Man on a mission: Singer Ricky Lee goes extra mile to support vets
Lee will receive the Seven Seals Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, an agency of the defense department, on Oct. 13 at Ginger Betty's Bakery in Quincy, Mass., according to a department spokesperson.
The Seven Seals award is recognition of "highly supporting the men and women who serve in the National Guard and Reserve and their families," according to the website. The Seven Seals Award is the only ESGR award that "bridges both the employer and the ESGR volunteer recognition awards program" and was "created to publicly recognize individuals and firms who provide significant achievement, initiative or support that promotes and supports the ESGR mission." The award will be presented by John Pelose, Massachusetts ESGR Volunteer, Area Chair for Suffolk/Norfolk County.
In September, Lee played for veterans at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Mass. The Altoona resident logs about 25,000 miles by car and air performing each year, he said.
Kevin Dougherty, an event specialist at that hospital, said the veterans' response was "very moving" as vets with Alzheimer's who are usually non-responsive and nonverbal "started tapping their toes and clapping their hands" in time to Lee's patriotic country songs.
Lee, an entrepreneur who markets his own chili recipe, is filled with patriotic passion.
"They've done so much for our country and they've sacrificed a lot through their years of service. It's a great way to give back and inspire them. It's really my mission and one that I'm focused on," he explained. "It's my way of thanking them for letting me live the American Dream."
Lee founded the Music 4 R Vets program several years ago and it is sponsored by the Made in America Store of Elma, New York. Store owner Mark Andol and Lee were introduced to each other shortly after the store opened in 2010. After an introductory phone call made by his then-road manager Bill Brantner of Williamsburg, Lee showed up at the store and played a song he wrote, "Made in America."
"We hit it off. We do events together anywhere we can support veterans," Andol said. The pair did school tours together to encourage youth to enter the skilled trades.
"Ricky just loves people. He's a great human being. He's down to earth and so willing to give to veterans. He has a great love for America," Andol said. "I call him my brother."
Steve Toohey, founder of Operation Flags of Freedom, a nonprofit that does custom flag displays to promote patriotism and salute veterans, said Lee knows how to speak to veterans even though he himself never served.
"You'll never find a guy as enthusiastic about what he does and who does so much for our country's veterans. He's the most selfless guy," Toohey said. "He connects so well to the veterans."
Lee has performed at 30-plus veterans hospitals across the country.
"We all know how music can be healing. I've witnessed this ... I go in and play songs that they will remember when they were growing up, like 'Johnny B. Goode.' For that period of time, the pain leaves them," Lee said.
Brantner, who served in Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, met Lee at a fundraiser when he was commander of the local American Legion. When Brantner retired from his career with New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., he became Lee's road manager and accompanied him to appearances across the country and the recording of his first four albums in Nashville.
"He's a real family man," Brantner said, adding that being an independent artist means Lee can be selective about his schedule and balance home life and touring.
Lee grew up in Altoona, one of seven kids born to Roger and Nancy Lonsinger. He started singing to songs on the radio as a 3-year-old and his parents had him perform for guests, before taking him to performances in clubs in the area.
After graduating from Altoona Area High School in 1985, Lee performed in bars and clubs through the 1990s. He owned a construction company and served as a maintenance supervisor at a medical practice. He married his wife, Lisa, and took a break from music to focus on his family.
He returned to music after meeting Lindsey Connelly of Altoona, who served as an Easter Seals Youth Representative after brain stem cancer treatment left her blind. She had to relearn how to walk and other independent skills through intensive therapies.
After meeting at a fundraiser, the two became "really, really great friends," he said. "She inspired me to go chase my dream again."
He teamed up with a fast-food franchise and toured area schools to encourage students to pursue their dreams and believe in their abilities. Those children, who are now adults, often approach him after performances and tell him they still have his CD.
"She was my greatest inspiration," he said, his voice choking with emotion. Connelly succumbed to a second cancer illness at age 15 in 2006.
"Everytime I perform, she's with me," Lee said. "Sometimes in life you lose your passion and then someone steps in and believes in you and that helps you reinvent yourself."
So Lee renewed his efforts to pursue music full time and recorded his first album in Nashville in 2004. In 2006, he packed the Jaffa Shrine.
