 Making Plans is Ricky Van Shelton's first new album since leaving the only record company he'd ever known back in 1994. He released this album on his own and distributed it exclusively with Wal-Mart back in 1997. Now, in 1998, Vanguard is making this album available everywhere. Making Plans, with its simple, direct songs and powerful vocals, returns Ricky Van Shelton to those award-winning ways. Better yet, it takes him to a new place, a world of creative self-reliance where he doesn't have to answer to anyone but himself--and his fans. Ricky was born in Danville, Virginia to Jenks and Eloise Shelton. He was brought up in a small community called Grit, where his parents still live today. Ronnie and Don Shelton are his brothers, and his sisters are Judy Underwood and Cacky Guill. Ricky is the youngest sibling. As a young boy, he loved being outdoors, and would camp out in the neighborhood woods during the summer with his friends; all they needed was a blanket. They used to explore the area and hiked for miles each day -- his youth was filled with fun, innocence and daily adventures. Besides drawing, Ricky spent a great deal of his time singing; whether he was in church, at fish fries, or in his bedroom -- singing was Ricky's life. He fell in love with country music when he was fourteen years old and discovered a style that combined gospel, rock n' roll and soul music. He has been hooked on country ever since. After high school, he continued to perform wherever possible, accepting local bookings at lodges, clubs, and private parties. For years, he worked a regular day job, rehearsed in the evenings and performed on week-ends. His past jobs have included car salesman, house painter, plumber, appliance store manager and construction worker. He pumped gas at Jack Dawson's service station and even cut up chickens in the meat department of a local grocery store. Whenever a particular "day" job interfered with his "music", he quit and found something else. Today, when he's not touring, Ricky spends time flying his airplane, working on his 150-acre farm, gardening, repairing his collection of classic cars and antiquing.
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