Ricky D. was born Richard Lepoy Dugan in April 1951 in Canton, Ohio. His parents were Albert and Betty Dugan. He grew up in foster homes and from 1960 (the same year his father died) until 1968 he attended a private school in Pennsylvania. After graduation he got a job at Stern and Mann but by 1970 he had moved to Kentucky to help his sick mother. In 1971 he went to vocational school to learn the upholstery trade and also sang with a band and he wrote his first song "I Hear Rain Drops." Near the end of 1971 he also wrote "My Falling World of Make Believe." Ricky worked for Imperial Manufacturing until he started his own upholstery business in 1974. In 1976 he also joined the Kentucky Fair Ground Police. In 1977 he met his wife, Laura. In 1979 he was involved in a bad accident at the Fair Grounds that put him out of work for several years. In 1981 his mother died and he learned that he had a dozen brothers and sisters. He had only learned of a few. In 1986 Ricky and his family joined the Sabbatharian faith. In 1990, when he lost his home, he and some other Sabbatharians who were also homeless banded together and left Louisville in search of land to build their community. They stayed at several different locations before Ricky finally found some land on a mountain top for sale that the group bought and then they began to build their town. Conditions were harsh but Ricky was inspired to write songs and perform them for the group. While working on an engine, or mowing grass, he would stop and sing a song. Friends encouraged him to record these songs and finally, in 1997 he recorded "Walking In The Summer Night" and "Goodbye Forever" at Deco Recording Studio in Litchfield. He was encouraged to do more and with financial help, he returned in 1999 to record eight more songs at Deco. His first attempt to find a Nashville connection was unsuccessful but some of his songs began to get local radio play and in 2000 with the help of friends, Ricky recorded an album of 13 songs at MGP Studio in Hodgensville. Most of the year 2000 was spent repairing the damage to the town caused by a tornado. A year later, Ricky made another trip to Nashville to sing his songs at Ambassador Charlie Ray's music festival because he felt the Lord wanted him to go and this time the results would be in his favor. He made friendships with a number of music professionals incuding Charlie Ray, Rein Wortelboer, and Bobbie Patterson, all who are helping to get the songs out there for all to hear. Ricky is the administrator of the town of LaVita which keeps him busy on his mountaintop home that he loves so deeply. His faith in God keeps him going and his continuing success is testimony to what can be accomplished with a strong faith, determination, and the support of family and friends.