Another Wellsville kid, Whitwood began playing guitar at the age of 14. The older, established musicians at the time including Monty Case, Cort Dunham and Hansiell Dunn were nice enough to frequent the Sunday jam sessions at Whitwood motors to help several young players cut their teeth on rock and roll. Out of these jam sessions, Whitwood and a few friends formed their first band, which they called “Jack Frost”.

From 1981 – 1983 Jack Frost performed around the Wellsville area and had some memorable gigs, many of which took place at the Casino Inn and progressed to sound like a “real band”. Music as a vocation was already eminent and Whitwood attended The Recording Workshop in Ohio and eventually landed a job as a Disc Jockey on Wellsville’s fledgling FM station WJQZ.

Joining Dunham, Case and later Carlin in Zoar, Rick’s bluesy guitar and vocals have long been a cornerstone of the Zoar sound. As the driving force behind the band’s pursuit of original music, Whitwood continues to write and the band continues to perform many original songs that are highlights of their live performances.

A professed sports junkie, he also serves as the bands truck driver, booking agent, promoter and historian. Expect to see him with cool old Fender or Gibson guitars, a tube amplifier sufficiently cranked, and a pair of semi-tattered Chuck Taylors. Writer of such Zoar favorites as 65 Mustang, Big House, Livin’ the Hard Way, Restless Tonight and Poor Man’s Queen, 2004 will see a new CD with a wide array of friends sitting in.