The death of singer Rick, from the duo Rick and Renner, shook many of the artist's fans and admirers throughout Brazil. In Acre, country singer William Freitas recorded a video singing the duo's hits. The video was posted this Tuesday morning (22), when Santa Catarina firefighters found the helicopter that crashed with the artist on Monday (21).
In addition to Rick, businessman Bruno Avelar, videomaker Paulo Soares, pilot Antônio Roberto Nóbrega de Araújo and co-pilot Leopoldo Barros Teixeira were on the helicopter.
William's video was recorded in Cruzeiro do Sul, in the interior of Acre, the city where William lives. In the images, the singer performs the song 'Só Pense em Você'. (See video above)
"We decided to record the solo for 'Só Pense em Você', which I consider one of the duo's biggest hits. These singers have made an impact on my life. I've been playing since 2015, and I say it was always them. We even sang other country artists, but, like their songs, they don't have any. Everyone wants them", says William.
Acre singer William Freitas recorded a video performing hits by Rick and Renner — Photo: Personal archive
To g1, the singer explained that he grew up in a country music environment, influenced mainly by his father, who played the songs in the house where the family lived. "Everyone in my house really liked it. In several performances I've sung 'Mãe' to my matriarch, it still touches me to this day", he says.
Furthermore, the singer from Acre highlighted that he was shaken to learn of Rick's death, however, now he intends to continue singing great hits. "The artist dies and it's a pain, but the legacy remains. He was one of the greatest singers of Brazilian music. We will continue singing and praising his lyrics", he added.
Rick, from the duo with Renner, disappeared after traveling in a helicopter — Photo: Disclosure/Instagram RickSollo
Shaken fan
Jucineide Soares Espindola, 56, from Acre, has been following Rick and Renner since the 1990s. A declared fan, she says she received messages from friends and family as soon as the helicopter's disappearance was confirmed, this Monday (21).
"Yesterday [Monday], I was very sad when I found out and I immediately prayed to God, that they would be found alive. It's very sad and I'm still lying down, I couldn't even eat. When we really like each other, we identify with each other. I was faithful to them and I had all the tapes", he says.
Upon learning of the fall, Jucineide still held out hope that the singer could be found alive. "Today [Tuesday, 22], my friend called me from Brasiléia to share the news and my world fell apart", he says.
The passion for the duo made Jucineide face a real adventure to try and attend a show at Expovel in Porto Velho, in 2002. She says that she traveled with her niece and even caught a ride with a truck driver friend who had a trailer to get to her destination.
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"I remember that I worked all day to leave on a Friday night, it was 2002, and there was no good road connecting Acre. We went through different parts of the trip until arriving in Rondônia but we missed the show that was on a Saturday and only arrived on Monday, wow, I was devastated", she declares.
Furthermore, Jucineide's story with the duo also includes a show, somewhat improvised, in Rio Branco. She says that when Rick Renner came to sing at Expoacre 2005, there was also trouble and she had to watch the show outside the Exhibition Park.
"I had recently separated and my children were young, so you see, I couldn't buy the ticket because it was too expensive for me. But, even so, I decided to go to the front of the park, watched the show outside and heard them singing. It was all very, very good", he says.
Admitted fan
The Acre domestic worker's relationship with Rick and Renner began when she discovered the duo's music through the influence of an old boyfriend. He used to listen to the songs in the car and ended up introducing her to the work of country folk, which even reminds her of the music that marked her at the time.
"It was definitely the song 'Ela é Demais', he played it on those tapes and we went around the city listening to Rick and Renner, it was really good. Then I started following it and fell in love with them. To this day it [the song] represents me. It reminds me of everything and it was really good", he recalled.
Acreana Jucineide Soares Espindola, 56 years old, has been a fan of the duo since the 1990s — Photo: Personal archive
The relationship with the boy ended, but the passion for the duo remained. To this day, Jucineide says that she is recognized by her friends as a big fan of Rick and Renner. "The relationship didn't work out, but we still talk. However, the love for my partner remained strong", he joked.
For years, Jucineide also collected materials related to Rick and Renner. She says she had several of the duo's tapes and bought products from the artists. However, according to the maid, some of this material ended up being lost over time, but the songs remained in memory.
"During that time I ended up getting married again and my ex-husband was jealous of my love for the duo, he didn't understand what it meant to be a fan. One day I got home and he had set everything on fire, poster, CD, DVD, magazine. Now we have nothing but luckily we can watch it on YouTube" she declares.
Jucineide's passion for the duo was so well known among those close to her that, after news of the accident, she began receiving messages from friends and family. "Everyone who knows me knows that I like them. I'm a real fan", he concluded.
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