ALL ACCESS: Rico Thomas Talks Winter Jam

Spending a weekend at a concert featuring your favorite band/artist can cost you up to 300 or 400 dollars, and that's just on tickets for seats not even close to the stage where all the action is. Try Winter Jam: an unbelievably large roadshow that only cost $15 dollars, making the fun affordable and the output of the gospel possible. Artists of genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, worship, and many others share the stage in one night in one city before moving onto the next city.

Winter Jam (WJ) stops in 40-50 cities in the east coast every winter and hundreds of thousands of lives are changed. This year, Skillet, Building 429, Kari Jobe and multiple other artists are making the rounds. Winter Jam also performs a limited-date tour in the west coast during the fall. 

Since the tour's formation by Newsong in 1995, the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular has featured many of the top names in Christian music, including TobyMac, Skillet, Hillsong UNITED, Lecrae, for KING & COUNTRY, Newsboys and more. The tour has also been a launching pad for great artists such as Francesca Battistelli and Sidewalk Prophets. It has often outpaced any other tour's attendance worldwide during the first quarter of the year.

NewSong still plays every night on the tour. Among the legendary members of NewSong is California-native, Rico Thomas, guitarist. Rico is on tour and delivers a rocking contribution to the music that NewSong performs. Rico has played for many artists and has many miles under his belt as a touring artist. We had the opportunity to talk with Rico about what Winter Jam is, what the tour means to him and what Winter Jam has done for him.

Thanks Rico for taking the time to talk with us and giving us your thoughts. First off, give us a little background about yourself. How long have you been with NewSong? Have you played for other bands/artists?

I started at seven years old and played all over LA back in my secular days. I've toured with pop-star, Michael Damian, did television and studio work and produced, had my own band, played clubs and worked for anyone that would hire me. Had no shame or pride when it come to working in music. I did the Jazz and blues circuit, rock circuit, pop circuit and played on the streets for money, would teach, the list goes on. It was about survival in LA. 

I have been in the NewSong camp for about 14 years. It was a God destination to walk in at that time and it has been a rewarding experience on the ministry side of this group like no others. I was freelancing in Nashville since mid 1993, starting my Christian career and new life. I was getting hired by so many back then and was going from tour to tour with artists like Charlie Peacock, Margaret Becker, Out of the Gray, DC Talk, Michael W. Smith, etc. I was out with Cee Cee Winans, Clay Cross and Rachel Lampa for that year prior to joining up with NewSong and the rest is history. God knew it all before I did, that’s for sure.

What has Winter Jam, over the years, done for you as a musician? Have you learned anything about yourself, professionally and spiritually?

You know John, I have been touring for years and actually started at 18 years old, right out of high school. Winter Jam has been like no other tour I have done, it brings light to a dark day, it brings hope to the hopeless and lots of love to the people. It gives back so much of what it has earned and has blessed many of us over the years. WJ has made history by being a number one tour for several years. It’s God’s tour we say, not ours, He is the headliner and the star of the night. 

I have grown in many ways from the secular world as a human and lover of Christ, not sure if my playing has got better, was a early developer when young but have definitely grown as a musician and team player, it’s all about choices and not putting your self first. We hardly play anymore with the time slots being so short now a days so that does not help your chops. I want to keep getting better in all area’s of my life though including playing my instruments and my Spiritual walk and continue to seek a deeper loving heart for others. Yoga and reading my Bible in the mornings is one of my favorite things on WJ, it is a great way to start the day before it gobbles you up and spits you out. I always try and be professional in my work and respect others but the road can break you down sometimes and we can get weak so I always lean to my favorite verse, Psalms 27:1. Through God’s blessing, He has made it happen over the years. 

You said you've been with NewSong for 14 years, and every year since 2003. What's one of your fondest memories of a show on the Winter Jam tour?

Yeah John, there has been so many great memories on this tour. A few stand out and have blessed tremendously like helping a homeless lady on the streets getting in as she asked me for money and she said, "I really need to get in that concert, can you help me?” I surprised her with my Winter Jam badge. Or meeting a homeless young mother that was brought in to the catering area, off the streets with her child, went to the bus and cried for a minute or two, then got it together and came back out and prayed with her and gave her my per diem from the week as her story touched my heart deeply. Once gave a guitar a way to a young boy on tour years ago which was fun. These are the things that bless me as well and give me purpose. Besides all those opportunities to give, just being out with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ sharing the same hopes and dreams fellowshipping and sometimes gathering in a small group together and Jam Church so I can not say my fondest moment. There are too many. I can tell you my worst moment a few years ago stepping off the stage and breaking both feet but we won’t go there. Haha. (Photo Courtesy of Shannon Bowman Goins) 

Winter Jam has been famous for the low admission price of 10-15 dollars. Why has it stayed so low?

The price of WJ has been made over the years to be affordable for families to come. It is a huge expense to put on a show like this but through God’s blessing, He has made it happen over the years. It has just reached that period to do so at $15 so we can keep the tour out. A lot goes into it and sponsorships help out as well too.

Beside being a part of the founding band of Winter Jam, Rico has solo projects on iTunes, Spotify and CD Baby, including Peaceful Feelings: The Acoustic Collection. 

You can find Rico on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/RicoThomas. To see Rico on tour with NewSong, you may visit www.jamtour.com and www.newsong.com. 

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I was lucky to attend the Winter Jam Tour at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fl. on Saturday, Jan. 13. The tour was phenomenal with events such as a question and answer session with Dan Bremnes, Russ Lee of NewSong, Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, hosted by comedian John Crist, and a time of the teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ from Nick Hall.

The Pre-Jam Party hosted performances by Westover, Mallary Hope and Dan Bremnes and Jordan Feliz began the night with songs "The River" and "Can I get a Witness." NewSong opened their set with upbeat song "I am a Christian," and ended their set with the legendary and beautiful, "Arise my Love." KB brought the crowd to their feet with his upbeat, hip-hop performance of "We Believe." Kari Jobe and husband, Cody Carnes teamed up to deliver a session of worship to Amalie Arena and Building 429 delivered their performance after singer, Jason Roy took a moment to talk about Holt International and the benefits of sponsoring a child.

Skillet took the stage after two failed attempts of getting the introduction song underway. John Cooper took the crowd by surprise by being lowered onto stage from the roof during their newest hit song, "Feel Invincible." Skillet interacted with the crowd by performing "Stars" on a stage toward the back of the arena, giving others the chance to be up-close and intimate. Skillet ended the night with fire and fury with "The Resistance."

For more information on tour dates and additionally ticket options, you may visit, www.jamtour.com. If you would like to know more about sponsoring a child through Holt International, visit holtinternational.org.