As allmusic.com states it, Rick Roberts had the good fortune to become part of the Flying Burrito Brothers while they were still within hailing distance of their origins -- and the bad fortune to emerge in country-rock just as the latter was starting to become passé". Well, that might be slightly true, but good country/singer-songwriter, country-rock and southern rock emerged heavily outwards the 70s. Rick Roberts was born in Florida 1949, and moved around Washington DC, South Carolina and Colorado playing guitar and singing at different clubs. He hitchhiked his way to California in 1969, and played in small clubs in the Los Angeles area. He was spotted by Ed Tickner, the manager of the Flying Burrito Brothers, looking for Gram Parsons successor after he left the band. A difficult position to fill, he finally agreed on joining after being persuaded by Chris Hillman. The Flying Burrito Brothers third album (1971) became a good album with Roberts writing a good share of the songs with and without Hillman. Here's one of the really good ones, "Colorado".
.."Why are you crying".
It's quiet hard finding original songs from FBB 3rd on youtube, so my suggestion check it out. Here's by the way a 1971 live concert of FBB with Rick Roberts.
When Chris Hillman left the Flying Burrito Brothers to join Manassass in 1971 Rick Roberts lead the Burrito's for a European tour before recording his debut solo album: Windmills. David Aderle was assigned to be the producer and the cream of the L.A. country-rock community centered around the Troubadour was recruited. They were all "friends" of Rick Roberts and very good musicians and they came up with a lot of ideas that added a great deal to the album. The album's title derives from the dedication to a Dutch/American girl Rick Roberts met while touring the Netherlands with the Burrito's.
The musicians on Windmills are: Don Henley (Eagles), Bernie Leadon (Flying Burrito, Eagles), Randy Meisner (Eagles), Jackson Browne, Al Perkins (Flying Burrito), Joe Lala, Chris Hillman (Byrds, Flying Burrito), DallasTaylor, David Crosby (Byrds, CSN), Mother Hen, Byron Berline, Lee Sklar, MikeUtley, Marc Benno and of course Rick Roberts.
Here's "Davy McVie" from "Windmills".
Settling in Boulder Colorado Rick Roberts recorded "She is a song" at a small independent studio. Fresh from Manassas Chris Hillman assumed production duties. Rick Roberts called on local players to grace the second album including Joe Walsh's Barnstorm and members of Poco. The musicians are: Paul Harris, George Grantham, Al Perkins, Kenny Passarelli, Joe Lala, Joe Walsh, Chris Hillman, Joe Vitale, Rusty Young, Steve Fromholz and Rick Roberts.
Touring solo to promote the second album Rick Roberts performed at Max's Kansas City early 1973, where he ran into Gram Parson's Fallen Angel Band. Befriending Jock Bartley, a member of the Fallen Angels, they hooked up back in Boulder recruiting the musicians to form a group that became Firefall. Michael Clarke from the FBB and the Byrds also started out with Firefall.
"Glad to be Goin'" from "She is a Song".
"Lights" from "She is a Song".
Also check out Rick Roberts biography at Allmusic.com.
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