band. I got to be a counselor with them in Nashville on the Tales of Wonder tour. I still have my concert poster with all their signatures from that night. Special memories! 😀
Rick... at 16:05... it was Paul Young that you're referring to. For me, local radio drove that song into the ground back in 1985. Most people don't know this but his version was a cover of the original song which was written by Daryl Hall and was recorded by Hall & Oates off their 1980 album Voices. Best wishes! - Max Giganteum
Being a teen in the 80's, Christian music had a huge positive impact on me. Petra, Stryper, MWS, Mylon, Russ Taff(early) & of course Whiteheart met my inner rocker needs. I agree to a T about the current state of Christian Music... Not that I don't love some of the amazing worship music of the last 10-15 years, because I do. As a veteran youth worker I see the value of Christian artist replacing the negative influence of mainstream artists. I don't believe the "worship" type music that most Christian radio has in it's rotation has the same "replacement" for secular music as the bands, like mentioned above, had back in the day. Where are the fun, young, enthusiastic groups like; SuperTones, P.O.D.,Superchick, ReliantK, Seventh Day Slumber, TFK, Stacie Orrico, Third Day (early), on and on. "Most music is fun"... yes back in the day it was! I saw you live several times, Kingdom Bound at least once. But the best was in early 90's at Houghton College in their chapel, a small close environment early in your Power House tour I believe. I didn't go to Houghton, I was a student at Alfred State College at the time. I was playing Christian music on the college station 2 hrs a week trying to get and play the best Christian music I could get at the time. We got like 10 tickets to give away to that concert - fun memories! BTW - Desert Rose was the song for the first dance with my bride on our wedding day! Thanks Rick!
Rick's thinking of Paul Young. There is also a Canadian Christian "secular" artist named Paul Janz. He wrote and performed many great songs like "Close My Eyes". I was in a band years ago and played "Nothing but the best" as an intro to our set. It set the room off. I don't think people knew it was a Christian song but they reacted with a standing ovation. Thanks Rick. I was and am a big fan.
Whiteheart’s Don’t Wait For the Movie was my first album..I was lucky enough to see them live many times..my local record store friend Anthony Sallee became their bass player…years later I worked with Tommy Simms and Chris McHugh while being in Eric Champion’s band…Such a great and underrated band. Freedom is my favorite album and Rick’s vocals on Little Drummer Boy might be one of the best of all time.
There are 100's of versions of the song 'Little Drummer Boy' - Whiteheart's version of little Drummer Boy is the universe's all time best version of the song EVER!--- Kingdom Come is in top 10 of all songs ever written! Bye Bye babylon turned out- unfortunately- to be prophetic!---
Nice hat Tony! -- I'm pretty sure that God also drives a chevy truck chariot! LOL That's when He's not wearing His Chicago Bears hat! Great interview with one of my music idols (figuratively) and now living 45 minutes to his east in Murfreesboro Tn. - Man! lots of christian music talent around here!!! Being a former drummer in christian rock bands and covering their music, now living just a few miles from Rick, Russ Taff, John Elefante, Eddie Degarmo and more! Wow. - God is so good!!
WHITEHEART was one of our top Christian music influences. Amazing songwriting, arrangements, production, musicianship and off the chart vocals. HANDS DOWN the most unappreciated bands of all time. KILLER BAND !!! THANKS FOR THE GREAT MUSIC !!!!
Still listening to Whiteheart in 2023. They were/are extraordinary! Thank you, LORD, for their amazing talent and dedication to the Gospel!
Rick, brought the “it” factor to the WH concerts and killer rock vocals to the songs. Such a special band! I’m expecting epic concerts in heaven!!
Can't wait!
Me too!! I asked God if He would let White Heart play in heaven
Yes! Absolutely!
I hope Rick sees this post. My very favorite song of Whiteheart is Desert Rose. It is my life story. I am 62. I was in my early 30s when I heard the song. I lived in Tennessee at the time. I had completely dedicated my life to Jesus. It was completely against what my family was doing. I’m so grateful for that song.
