White Saddle Band Rides Concert Circuit for Three Decades

The White Saddle Band has been riding the concert circuit for 30 years.

Lake Zurich resident Rich Nelson, said he "inherited the band" 25 years ago when he moved to town.

Nelson is the band's vocalist and bass guitarist for the country band that covers groups such as Poco, the Eagles and Van Morrison—as well as having a bunch of their own songs.

"My first night in town was the first gig I played in Lake Zurich at Alpine Fest," Nelson said.  "I came back to my empty house that had a cooler, air mattress and a sleeping bag. The movers were coming the next day.  I had no radio, no tv, nothing. Just a big empty house and my guitar. That was it."

The band has played at Paulus Park as well and several other Alpine Fests over the years.

"The Lions Club has always been very good to us," Nelson said.

The band also has played larger venues, such as the Chicago Country Music Festival in 2009, has opened for the Outlaws, played at the Minnesota State Fair and the Rockford Waterfront Fest. "Pick a town—we've played it over the years," Nelson said. 

Over time, there have been 18 different members of the band, who all still stay in communication with the band in one way or another. The band was born in Elk Grove Village.

Nelson said he keeps track of all the band members by assigning numbers to them. As best as he can recall, he's No. 8 or 9. He's not quite sure, but if he's not No. 8, then Les Urban of Crystal Lake, also known as "Les Story" for his tale-telling capabilities, plays pedal steel guitar, guitar synth, guitar and sings vocals.

Nelson played in another band with Urban before they both joined the White Saddle Band.

They got involved when the band asked to do a recording at the studio in Urban's house. Nelson was asked to play acoustic guitar and vocals. They then played in the nationwide Marlboro band contest. A couple people left the band, and they stepped in, Nelson said.

No. 17, guitarist Mike O'Cull, is from South Elgin and has been with the band about four years. He played with the newest member of the band—drummer Derek Crawford, originally from Northern Michigan, who now lives in Chicago. Crawford earned his bachelor's degree in music from the University of Michigan.

O'Cull joined the band when they had advertised for a guitarist. Nelson said O'Cull introduced himself by telling the band he'd been to the website, knowing what songs they played, rattling off the artists they cover and saying, "You guys need me."

"How hard core is he?" Nelson said. "He came to audition on his wife's birthday. We figured anybody that hardcore really means it. He's a hard player and a really, really, really good guy."

The band has some CDs, but they don't really charge for them.

"If they come up after a show and say they really like the band; if they've taken the time and trouble to come up afterwards to say something nice to us, that's my personal way to thank them—to give them a CD," Nelson said. "It doesn't cost that much to make, and if it makes somebody's day, it's worth 10 times that."

Nelson found his love for music at an early age. He and his mother used to ride around in the family car singing as loud as they could with the windows open. That's how he learned to sing harmony. By age 15, he played his first gig.

"It becomes something you just do," Nelson said. "I can never envision not playing music in some way, shape or form."

All current and past band members dream of the big time and never lose that hope.

"We're going to continue doing what we do," Nelson said. "Looking for places to play. Bring our music to people and getting the response that we do. It's a good thing."

The band will just keep riding its way along the concert circuit, adding new members as needed, and Nelson has no plans to quit any time soon.

"A bad day of music is better than a good day doing anything else," he said.