RICK CUA UNOFFICIAL BIOGRAPY

Cua's musical career began as a young boy playing 'Lady of Spain' on the accordion. He then graduated on to the piano, trumpet, clarinet and eventually the guitar. While the Beatles were rocking the world, Cua and his friends were rocking their Syracuse, New York, neighborhood with their 'garage bands'. From neighborhood jam sessions, Cua formed the "Legends" and found himself playing at local schools and parties. On a good night each member (three) would make three or four dollars. "I remember thinking what a great career music would be," recalls Cua. "I could have fun and make money at the same time."
Cua continued on his musical path all through high school. He also made the switch from guitar to bass. His musical career was on the rise. Cua found himself playing gigs six to seven times a week, sometimes more than once a day.
In 1980 he became a member of The Outlaws, a mainstream rock and roll band who had recorded a number of gold records, including two with Cua.
At the age of 21, Cua married his high school sweetheart, Diana. Though times were often tough as a musician's wife, Diana stood by Cua's side throughout it all. But somewhere along the road things did change. Diana came to accept the Lord as her savior and spent five years faithfully praying for her husband. To this day, Cua praises God for a wife who loved him enough to never give up... because of her faithful prayers, he too was lead to Christ.
Cua's musical career took on new challenges with his newfound spiritual convictions. Suddenly singing about things contrary to God's will was no longer fun. But playing for the Outlaws was too great to give up. It was the glamour and fame all young musicians desire. But soon, that just wasn't enough. Feeling lead to make a transition into Christian music, Cua wrote his first Christian song, You Can Still Rock & Roll. The song and Cua were picked by Refuge Records, a label designed to be an outlet for secular artists who wanted to produce Christian music.
Cua's first album, Koo-ah, was released in 1982 and its first single, You Can Still Rock & Roll, quickly went to number one on the charts. "The way things had fallen into place, I knew that God was behind it," said Cua. "I began to realize that He was leading me in a different direction. When it came time to record my second album, I left the Outlaws and dedicated my music to the ministry."
This was more than a decade ago. Since then, Cua has released eleven albums with six #1 songs and nine top five hits. In addition, he has been nominated for a Dove Award. Cua has taken his ministry on the road, performing before more than one-million people during the past fourteen years both nationally and internationally.
Cua has made his mark in Christian music as an artist who passionately holds on to his Biblical convictions, and in turn communicates uplifting and straightforward messages to his audience. All of his songs are written with the intent to minister to his audience and ultimately point them in the direction of Christ.
In particular, Cua's ministry has been directed toward teens in both his music and lyrics. In more than a decade, Cua has talked straight with teens regarding suicide, abstinence, alcohol and drug abuse, finding yourself in Christ and evangelism. "I've always had a heart for young teenagers," said Cua. "If as adults we can meet them where they are and at the same time encourage them to live as God intended them to, they will be leaps and bounds ahead of the game when they become adults."
Since the release of his first "Christian" album in 1982, Koo-ah, Cua has released nine additional albums: No Mystery (1983), You're My Road (1985), Wear Your Colors (1987), Can't Stand Too Tall (1988), Midnight Sun (1989), Within Reach (1991), The Way Love Is (1992), Songs To Live By (1993), and Times Ten (1995).
Since 1997 Cua is focused on the ah-koo-stiks band. The group consists of Cua on Bass and Vocals, Tony Hooper on Guitar and Vocals and Emedin Rivera on Percussion. Their unique blend of percussive acoustic rock has been released in the album "Like A Cool Drink", and many concerts will follow.
"As a child, I always had a sense of who God was, even though I didn't really know Him. I always had the conviction of the Holy Spirit, even though I didn't know where it was coming from. I also believe that long before I made a serious commitment to Christ, He had His hand on my life. He's the one that was gracious enough to set me forth on 'His Road'."