Seven questions with Kansas Music Hall of Fame inductee and bluegrass musician Rick Faris

Rick Faris has spent his entire life in pursuit of music. And now, he's about to be a member of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.

Faris will be inducted into the hall on Saturday. The Kansas Music Hall of Fame was established in August 2004 to honor significant music contribution to Kansas, according to the organization's website. Former inductees include the rock band Kansas, Melissa Etheridge and jazz musician Charlie Parker.

Faris grew up in Ozawkie City, a small town about 25 miles northeast of Topeka. Because his father was a musician, Faris was surrounded by music and played in his family's band as a child.

As Faris got older, he explored the realm of bluegrass music and now is the leader of his own band, the Rick Faris Band. He sings, plays guitar, writes music and plays other string guitar-like instruments for the band.

Faris won new artist and was nominated for songwriter of the year at the 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association's Awards, where the band was also was nominated for best song of the year.

He is a musician for Dark Shadow Recording and also handcrafts acoustic guitars in Kentucky, where he moved a few months ago.

Got to find the sound

The Capital-Journal asked Faris how he'd describe his musical sound.

"It's material that speaks stories that reflect real life," Faris said. You know, it's music that caters to those stories and tries to bring out the essence of the actual feeling. It's not music that's just for music's sake. It's music for therapy. It's music for love. It's music for things that connect us and bind us together."

He said his music is performed live, so it's all original, has heavy influences of bluegrass and is relatable to everyone.

His largest inspiration

When asked what Faris' biggest inspiration is, he named a couple artists, including Tony Rice and Del McCurry.

"I would say with my guitar playing my single biggest influence has been Tony Rice, who was a very influential guitar player," Faris said. "He didn't just play bluegrass music, he played a lot of jazz and there were a lot of country recordings he was on. But he was a very much someone who broke the mold."

He said, finding inspiration from Rice has helped him explore genres and avoid his music fitting in one box.

His pride and joy

Faris was asked what piece of composition he's most proud to have written.

He said choosing just one song is difficult but "What I've Learned" is what first comes to mind.

"You realise that you have so much more to learn, the more that you learn," Faris said. "So, it's kind of an encouragement for folks to not just settle in their lives, but to boldly go out and tackle life and try to figure it out with humility and love in your heart."

Learn a long the way

The Capital-Journal asked Faris what was the biggest lesson he's learned over his career.

He said the lesson he learned was to meet people where they're at and to be open to others.

"In this world we try to do the best that we can," Faris said. "Sometimes we're very damaged. We've been very wronged in our lives and we can do wrong when we've been wrong but honestly open yourself up to everyone, be genuine and want to find out people's stories."

Everyday is different

Faris said for early musicians, traveling is exciting but for him, the spontaneity of the job is his favorite part of being a musician.

"Whether it's a spontaneous conversation that happens with a stranger on another side of the world or it's up on stage picking with someone I've never played with before and realising that we can share a common musical language even if we can't speak to one another, I guess spontaneity," Faris said. "Variety being the spice of life."

An unworthy feeling for a high honor

When asked how he felt being inducted into the hall of fame, he said he was experiencing some imposter syndrome.

"I think at first I just felt unworthy," Faris said. "You know, I'm just me, I'm just a guy. I lived in Topeka, Kansas forever and that's a hard place to make a career a music career in. Especially with bluegrass music."

Once he looked past his initial feelings, he said he was proud of himself.

"Then I realized that it's an honor and to accept it with grace and humility," Faris said. "That's just who I am, I don't think I'm all that and the box crackers. But it just really blew me away and it surprised me. So, it was a blessing."

Feel the music

The Capital-Journal asked Faris what kind of instrument he would be if he could.

Faris chose the same instrument he plays, an acoustic guitar.

"Because an acoustic guitar is versatile, it evokes emotion," Faris said. "An electric guitar, you've got a throttle and a volume switch. But every little note on an acoustic guitar can have feeling and inflexion and purpose to it. And it's mostly a rhythm instrument, so it's a supportive role.

"I think it's one of the more effective instruments to use feeling with. It's not just a big, flashy flash in the pan for hot solos."

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Music Hall of Fame member Rick Faris reflects on his career