Artist:Rick Cua
Song:Don't Say Suicide
Album:You're My Road
Rick Cua is a singer, songwriter and bassist who had success in CCM in the 80s. He had several hits on the Christian charts including the 1985 single Don't Say Suicide. When he faded in the late 80s, he worked as a publishing executive. He was born Dec. 3, 1948 in Syracuse, NY. His father was a music teacher. As a child, Cua played the accordion. As a teen, he tried several instruments but gravitated towards the bass. He was in several bands. Cua was raised Catholic. But his wife Diana who became a Christian in 1972 was praying that he would get saved too. And that happened in 1977. He joined the veteran country rock band Outlaws in 1979. They had success in the mid 70s. But they had faded by this time. Then Cua met former Wings drummer Joe English. After leaving Wings, he became a Christian and formed his own Christian rock band. When Cua found out about this, he left Outlaws in 1983 and released a couple of Christian rock albums on English's label Refuge. Then he signed with EMI's CCM label Sparrow and released the 1985 album You're My Road. The single Don't Say Suicide reached the Christian charts and the album did well too. Cua produced with Bob Halligan Jr. who is also from Syracuse. Cua, his wife and Halligan wrote Don't Say Suicide. Jock Guthrie played the guitar solo. A remastered version of this album was released by the CCM reissue label Girder Records. Cua recorded two albums for Sparrow. He switched to Reunion Records. Cua didn't have the same success there. He left in 1993 and started his own label. Meanwhile, he took a job as vice president of creative development at EMI Christian Music Publishing. Since leaving there in 2003, Cua has been running his own management and publishing company. He last recorded in 2007. But he rereleased all his albums on Girder. And recent Facebook posts indicate plans to release a compilation CD. Cua's music is definitely rock. But I'm not sure if mainstream rock fans would like the Christian lyrics. Here's the video for Don't Say Suicide by Rick Cua.
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