Ricky David Tripp

Ricky David Tripp, singer, songwriter, husband, father, and grandfather took his final bow on April 12,
2023. Born to the late Ed and Elizabeth Tripp on October 12, 1954 in Hayti, MO or as Ricky liked to call it
“Hey-TIE!” His brother Mike was born two years later and the family eventually relocated to Little Rock,
AR in 1959. Ricky would go on to attend Meadowcliff Elementary and then McClellan High School where
he graduated in 1972. It was during these early years that he made his first of many television
appearances on KATV Channel 7’s ‘The Vic Ames Show’. Ricky would go on to form the Tripp Brother’s
Band with his brother Mike. Together they created music similar to the acoustic stylings of artists like
James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, and John Denver, performing around clubs, restaurants, and other popular
places in the Central Arkansas area.
In 1980 they were featured on a syndicated musical variety television pilot, ‘Illusions’ which was
broadcasted over a five-state area over NBC affiliates, thus launching the two men into a regional
limelight, and as Ricky liked to joke “his first and only time to be in TV Guide”. In 1987 he competed and
won a spot on the legendary “You Can Be A Star!” show on The Nashville Network (TNN) hosted by
Grand Ole Opry member and fellow Arkansan Jim Ed Brown.
In 1992 Ricky competed and won the Country Showdown, the largest music competition in the world at
that time. A national competition with over 60,000 contestants competing, Ricky emerged as the
national winner on stage with Kenny Rogers, Louise Mandrell, and Doug Stone in Branson, MO.
He opened shows for Vince Gill, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and his idol Glen Campbell. He performed for
over 25,000 Arkansans at the Riverfront Ampitheatre singing “America, My Home” a patriotic event
staged in response to the 9/11 attacks. The event was reported on by ABC and CNN, and the song even
played over the Armed Forces Radio Network. Not only was he a musician but he was also an
accomplished magician, doing school performances statewide, and eventually he was inducted into Ring
29 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He was known by name from governors, music
artists, and even a former President of the United States. Needless to say, Ricky Tripp enjoyed a long
and fruitful career doing what he loved best-entertaining.
With all of this said, if you had asked him what his greatest achievement was he would have said being a
husband to his loving wife, Barbara Jean, a father to his son, Christopher and his daughter Courtney,
step-father to Andy and Daniel, and Grandfather to 8 beautiful grandchildren whom he is survived by.
He was proceeded in death by his parents and his brother Mike, whom we’re sure gave him the
warmest of welcomes when he arrived in Heaven. Funeral Services will be held at Geyer Springs Baptist
Church on Tuesday, April 18th at 2:30pm, followed by graveside services at Pleasant Hills Cemetery in
Alexander, AR.

In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to:
Geyer Springs Baptist Church
12400 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR 72210