This fall, Rick George Sheets ‘12 celebrated a major milestone in his music career: two nominations at the Josie Music Awards, one of the largest platforms for independent musicians. A finalist for both Emergent Artist of the Year and Classic Country Album of the Year, Rick has gained traction in the country-Americana scene — an achievement rooted in creative growth, patience, and the community that’s supported him since his years at Geneva College.
Rick was initially drawn to Geneva because of his interest in a music business major. Having grown up in the Pittsburgh area, he wanted to stay in state and test the waters a little to see if music business was something he wanted to pursue long-term. Although he switched majors after his first semester, Rick firmly believes music business was God’s way of getting him to the place where he would put his faith in the Lord. Rick didn’t know anybody at Geneva; early on, he prayed one night that he could meet people and make friends. God answered that prayer abundantly, providing him with a group of friends that he still regularly talks with thirteen years later. During Rick’s year on the second floor of Memorial Hall, a tight-knit community developed. The hall participated in a Bible study on Sundays, and they frequently ate together at the dining hall. Rick says, “Being in that environment brought me closer to God.”
Rick eventually graduated as a business major with a marketing concentration. He started a marketing club at Geneva which eventually led to his first job post-graduation when a good friend in the club mentioned his marketing agency was hiring. Yet, his interests were not restricted to business. Though he had stepped back from a formal music education, music had always held a special place in Rick’s heart. As a child, Rick had recorded himself singing Disney songs. As he got older, he joined a few metal bands as he became more interested in Americana country music. He also wanted a chance to sing the songs he wrote. Rick’s first show was held in a side room at Beaver Falls Coffee and Tea, a favorite haunt of Geneva students across the street from the campus. He recalls performing for nearly an hour and enjoying a good turnout of friends.
Today, Rick’s day job is as a digital marketing consultant with an advertising agency, but he hopes to eventually turn his lifelong hobby and passion for music into something bigger. Two years ago, he recorded a cover of a Waylon Jennings song in Nashville, which he describes as a mixture of exciting and intimidating, as several of his fellow musicians played for much bigger artists. This cover gave Rick the chance to establish his profile on streaming platforms and distribution websites.
In 2024 Rick put out an EP of original music that he recorded in Dayton, his current hometown. This album contains songs he’s been “sitting on” for awhile, songs rooted in poignant life moments. For example, “Here We Are” poetically embellishes the story of Rick meeting his wife, Abbie (Whalin) Sheets ‘11, at Geneva. As he continues to build his repertoire, Rick’s performances in restaurants and breweries are usually a mix of covers and solo acoustic music as well as original songs. Though he typically performs 3-4 times a month, recently Rick has chosen to step back from performing so he can spend time completing a full length album of 8-10 songs. Rick is grateful for the extra time, since he readily acknowledges he is still learning the process of music business.
This November, Rick participated in the Josie Music Awards show after being nominated in two categories. The Josie Music Awards showcase independent musicians of all genres. Since many other award shows tend to focus on popularity, the Josie awards seek to help budding artists who don’t have a big distributor and aren’t household names. Rick was nominated for both the Emergent Artist of the Year and Classic Country Album of the Year awards. His music is available on his website and most music-streaming platforms, including Spotify.
By Sarabeth Sangrey ’25
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