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/span>Gone are the days of long-haired balladeers who melted women’s hearts with romantic songs.

Yet, Australian singer and songwriter Rick Price, famous for hit songs such as “Heaven Knows” and “If You Were My Baby” in the 1990s, is still a gentleman who touches each soul with his sweet songs.

In the music industry for 20 years, Price started life as a pop star by producing a great first album, Heaven Knows, in 1992. Price has produced seven albums since, although none were as big as his debut.

“I had a lot of good memories of 1993, 1994, 1995. Indonesia embraced my songs, ‘Heaven Knows’, ‘If You Were My Baby’, ‘Fragile’, ‘Nothing Can Stop Us Now’. I have wonderful memories of that time,” Price told The Jakarta Post.

“Heaven Knows” was named the Australian Performing Rights Association’s song of the year in 1993. Price said that the album sold at least 250,000 copies worldwide.

He moved to Nashville in the US four years ago. Price says that he finds the place a perfect sanctuary for him to have an intimate relationship with music.

Last year, Price released his eighth record, The Water’s Edge, which was produced in the US.

“My new album, The Water’s Edge, is about a celebration of love and gratitude. It’s a very positive record. It’s about falling in love — love at first sight,” said the 51-year-old, adding that entering a new phase in his life has introduced an optimistic flavor into his works.

Price said that he had written enough sad songs back in the day, and it was about time for him to produce happy love songs.

“I wrote about my feelings at that time,” said Price, who has visited Indonesia eight times so far.

Price chose “Shape of My Heart” as his first single from the new album.

“It’s a song for my wife. I love my wife very much. I think marriage is a big commitment to loving somebody. I was a bachelor for a long time. I’ve been married to her for just one year,” said Price, who plays guitar, drums, bass and piano.

For his latest record, Price said he wanted to produce simple songs with a blues and folk sound.

“I’ve always been influenced by rhythm and blues. I think it’s more roots-based in the production of the record. It’s similar to my second album, which I made back in the 1995, Tamborine Mountain.

“A lot of my songs started with acoustic guitar, or just piano. I’ve kept the production very simple. It has a slight — I wouldn’t say country — folk and blues feel in some places,” he said.

However, Nashville has indeed influenced his music.

Price said many think that Nashville is just about country music, but actually they have all kind of music there.

Born in Beaudesert, a small-town near Brisbane, Queensland, to a music-loving family, Price started to sing when he was 4 years old. At the age of 9, Price joined his family band, United Beau.

Learning how to play musical instruments was a regular activity for him as a child. He, however, knew that singing was the main thing for him.

In the early 1980s, when he was just 18, Price looked for a better stage in Sidney. After a lot of hard work, Price had the opportunity to release his first hit single, “Not a Day Goes By”, before he made history with “Heaven Knows” in 1992 under Sony Records.

Having been a pop star for two decades, Price said that he has been enjoying his current simpler life and that he did not miss the busy life he had back in the 1990s.

“I still do tours, but not as many,” said Price, who starred in a narrative concert, The John Denver Story, where he interpreted Denver’s story and songs, in Australia. The theatrical production garnered praise from 26,000 theatergoers.

“I’m in a new phase in my life. I embrace the present moment. Whatever is happening now is the most important thing. I have great memories of that time. It was really exciting because of my first record, and I was just thrilled to know that people liked it,” said the man who has been inspired by Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Michael Jackson, among other artists.

Next, Price said that he would just continue with his music projects, including producing his ninth album.

“I think life is simpler when you get older. Better or worse, keep it simple.”

— Photos JP/Nurhayati