Born in the Rio Grande Valley on the border of Texas and Mexico, Joe Martyn Ricke (pronounced Rickee) is a singer, songwriter, poet, actor, and raconteur in the tradition of Texas singer-songwriter-poet-actor--raconteurs.

Joe’s songs — written and sung — draw upon and blend the traditions of American and European folk music with the special sounds of gospel, bluegrass, country, rockabilly, and country rock. His songs imagine vivid landscapes, loud characters, and big stories that cut deep. 

Influenced by the classic American sounds of the Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, Steve Earle, he has been inspired anew by the local musicians and hardworking folks of the towns up and down the edge of the hill country, between San Antonio and Austin. Whatever he writes about, Joe brings a big voice, a strong sense of irony, and a poetic imagination to stories of love, loss, faith, heartache, and redemption.

Proud of being a Native Texan and still getting back down to the his Rio Grande roots whenever he can, Joe is excited to be part of the vibrant community of singer/songwriter/poet/visionaries who call this big part of the big world home. He has lived in Florida, New York, and Indiana at different times, but he was always “from Texas.”

Joe's father couldn't sing a lick, but he would always try to croon “Streets of Laredo” when he was out on a fishing trip. This perhaps had something to do with how few fish he caught. Joe's mother, the notoriously beautiful Nita Ricke, would recite sentimental poetry, paint bad impressionist paintings, and sing traditional American songs (which she learned as a child in the hills of Arkansas), accompanying herself on the harmonica and, badly, on the banjo. Her father, Charles Thompson, was a member of the hillbilly band, The Arkansas Travelers (whose 78s you can still sometimes find in a thrift store).

Joe performs solo and as a duo with his talented singer-songwriter brother, Gordo. Together they are “The Ricke Brothers from Mercedes, Texas” raising the roof wherever they play with their infectious harmonies and inspired performances. Catch them the last Saturday of every month at Poodies Hilltop Roadhouse in Spicewood, Texas (on I-71 just twenty miles outside of Austin).

Joe’s recent album, “Little Clarissa and Other Stories,” produced by the amazing David Beck and featuring the soaring fiddle work of Katie Shore (Asleep at the Wheel) is now available from Chapel Hill Music on Spotify and the other platforms.

Some of the above is true. All of it, we hope, is interesting. Listen to Joe’s music or, better yet, come out and meet him in person, to figure out which is which.