It's been 5,144 days since Rick Tippe left the stage and retired from his career as a country music singer and songwriter.
Tonight (Thursday, Sept. 11), he's making a return of sorts, performing two songs before a sold-out crowd in Kelowna, as part of the Canadian Country Music Awards.
The 66-year-old Maple Ridge resident, who officially retired last month from his latest career (Rick, his wife Bonnie, and sons Tyler and Cameron – both Red Seal mechanics – ran a commercial truck repair shop called Dynamic Powertrain Ltd.), said he couldn't turn down this invitation.
Tippe insists he's not coming out of retirement again, but when he was received a call a few months ago asking him to be part of the CCMA's Legend show, it was a no brainer.
"This is only the third time in 47 years of CCMA weeks that they have come to B.C.," said Tippe, who grew up in the country music industry, shadowing his father Elmer Tippe – a true legend in Canadian country music both as a musician and radio disc jockey.
"I had to be apart of this rare opportunity," Tippe told The News. "It was an honour to be asked."
Not having attended the CCMA awards for 17 years, Tippe did jump at the chance to be part of the four-day affair, excited to catch up with old friends and fans, sign on for a gig in the Legends show, and attend the CCMA awards show on Saturday.
"CCMAs have been doing this show for 12 years now," he said, referring to tonight's Legends event.
"They feature us so-called legends and new artists all in one show. Everyone does one of their hit songs from their career then we pair up with a new artist (who does one of their hit songs) for a duet of a classic song."
Tippe is being paired up with fellow Lower Mainland resident Tony Steven.
"I really like what he is doing," he said of the new artist's work, noting he also looks forward to performing with the CCMA house band that he described as friends as well as "great musicians and background vocalists."
"The CCMA band is going to be great to rock out with," he said just hours before taking the stage.