I'm 52 now. Vital signs by white heart was my first Christian rock album I bought it in 1984. Then you became the lead Singer. To me your voice changed the whole dynamics of Christian music. I appreciate you and the band. And the inspiration of Jesus to the world. My favorite album of all is freedom.favorite songs. Kingdom Come and let the river flow. God Bless.
Thanks for watching and the inspiration you have I have as well!
I wish they would come out with just one more album! Totally miss these guys!!
Me too!
Billy Smiley from Whiteheart and John Schlitt from Petra and one of the guys from DC Talk are in a group called The Union of Sinners and Saints and they do older songs and new stuff. Check them out!
@@vinelifepodcast I’m right there with you.
Met them after a show on thier Freedom Tour. My friend Jim and I had an ongoing debate which was better: White Heart or Petra. My friend Jim ran up to Rick and said "I think you're better than Petra, but my friend thinks Petra is better!"
Rick, humbly, said, "it doesn't matter to me who you think is better as long as Christ is praised". Jim lowered his head like a sad puppy. Lol
Both had different styles both both had songs that rock and both put out good quality music as well
I feel that connection listening to White heart Rick is taking about. Songs like Eighth wonder, desert rose, over me, make me cry. So powerful and moving.
Agreed, and thank you!
Just in case Rick Florian or any of the other guys who played in Whiteheart happen to read this comment that I've decided to leave after watching the video interview... I wanted to leave one specific comment based on one of the things that was said in the last 10 minutes the video where the discussion was about the influence of the music of Whiteheart on the lives of those who chose to listen to it or still do. YES! The music did/does provide comfort or inspiration or challenge a believer in different ways and it has been a blessing. Never doubt for one hot second whether answering the call from God the Father to utilize your talents with music has been worth it or not... THERE IS NO DOUBT. Completely worth it!! Thanks to you all for enriching my life and the lives of those I've known for decades now. You've blessed our lives and the least I can say is THANK YOU! Peace & good vibes to all... I'm looking forward to rocking with everyone some day. In paradise!
- Max Giganteum
Hands down, my favorite Christian singer! Great interview!
Had every album. Completely loved this band and still do. "Freedom" is still one of my favorite albums.
Freedom was easily one of the best albums of the 80s.
Yes!
Personally, one of the greatest albums of all time.
It was the sound of my new salvation. I about wore out the tape on a summer long mission trip with YWAM. I still love to sing the album in my car (as I push 50)
For what its worth, I was standing right there when his life was changing. I was working stage and the WH bus pulled up. Rick had to go work the merch tables at the Agape Festival, his future first wife came by wanting to know who from WH was doing it. Rick was wearing pajamas and started to head over there. This crazy line of girls (about 8 of them) started following Rick as he left the stage area and started walking over to the merch tents. We just laughed our heads off watching this line of cackling geese following him (and the line grew the farther he walked). I remember the announcer bringing them on stage blared out the wrong record label and seeing Billy look at Mark and rolling his eyes. Lots happened that day.
Great story!
Rick, you are the one I would mimic and sing my lungs out to in my car. White Heart is still a huge part of my life.
Great musician and a great heart!
This interview has blessed my day...
Thanks for your interest and I'm glad it is inspiring!
Whiteheart, to me, was the Christian version of Toto, which is the best compliment I could give a band. I saw them in 1992 on the Tales of Wonder tour and it was such a great concert! Very energetic and inspirational show. Without a doubt my favorite Christian band!
Extremely good musicianship and creativity. Agreed!
Wow, what a humble guy..thanks for your honesty
I'm sure he appreciates your kind words!
Oh I did forget over me. The best one on freedom. His presence in all situations.
Amen!
So glad that I accidentally found this!! Such a Whiteheart fan, Ric, Rick, Rique, fan and Gersh fan!! Soulbreather..all of it!! Thank you for posting this
Thank you for watching!
You didn't 'accidentally' find this. Like me, you were providentially led here by God. I agree great interview!! Blessings!
