Rickey Neal, a Racine native and multi-talented musician, is set to release his debut country single, “Wisconsin,” on September 13. By day, Neal is a special education and music teacher with the Racine Unified School District, and his past includes a stint as a professional football player in the Canadian Football League and tryouts with the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings.
Neal’s passion for country music began early, influenced by artists like Rodney Atkins and Tim McGraw. His musical journey started at age five with the guitar and expanded to include piano, drums, bass, and saxophone.
Neal’s deep connection to country music is rooted in the genre’s simplicity and storytelling. “I felt like my calling and my voice fit really well with the acoustic guitar and country style,” Neal said. “Country music is simplistic, to the point, and expressive—just like me.”
