weddingmelody

Trista and Ryan's
Wedding Melody Man
Saugus composer adds music to poetry for magic nuptial moment.
12/28/2003
Margie Anne Clark [Signal Staff Writer]

Romance and music just seem to come together whenever Saugus resident Rick Cowling is around. Like a modern day troubadour, Cowling recently romanced the small screen when he serenaded millions of viewers on ABC’s ratings grabbing reality based television show — “Trista and Ryan’s Wedding” which aired in December. “Trista and Ryan’s Wedding” will reprise on ABC’s Trista and Ryan Marathon on Thursday, Jan. 1.
In addition to Cowling’s break-out performance on Trista and Ryan’s Wedding,” Cowling’s vocals and music will soon be heard on radios across America when the newly revamped American Top 40 debuts on Jan. 10. Cowling will become apart of radio history, when radio icon Casey Kasem passes the torch to the show’s new host — Ryan Seacrest. The new Top 40 will not only have a new host, but a new sound as well, thanks to Cowling’s musical talents. The show will be broadcast daily from the Hollywood and Highland complex in Hollywood.
“Everything has just kind of exploded for me,” Cowling said. “I’m just an unknown guy who’s had the good fortune of being hooked up and working with a lot of talented people,” Cowling said.
But his other half has a different take on the key to Cowling’s success in the world of music.
“Everyone who knows Rick, knows that he does so many great things for everybody else,” said his wife Sue, Cowling’s wife of six years.
“I am the wedding singer,” said Cowling, an independent artist who recently joined forces with reality television superstar Ryan Sutter to pen the now phenomenally popular song — “Something About Her.” Country/Western singer, Brad Paisley added the icing on the cake when he joined Cowling and the band as he sang the words to the tune on the show.
The song came about when Cowling’s wife Sue brought the poem to his attention.
“My wife remembered that Ryan had written a poem to Trista on “The Bachelorette” that was really touching,” Cowling said. “The first thing that came to my mind was— it sure would be nice to write a song to those words for their first dance.”
Having found himself captivated by Sutter’s poem to Trista, Cowling was inspired to write the strains of emotional music for Sutters powerful lyrics. The composition proved to be the perfect match to the poem. Cowling recorded the track and played it for Sutter, who immediately started planning the most romantic surprise his lady love could ever hope for.
“He loved it — so he lobbied to have it on the show,” said Cowling, adding that Trista knew nothing about the song. Sutter knew that Brad Paisley was Trista’s favorite singer, so the song writing duo arranged to have the popular country western singer perform the song on the show. The couple took their vows and held their reception at The Lodge at Rancho Mirage near Palm Springs.
“She was really surprised,” Cowling said. “Ryan and Trista have only been together for such a short time, but I’m amazed by how deeply the feel for each other— it’s real, it’s not just a show. Cowling said “Something About Her” evoked so much emotion, that there was not a dry eye in the house.
Since the debut of the song, Cowling and Sutter’s “Something About Her” has quickly gone on to become the hottest and newly requested ‘wedding songs’ for brides (and grooms) across the globe.
“I believe in marriage who heartily,” said Cowling, adding that he was inspired and touched by the sincerity of the famous couple.
“It was not an act. Ryan writes from his heart and he expresses himself very well,” Cowling said.
Expressing himself well seems to be the key to Cowling’s success in the world of music.
Cowling’s credits include singing for moviedoms most famous wedding singer of all — Adam Sandler. Cowling said the gig was booked wedding coordinator Mindy Weiss. It was Weiss who arranged to have Cowling perform for Trista and Ryan’s wedding.
“I was the wedding singer for the wedding singer,” said Cowling, who recently produced and wrote his own CD, “Out of Nowhere” slated for release sometime next year. Among Cowling’s own favorites on the new album is “I’ve Got Cats.”
“It’s a pretty crazy song about the ups and downs of having cats,” Cowling said.
Cowling’s work also include writing and/or recording with an extensive list of artists including, Bonnie Raitt, Laura Branigan, Matthew Sweet, Lamont Dozier, Bobby Womack, Jimmy Buffet, Joan Osborn, Jeff Healy, Mick Fleetwood, Stuart Copeland, Melissa Manchester, Montel Jordan, Jim Peterik (Survivor), and Peter Frampton, among others.
He has written and produced music for numerous television shows such as” Melrose Place,” “Fame L.A.,” and the “Lifetime” series, and “Sisters” to name a few. He has teamed up with friend, Harold Payne to score animation features and Sony Playstation Video Games. He and Payne also co-wrote the theme song, “Share the Dream” for the Inner City Games, sponsored by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Cowling was influenced by his father — Rick Cowling Sr. — a singer/guitar player. The elder Cowling is currently rockn’n rolling in Palm Springs, where Cowling also plays and has played since his childhood. By the age of three, Rick played drums on stage with his father. By age eight, he expanded his talent to vocals, guitar and piano. He started a band, and recorded his first song by over-dubbing his own vocals, percussion, guitar, bass and keys. Throughout his childhood, Rick was a member of several bands in Lincoln, including “The Finnsters”, a three piece group consisting of Cowling and his good friends Terry and TK Olson, who had regional hit with their song “On the Way.”
Cowling moved to California in 1987 and quickly established himself in the music scene as an artist, writer, musician, and producer. But for Cowling — who seems to take his newfound fame in stride — making music is the best part of his success.
“This is just one of those amazing things that happen sometimes and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,” Sue Cowling said.