When I discovered the Whiteheart music 20 yrs. ago I was deeply effected by the anointing on their music. The Lord led me to pray for you and it's real blessing to see you blessed and intact after the experience of the spiritual warfare you must have gone through. Satan doesn't like God's people invading his territory and losing people to Jesus. The warfare is real for Christian artists. The enemy is wiley and the deception now is prominent. 🙏
Words of wisdom, thank you!
Poetic . . . that is what I particularly appreciated and was drawn to in Whiteheart. That melding of the lyric and the melody. It reminds me of something I once heard, "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words but cannot remain silent." And so when you are able to bring what words can bring and meld it with the unspeakable that Music can bring, the sum of the two is greater than its parts. Whiteheart was masterful at this.
I absolutely loved this interview! I listened to Whiteheart back in the 80's and 90's and even got to see them on their Don't Wait for the Movie tour. Freedom is my all time favorite Whiteheart album. I still listen to it even today. Thank you to Rick Florian and Whiteheart for all of the amazing music over the years!
Thank you for the kind words!
Love you Rick, Rik, Riq, etc. saw White Heart many times in Hampton VA! 8-tracks! Yeah, I had some of those...Foreigner was one of my 13 cents LOL
Thanks for watching and your concert experiences in Hampton. Never saw them live myself back then.
Saw Whiteheart with Rick at Campbell University in NC around 91, 92? So refreshing to hear his perspectives now, and appreciate his stance on what Christian music has morphed into and then what it should be.
So cool to stumble on this! Great interview!
Thanks for the kind words!
Great interview. Thanks Rick for sharing your musical talent with so many of us. I remember when our local Christian music radio station first played Whiteheart songs in '82 (Hold On, He's Returning, Carry On). I would sing along with the radio in the car. What great songs! Then Rick came along and God blessed us with songs like "Say The Word", "Unchain", "Once and For All, and "The Flame Passes On". I could name a bunch more.
Stay humble with Jesus.
I was at Knotts Berry Farm in the summer of 1991 when I walked right by WhiteHeart, and the reason why was because Dc Talk was performing on the other stage. This was back when I was 12 years old, and I was slowly figuring out what kind of music I enjoyed. It would be maybe 6 months later when a friend of mine introduced me to the album Unseen Power from Petra, and I would eventually get the Powerhouse album from Columbia House along with albums from Guardian, Bride, Whitecross and a list of others.
So happy this showed up in my feed. I still listen to Whiteheart frequently to this day. Saw Whiteheart live three times. Helped setting up with the road crew once in Chattanooga. It was Valentines day if remember correctly. Got to meet Rick, Billy, Brian, Mark and Jon. (not that they would remember me ☺️). It was 30 years ago. Was fun times. The music still rocks today! Wish the best for them all. See you on the other side 🙏😅
That was awesome and so truthful and honest. Thank you both
Thanks for the kind words!
Rick is such a relatable and humble guy! Tony, thank you for this interview - your questions were terrific and were very good at not interrupting but letting Rick speak!
Thanks for watching. Yes, Rick is.
Great band, Rick is a world class singer. The humble attitude is refreshing, anti-LSD.
Went to college at a Taylor U with Rick. He really is a nerd with an amazing voice! Have had him as a realtor here in Middle Tennessee and the same energy he had on stage he puts into real estate. White Heart hasn’t changed him…still a farm kid from South Bend, IN, with a heart for Jesus and people. I see Jesus in him.
I'm one of those "old guys" he mentioned... big fan of Whiteheart from the 1st record to the last. I really enjoyed watching this interview with Rick Florian. Fun to catch up on his life and hear some of the old stories. Great video!
Old guy here too, thanks for watching and your interest!
@@vinelifepodcast I'm a HUGE fan of the CCM from the 80's into the 90's, but especially the 80's. White Heart was the top Christian rock band. I got to be a counselor with them in Nashville on the Tales of Wonder tour. I still have my concert poster with all their signatures from that night. Special memories! 😀
Exactly the same for me too 👍
That Ricky Skaggs record is one of the best recordings ever, EVER!
That album is one of the greatest ever.
I agree!
I agree! A real piece of art with a beautiful message
I agree!!
One of the most beautifully amazing male vocalists I've ever heard!!
