Ric Sanders

Ric Sanders
Ric Sanders performing at Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2014
Background information
Birth name	Richard Sanders
Born	(1952-12-08) 8 December 1952 (age 64)
Genres	English folk music Folk rock Jazz Jazz fusion
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instruments	Violin Violectra Electric and MIDI violin Mandolin Ukulele
Years active	1972–present
Labels	Varrick/Rounder Records, Woodworm Records, Green Linnet Records, Matty Grooves Records, Rough Trade Records, Talking Elephant Records
Associated acts	Fairport Convention Soft Machine John Etheridge Gordon Giltrap The Albion Band
Website	The Ric Sanders Trio

Richard 'Ric' Sanders (born 8 December 1952, in Birmingham, West Midlands) is an English violinist who has played in jazz-rock, folk rock, electric folk and folk groups, including Soft Machine and Fairport Convention.

Sanders' first experience with a professional band was in the summer of 1972, touring Europe with classical/rock percussionist Stomu Yamash'ta's Red Buddha Theatre. He later went on to play with jazz pianists Johnny Patrick and Michael Garrick. In the late 1970s he briefly toured as a member of the jazz-rock group Soft Machine and followed with a stint in The Albion Band. In 1981 he co-founded a recording studio, Morgreen Studios, with which he remained active for a few years. In 1984 he joined Fairport Convention and recorded his first album with them, Gladys' Leap, the following year. Since 2002, in addition to his work with Fairport, he has also been working regularly with his trio, known as the Ric Sanders Trio, which features Vo Fletcher on guitar and Michael Gregory on drums and percussion.

Over the years Sanders has worked with a diverse roster of artists, including: Rick Wakeman, Dave Cousins of Strawbs, Jethro Tull, Robert Plant, Roy Harper, Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, Pentangle, Gordon Giltrap, Andrew Cronshaw, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, Charlie Landsborough, All About Eve, The Mission, Fred Thelonious Baker, Catherine Howe and John Etheridge (guitarist with Soft Machine and Stéphane Grappelli) with whom he co-led the group 2nd Vision, whose record has been re-released on Blueprint Records (Voiceprint Records Group).