Lee calls Massachusetts resident Paula Ryan "his biggest fan." Ryan and her husband, Phil, a Marine veteran, met Lee in Plymouth in 2017. After performing at a VFW, he asked if there were other veteran-related organizations. He went unannounced to the American Legion and met the couple.
"We had just finished a clambake, so we invited him in to meet everyone," Paula Ryan said. "He took out his phone and sang 'Looking for America,' and I remember thinking 'this guy thinks like we do.' He is so patriotic and so dedicated to our veterans."
Since then, Lee has performed numerous times in the Plymouth community, raising funds for the Legion's food pantry, honor guard and scholarships. In November, Lee played for thousands of people to honor Gold Star families.
Known as "America's hometown," Plymouth sites are featured in Lee's music video for the song "(America's) My Hometown," and the Ryans assisted him.
"They're so dedicated and that's what I love about them," Paula Ryan said of Lee and his wife, Lisa.
Lee does his own promotional work, including creating and editing his music videos. "He's very clever and has a lot of natural skills," Andol said of Lee. "He's written over 300 songs, too."
In addition to music, Lee is passionate about cooking — specifically chili.
Currently, Lee is focused on expanding sales of his chili to a national level, he said. Sales regionally have "increased ten-fold" in the past 18 months. His last order with his Pittsburgh manufacturer was for 15,000 jars of the tomato-based chili that has red kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, corn and "secret spices."
"I've had this chili recipe for a long time and would make it for parties and everyone said I should sell it," he said.
Lee does chili tastings at the Made In America store and includes a concert for the tourists who visit by bus.
"He's really a great cook," said Andol, who has visited Lee and his family in Altoona. "People love his chili. It's great. You can add your own meat to it or leave it vegan. People, once they try it, keep coming back for it. He really nailed it and got everything right."
It's now in 50 Giant Eagle stores throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio and about 30 other shops in the region. This fall, he's spending the fall football season cross-promoting a new single he wrote as an anthem for fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers with his chili. "When you look at it — chili, football and tailgate fun — it all goes together," Lee said.
When it comes to his musical success, he said he'd still like to win a Grammy but supporting veterans and their families means more than any award.
So, he's still "living and chasing. So it's a good place to be because you're always trying to hit that next level. The more that I succeed the more that I am able to give back. I've been so fortunate with my life and I've been blessed in so many ways."
Mirror Staff Writer Patt Keith is at 814-949-7030.
Celebrating the Steelers
Ricky Lee is hoping to one day sing the National Anthem at a Pittsburgh Steelers home game, serve up some of his chili during a tailgate and perform his music for Black and Gold Nation — including a new rallying song "Mighty & Bold: We Are the Black & Gold."
Lee released the upbeat single he wrote and performed Sept. 5 on all streaming services.
Lee said he tried to capture "a celebration of the relentless determination, passion and unity that define the Pittsburgh Steelers and their legion of fans."
"I've always been an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan since I was young. I was thinking with all the political stuff going on this would be a fun way to get people together — to unite people," he said.
The song features Lee's passion for the football team he's followed since a child. He's hoping to attract the attention of the Steelers organization.
Lee's song has been met with positive reviews.
Made In America store owner Mark Andol described the song as "wonderful. I'm a Buffalo Bills fan but I like Pittsburgh and I thought it was wonderful. It's a great, great song and is just so energetic. I see it going somewhere."
Founder of Operation Flags of Freedom, Steve Toohey, brought Lee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame parade, which drew 250,000 people in Canton, Ohio.
"There were Steelers fans in the crowd and they started cheering. They liked it," Toohey said, adding that sports allegiance can be mixed because there are three professional football teams in close proximity.
"Ricky knows how to engage with people. (The people) are screaming for him up and down the parade route. He's on the float — then he's off the float. People have gotten to know him and they love him."
The Lee file
Name: Ricky Lee Lonsinger, aka Ricky Lee
Family: 58
Residence: Altoona
Family: Wife, Lisa, and two adult sons
Education: Altoona Area High School, Class of 1985
Employment: Self-employed musician; entrepreneur; previously worked in construction and maintenance
Community Service: Founder, Music 4 R Vets
Awards/Honors: The American Legion Gold Medal of Merit, a national award for civilians, in 2019; Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Seven Seals Award for his support of the guard and reserve's mission