I'VE GOT CATS! ____________ VW DRIVER ____________	Trista and Ryan's Wedding Melody Man Saugus composer adds music to poetry for magic nuptial moment. 12/28/2003 Margie Anne Clark [Signal Staff Writer] Romance and music just seem to come together whenever Saugus resident Rick Cowling is around. Like a modern day troubadour, Cowling recently romanced the small screen when he serenaded millions of viewers on ABC’s ratings grabbing reality based television show — “Trista and Ryan’s Wedding” which aired in December. “Trista and Ryan’s Wedding” will reprise on ABC’s Trista and Ryan Marathon on Thursday, Jan. 1. In addition to Cowling’s break-out performance on Trista and Ryan’s Wedding,” Cowling’s vocals and music will soon be heard on radios across America when the newly revamped American Top 40 debuts on Jan. 10. Cowling will become apart of radio history, when radio icon Casey Kasem passes the torch to the show’s new host — Ryan Seacrest. The new Top 40 will not only have a new host, but a new sound as well, thanks to Cowling’s musical talents. The show will be broadcast daily from the Hollywood and Highland complex in Hollywood. “Everything has just kind of exploded for me,” Cowling said. “I’m just an unknown guy who’s had the good fortune of being hooked up and working with a lot of talented people,” Cowling said. But his other half has a different take on the key to Cowling’s success in the world of music. “Everyone who knows Rick, knows that he does so many great things for everybody else,” said his wife Sue, Cowling’s wife of six years. “I am the wedding singer,” said Cowling, an independent artist who recently joined forces with reality television superstar Ryan Sutter to pen the now phenomenally popular song — “Something About Her.” Country/Western singer, Brad Paisley added the icing on the cake when he joined Cowling and the band as he sang the words to the tune on the show. The song came about when Cowling’s wife Sue brought the poem to his attention. “My wife remembered that Ryan had written a poem to Trista on “The Bachelorette” that was really touching,” Cowling said. “The first thing that came to my mind was— it sure would be nice to write a song to those words for their first dance.” Having found himself captivated by Sutter’s poem to Trista, Cowling was inspired to write the strains of emotional music for Sutters powerful lyrics. The composition proved to be the perfect match to the poem. Cowling recorded the track and played it for Sutter, who immediately started planning the most romantic surprise his lady love could ever hope for. “He loved it — so he lobbied to have it on the show,” said Cowling, adding that Trista knew nothing about the song. Sutter knew that Brad Paisley was Trista’s favorite singer, so the song writing duo arranged to have the popular country western singer perform the song on the show. The couple took their vows and held their reception at The Lodge at Rancho Mirage near Palm Springs. “She was really surprised,” Cowling said. “Ryan and Trista have only been together for such a short time, but I’m amazed by how deeply the feel for each other— it’s real, it’s not just a show. Cowling said “Something About Her” evoked so much emotion, that there was not a dry eye in the house. Since the debut of the song, Cowling and Sutter’s “Something About Her” has quickly gone on to become the hottest and newly requested ‘wedding songs’ for brides (and grooms) across the globe. “I believe in marriage who heartily,” said Cowling, adding that he was inspired and touched by the sincerity of the famous couple. “It was not an act. Ryan writes from his heart and he expresses himself very well,” Cowling said. Expressing himself well seems to be the key to Cowling’s success in the world of music. Cowling’s credits include singing for moviedoms most famous wedding singer of all — Adam Sandler. Cowling said the gig was booked wedding coordinator Mindy Weiss. It was Weiss who arranged to have Cowling perform for Trista and Ryan’s wedding. “I was the wedding singer for the wedding singer,” said Cowling, who recently produced and wrote his own CD, “Out of Nowhere” slated for release sometime next year. Among Cowling’s own favorites on the new album is “I’ve Got Cats.” “It’s a pretty crazy song about the ups and downs of having cats,” Cowling said. Cowling’s work also include writing and/or recording with an extensive list of artists including, Bonnie Raitt, Laura Branigan, Matthew Sweet, Lamont Dozier, Bobby Womack, Jimmy Buffet, Joan Osborn, Jeff Healy, Mick Fleetwood, Stuart Copeland, Melissa Manchester, Montel Jordan, Jim Peterik (Survivor), and Peter Frampton, among others. He has written and produced music for numerous television shows such as” Melrose Place,” “Fame L.A.,” and the “Lifetime” series, and “Sisters” to name a few. He has teamed up with friend, Harold Payne to score animation features and Sony Playstation Video Games. He and Payne also co-wrote the theme song, “Share the Dream” for the Inner City Games, sponsored by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Cowling was influenced by his father — Rick Cowling Sr. — a singer/guitar player. The elder Cowling is currently rockn’n rolling in Palm Springs, where Cowling also plays and has played since his childhood. By the age of three, Rick played drums on stage with his father. By age eight, he expanded his talent to vocals, guitar and piano. He started a band, and recorded his first song by over-dubbing his own vocals, percussion, guitar, bass and keys. Throughout his childhood, Rick was a member of several bands in Lincoln, including “The Finnsters”, a three piece group consisting of Cowling and his good friends Terry and TK Olson, who had regional hit with their song “On the Way.” Cowling moved to California in 1987 and quickly established himself in the music scene as an artist, writer, musician, and producer. But for Cowling — who seems to take his newfound fame in stride — making music is the best part of his success. “This is just one of those amazing things that happen sometimes and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,” Sue Cowling said.