Playing It By Heart: 40 Years of Piano and Passion with Rick Medlin

Rick Medlin knew he wanted to play the piano since he was in first grade. After years of begging for lessons, his folks finally caved when he was in fourth grade. It didn’t take long before young Rick was pounding out tunes on a humble upright grand piano—a passion that would eventually echo across the hills of Silver Dollar City for 40 unforgettable years.

“I can’t even tell you why I wanted to play so badly,” he laughs. “Probably because I’d always listen to the piano in church and loved how the notes came together. When Mom and Dad bought me that $75 piano, they thought it was just a phase, so they were really surprised when it stuck. I showed them!”

He sure did. His proud parents watched their son’s passion for piano take shape and even carve out a career path at a park they all loved to visit as a family. “I remember my very first trip to The City. Guests parked just past the Gazebo. We’d sit on our car's hood and watch the Street Troupe show. I knew this place was really special.”

In 1977, Rick returned to that special place as an employee after getting his first part-time piano gig at The Silver Dollar Saloon. He left a few years later to pursue work on a showboat in St. Louis, but the heart of the Ozarks kept pulling him back. He returned in 1983 to teach at Reeds Spring High School, then got a call from an old friend.

“My buddy from Silver Dollar City said they were hiring for summer help back at the Saloon and asked me if I was interested. I thought that sounded like something fun to do a few days a week. All these years later, it’s still what I’m doing a few days a week, and it’s still just as fun! It’s mind-boggling to think how our humble little park has grown into such an incredible family destination.”

Rick says he’s been blessed to step away from the piano and onto a stage over the years, playing Bart, Mean Murphy, Buffalo Fred and many others at the Saloon. He added a new role to his repertoire during the Spring Exposition this season—The Ragtime Review.

“It has been such a joy being right there with the guests and playing all of my old Ragtime favorites! It feels like a throwback to Silver Dollar City’s early days before we had stages and microphones. I’m just shoulder to shoulder with the guests, sharing my music in a more personal setting. That’s really neat to me.”

Rick is now retired from teaching History, AP Psychology and Civics but says he can’t see himself leaving behind his “for fun” job any time soon.

“I know for a fact that the fourth-grade version of me would be so surprised that I’m still making a living out of something I love. My first piano teacher, Mrs. Phillips, would be pretty proud, too! I’ve been so fortunate to work with extraordinary people over the decades. As long as there’s a piano and a crowd, you’ll find me right here,” he said. “As long as we keep that family feel here at the park, we will all last forever!”