Rick... at 16:05... it was Paul Young that you're referring to. For me, local radio drove that song into the ground back in 1985. Most people don't know this but his version was a cover of the original song which was written by Daryl Hall and was recorded by Hall & Oates off their 1980 album Voices. Best wishes!
- Max Giganteum
Being a teen in the 80's, Christian music had a huge positive impact on me. Petra, Stryper, MWS, Mylon, Russ Taff(early) & of course Whiteheart met my inner rocker needs. I agree to a T about the current state of Christian Music... Not that I don't love some of the amazing worship music of the last 10-15 years, because I do. As a veteran youth worker I see the value of Christian artist replacing the negative influence of mainstream artists. I don't believe the "worship" type music that most Christian radio has in it's rotation has the same "replacement" for secular music as the bands, like mentioned above, had back in the day. Where are the fun, young, enthusiastic groups like; SuperTones, P.O.D.,Superchick, ReliantK, Seventh Day Slumber, TFK, Stacie Orrico, Third Day (early), on and on. "Most music is fun"... yes back in the day it was! I saw you live several times, Kingdom Bound at least once. But the best was in early 90's at Houghton College in their chapel, a small close environment early in your Power House tour I believe. I didn't go to Houghton, I was a student at Alfred State College at the time. I was playing Christian music on the college station 2 hrs a week trying to get and play the best Christian music I could get at the time. We got like 10 tickets to give away to that concert - fun memories! BTW - Desert Rose was the song for the first dance with my bride on our wedding day! Thanks Rick!
Rick's thinking of Paul Young. There is also a Canadian Christian "secular" artist named Paul Janz. He wrote and performed many great songs like "Close My Eyes". I was in a band years ago and played "Nothing but the best" as an intro to our set. It set the room off. I don't think people knew it was a Christian song but they reacted with a standing ovation. Thanks Rick. I was and am a big fan.
Whiteheart’s Don’t Wait For the Movie was my first album..I was lucky enough to see them live many times..my local record store friend Anthony Sallee became their bass player…years later I worked with Tommy Simms and Chris McHugh while being in Eric Champion’s band…Such a great and underrated band. Freedom is my favorite album and Rick’s vocals on Little Drummer Boy might be one of the best of all time.
I love their version of Little Drummer Boy!
There are 100's of versions of the song 'Little Drummer Boy' - Whiteheart's version of little Drummer Boy is the universe's all time best version of the song EVER!--- Kingdom Come is in top 10 of all songs ever written! Bye Bye babylon turned out- unfortunately- to be prophetic!---
Yes, prophetic indeed!
Agreed!!
As a caretaker for my 95 year old father, I absolutely appreciate the purpose of Guitars & Gumbo.
Same here!
Nice hat Tony! -- I'm pretty sure that God also drives a chevy truck chariot! LOL That's when He's not wearing His Chicago Bears hat! Great interview with one of my music idols (figuratively) and now living 45 minutes to his east in Murfreesboro Tn. - Man! lots of christian music talent around here!!! Being a former drummer in christian rock bands and covering their music, now living just a few miles from Rick, Russ Taff, John Elefante, Eddie Degarmo and more! Wow. - God is so good!!
i like much this christian rock band white heart
I've known him for years. Rick is legit!
The best concert anyone could ever dream of seeing would be Petra and whIteheart on the same stage
Rick was a great front guy awesome vocals
Agree, and thanks for watching.
Love WH - it's hard to pick "the best" but I really love the "Tales of Wonder" album.
God used whiteheart powerfully back in the 80,s in my life to turn me from from wandering away time and time again….
Freedom not being nominated for a Grammy was criminal.
This was how Rick got the job as lead vocalist for "Whiteheart" @ 12:56.
White heart and Petra are 2 of the best Christian Rock bands of all time.
At 16:00 Paul Young
WHITEHEART was one of our top Christian music influences. Amazing songwriting, arrangements, production, musicianship and off the chart vocals. HANDS DOWN the most unappreciated bands of all time. KILLER BAND !!! THANKS FOR THE GREAT MUSIC !!!!
I knew they were good. I just didn’t know the more famous people knew they were good