A Lime Rickey is an American cocktail and a vintage soda flavor that was also the nickname given to Paul’s uncle, Louis Rickey, by his friends. Louis and his brothers Phil and Tim had a dance band that played parties in the bay area. They were known as Lime Rickey and His Par-T-Pak. Fifty years later, Paul struck up the band using the same name.
Paul’s love of jazz began as a child, drumming with his musical family in the San Francisco Bay Area. After studying visual arts and theater in college, Paul started singing while at Jazz Camp West 1995. With his father Tim on sax and cousin Mark on piano, he formed the Lime Rickey band, playing fundraisers and private parties and sold-out concerts at Berkeley’s Jazzschool.
He came to Los Angeles in 2004 and joined the Verdugo Swing Society Big Band. Now leading the Lime Rickey Trio, they have performed at local spots including T. Phillips Ale House in Monrovia, the Wine Cave in Montrose, and the Brewyard Beer Company in Glendale.
A San Gabriel Valley native, John grew up with a hip grandma who played the Hammond organ in her stockings. His father sang and played the banjo. John’s restaurant and music career took him from LA in the 1970’s to the Russian River and San Francisco for many years, playing the blues in clubs and parties. When he’s not playing guitar, he teaches high school English and sometimes rewards his students with a song.
Carl was raised in Puerto Rico on a steady diet of Latin pop and big band salsa music. He relocated to New York City, where he performed on the stages of the Village Gate, Apollo Theater, and CBGB among many others. He currently lives in Sierra Madre, and designs kinetic sculptures when he isn’t engaged in musical exploration. Carl’s website: carlroycecontrabass.com
The youngest Rickey brother and original LR band member (1940s), Tim studied classical clarinet for 13 years. He was nearly recruited into a professional jazz band called Red Nichols and His Five Pennies, but was dissuaded by his clarinet teacher who told him that playing jazz “would ruin his lip.” A dental technician in the Korean War, Tim led a jazz band that entertained officers. After retiring from a career in dental industry sales, he played in the Pleasanton Community Concert Band and the What’s Up Big Band with brother Phil, son Paul, and nephew Mark.
The eldest Rickey brother and original LR band member (1939), Phillip landed at Normandy beach six days after D-Day. He played a military-issued French Selmer tenor sax until his death at age 89. He practiced dentistry in Castro Valley, CA. A member of the What’s Up Big Band, his favorite jazz recording was Coleman Hawkin’s Body and Soul.
The middle Rickey brother, WWII Army Veteran, band leader/arranger, Louis transcribed popular jazz records into charts for three horns, and entertained at dances and parties in the Bay Area. He ran a portrait photography studio in the 1950s. Lung cancer from smoking took his life too soon. Also pictured is brother-in-law Kenneth Culp on bass.
Pictured at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco, from left to right: Mark Rickey (piano), Tim Rickey (sax/clarinet), Paul Rickey (vocals/drums), Dom Cariaga (trumpet), Nauofel Klai (bass) and Jerry Nelms (trombone). Other past members of the SF Pak (not pictured): Jason Ewald (drums), Bill Fields (bass), Erik Hartmann (bass), Vincent Robinson (drums), Len Rogers (piano), Maxwell Spikes (trumpet), and Don Victor (trumpet).