Blueridge (minus Jerry and Tommy) came out of retirement for a one off family gig back in 2014.
As part of this gig, 2 of their sons, in their mid teens at the time, also made their debut joining the band for 2 songs. Steven Hicken Jr and Jordan Hicken joined the stage briefly, on pedal steel and bass guitar respectively.
The fathers, Jimmy Hicken and Steven Hicken Sr, along with Mally Hicken, decided to keep this tradition going and formed a casual band called "The Rykers", in 2015.
The Rykers were a low pressure introduction for the young musicians (Steven Jr and Jordan), who joined the band to cut their teeth playing traditional country music.
The line up posted live and raw YouTube videos, recorded in Steven's old North Parkway house conservatory. The band also played a one off memorial show at the Swarcliffe WMC to commemorate "Nanna Betty" who sadly passed away earlier in the year.
Shortly after in 2016, Jordan decided to leave the band to focus on his studies as a motor mechanic. The band in 2017 then transitioned into the name "Tau Ceti" as thought up by Steven Jr. In hindsight, it wasn't the greatest name, but the thought was that it would open the band up to new audiences outside of country music, in an era where online marketing was extremely lucrative. The new line-up recorded home recordings and put these to staged YouTube videos. Some of these are still online, but some were put out of their misery due to being corny!
In the end after a discussion between Jr and Jimmy over a beer, it was decided that a name and direction change was required, and the idea of Hicken Legacy was born. An idea of bringing the CDs and Cassettes of yesteryear into the internet realm, whilst also having scope to create more music in under the Hicken name.
As part of this gig, 2 of their sons, in their mid teens at the time, also made their debut joining the band for 2 songs. Steven Hicken Jr and Jordan Hicken joined the stage briefly, on pedal steel and bass guitar respectively.
The fathers, Jimmy Hicken and Steven Hicken Sr, along with Mally Hicken, decided to keep this tradition going and formed a casual band called "The Rykers", in 2015.
The Rykers were a low pressure introduction for the young musicians (Steven Jr and Jordan), who joined the band to cut their teeth playing traditional country music.
The line up posted live and raw YouTube videos, recorded in Steven's old North Parkway house conservatory. The band also played a one off memorial show at the Swarcliffe WMC to commemorate "Nanna Betty" who sadly passed away earlier in the year.
Shortly after in 2016, Jordan decided to leave the band to focus on his studies as a motor mechanic. The band in 2017 then transitioned into the name "Tau Ceti" as thought up by Steven Jr. In hindsight, it wasn't the greatest name, but the thought was that it would open the band up to new audiences outside of country music, in an era where online marketing was extremely lucrative. The new line-up recorded home recordings and put these to staged YouTube videos. Some of these are still online, but some were put out of their misery due to being corny!
In the end after a discussion between Jr and Jimmy over a beer, it was decided that a name and direction change was required, and the idea of Hicken Legacy was born. An idea of bringing the CDs and Cassettes of yesteryear into the internet realm, whilst also having scope to create more music in under the Hicken name.
|
The best of the North Parkway Sessions were released later in 2023 onto an EP before working on some new music.
This EP was produced and mixed by Steven Hicken Sr in the old family house on North Parkway, Seacroft. These were recorded from 2017 to 2019 with Mally, Jimmy, Steven Sr and Steven Jr being a part of them |
|
Since 2019, Jimmy hadn't got behind the microphone and Mally also decided to take a step back in 2023 with some unfinished songs left on the burner. This could have been the end of Hicken Legacy but with Steven Hicken Jr. rising up the UK country music scene, he was desperate to pay it back to his uncle Jimmy and persuaded him to get behind the mic again.
Steven asked his band's frontman (Lewis Pugh) if he could help produce a Bakersfield country EP for his uncle, and he didn't need much persuading coming from a musical family himself.
Jimmy and Jr, along with guests shared a few weekend mornings recording some tracks followed by a pint in the local pub afterwards to reminisce. Fast forward to 2025 and the stems were all taken into Loom Studio at Birstall for professional mixing and mastering, by Grant Henderson.
The lads were very proud of the end result with Jimmy belting it out at 75 years old.
Steven asked his band's frontman (Lewis Pugh) if he could help produce a Bakersfield country EP for his uncle, and he didn't need much persuading coming from a musical family himself.
Jimmy and Jr, along with guests shared a few weekend mornings recording some tracks followed by a pint in the local pub afterwards to reminisce. Fast forward to 2025 and the stems were all taken into Loom Studio at Birstall for professional mixing and mastering, by Grant Henderson.
The lads were very proud of the end result with Jimmy belting it out at 75 years old.
|
"From Burley to Bakersfield" was released in 2026, digitally and also via a limited run of CDs.
Full credits are below: Jimmy Hicken – Lead Vocals Lewis Pugh – Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals, Bass Guitar, Drum Kit Steven Hicken Jr. - Pedal Steel Guitar Steven Hicken Sr. - Acoustic Guitar (2), Backing Vocals Ed Hicken – Electric Guitar (1) Richard Horner – Snare Drum [Brushes] (1) Produced by Lewis Pugh at Pugh Productions. Co-Produced by Steven Hicken Jr Pedal Steel Guitar. Mixed and Mastered by Grant Henderson at Loom Studio, Birstall. Artwork by Cartoons from the Pit Ol’ Buck performed as a tribute to Andy Hicken. |
|
Who knows if there will be anymore. We hope there will be, but if not...what a ride over the last 60 years.