Everyone comes to Rick's
My parents were fans of Humphrey Bogart, and they named me after his character in the film Casablanca, Rick Blaine. I think that’s pretty cool.
So what brings you to Rick’s Cafe? If you’re looking for the man behind the capo, here I am. If you’re interested in my modest careers as either a musician or a graphic artist, I’ve posted a page devoted to each…
Shubb Capos is celebrating our 50th Anniversary in business.
Lately I’ve been writing my memoirs. I’m not under the illusion that there would be any general interest beyond my own circle of friends, but it’s been fun to do, and it’s approaching book length now. I will post some excepts from it here, and rotate them from time to time:
• Picking with Doc and Hank
Circa 1967, playing fiddle tunes with Doc Watson and Hank Bradley.
• Humbead’s Map of the World
The origin of what is probably my best known poster.
• My Monroe Moment
In 1974 I made a trip to the southeast, to launch my new fifth string capo. I wound up playing a stint with Buck White and his family, and playing one magic set onstage with Bill Monroe.
For a few years, before Covid shut us down, there had been bi-annual reunions of a band I played in during the late 60s, The Diesel Ducks. (L to R, Ed Littlefield, Hank Bradley, Rick Shubb, Eric Thompson). It was a spinoff of the days when Hank and I played with Doc Watson, and we covered some of the same material; mostly oldtime fiddle tunes. When we got together at these reunions, our hands felt like they were 20 years old again, and the music came out pretty good.
Memories of the Berkely Fiddlers’ Convention. Another excerpt from my memoirs.
Here’s a video of me talking about the beginnings of Shubb Capos, when Dave Coontz and I came up with a new 5th string capo, and cautiously entered into business. The interview was conducted in June of 2010 by NAMM as part of their oral history project.
