Rick
Springfield - A Don Juan Doctor by Day and Musical Dynamite at Night!
His mom always wanted him to be a doctor and his
dad warned him, "you can't make a career out of playing the guitar."
Who says father knows best? Rick's proving papa wrong and making mama
proud with his double success as General Hospital's popular Dr. Noah
Drake and the hot-rocking hit maker of tunes like Jessie's Girl and Love
is Alright Tonight, both from his platinum Working Class Dog LP.
But life wasn't always so rosy for the 32 year-old Australian-after a nomadic
army brat childhood set to the music of an electric guitar, Rick arrived
in the U.S. in '72 with a hit single, Speak to the Sky, but his
skyrocketing career eventually crashed due to label and management problems
and his teen idol reputation. Nearly broke and terribly frustrated from
not being taken seriously as a musician, Rick turned to acting to survive.
His study and determination paid off with series guest shots and a stint on Young
& Restless, and landing his GH role proved how versatile he
was. "Music has always been my first priority but I've learned to
love acting-it's helped me grow and I'm a better rock performer because of
it," says Rick, who divides his time between concert dates, the recording
and TV studios, and special appearances. Between GH tapings
he's managed to finish another album (Success Hasn't Spoiled Me, due
out any day) and guest on several specials, including The Night of 100
Stars, airing on ABC Mar. 8. Movies also beckon, and he's sifting
through scripts. "When it rains it pours," the busy musical
medic reflects, but he's not complaining. Rick's making the most of his
second shot at stardom and knows it was well worth the wait!
From the collection of Josie
and Janie Hernandez