RIP Ric Epperle

John Alexander · Post by **John Alexander** » 30 Apr 2014 8:25 pm

Steel guitarist and Forum member Ric Epperle, of Sheridan, WY, passed away on April 21. His friend Mike Kuzara submitted this tribute to several newspapers.

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Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 1 May 2014 2:21 am

My condolences...

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 1 May 2014 6:39 am

Sorry to hear of this.
'Had no idea he was ill and he didn't seem that old.
I saw Rick play with his family band in Powell, WY in the '81/'82 timeframe (he was playing keyboards then). His Dad was a great entertainer on guitar and Steel.
He was an active poster on this forum at one time.
I took Steel lessons from his Dad in Cody, WY during that time.
As I recall he had his Dad's MSA which was a D12.
Let us know if it is being passed on to a player or if assistance is required.

John Alexander · Post by **John Alexander** » 2 May 2014 11:03 am

Pete - Like you I knew Ric when his father Gene was the steel guitarist in the family band, the "Epperles," in the late 70's and early 80's. It seemed like wherever I went they would turn up - Jackson, Laramie, Billings. The last time I saw Ric was 1991, years after I had most recently seen them at the Bonanza lounge in Billings. I was in Dubois, WY, and after dinner at a restaurant I poked my head through the doorway to an adjacent room to see what the music was about, and there he was, playing a single on an electric keyboard. In 1979 he once agreed to help me with a gig on his day off from the Epperles - he played bass guitar and sang, and I played steel. He could nail all the Ray Price tunes and other classics - I remember it as one of the most fun gigs I had at that time. I only recently reconnected with Ric on line, and have not heard him play steel, nor do I know whether or how his family may dispose of his instruments. I remember him as a very likable person and solid musician.