Blue Love Monkey is the performing identity of singer / songwriter Rick Nafey. Rick began playing guitar and harmonica in the early '60's, listening to the folk and blues music of Reverend Gary Davis, Muddy Waters, Dave Van Ronk and John Lee Hooker. He developed his guitar style drawing from the genre crossing explorations of John Fahey and Sandy Bull. In 1964, Nafey and protégé Billy Borsey formed Billy & The Kids, a blues-rock group in the Rolling Stones - Kinks vein.
By 1967, Rick was writing songs, inspired by the work of Fred Neil, Mike Heron, Robin Williamson and Michael Hurley. Working at his home studio with Borsey and other friends, Nafey recorded a wildly eclectic collection of original material with influences ranging from The Holy Modal Rounders to George Jones and Tammy Wynette. From these sessions grew a performing band - The Immaculate Conception.
In 1970, Borsey moved to the UK and Rick formed a rock group named Stillwater (not the fictional band from the Russell Crowe film "Almost Famous"). The group evolved into a proto jam band and continued performing through 1972.
Nafey and Borsey were together again in 1973 as The Royal Pythons, performing original material as well as folk, country and blues numbers. In '74, Borsey split for San Francisco, changed his name to Willy DeVille and formed Mink DeVille.
Rick traveled from New York to Bolinas to Boston, performing solo. In the early 80's he was in southern Connecticut performing with The Mojomatics, a Chicago style blues band. Rick’s musical activity was reduced in the mid '80's as he settled into married life on a ranch in New Mexico.
In 2000, Nafey, recently divorced, and DeVille were both living in the Cerrillos Hills of New Mexico and had renewed their musical partnership. Rick had some new songs and with Willy producing, recording sessions began. The result was 'A Crooked Mile', an eclectic mix of electric blues, country and folk. On 2002's 'The Things That I Can't See' EP, Nafey mined his musical roots in folk and Americana styles.
Rick spent 2003 writing and recording 'I Ain't Got Time to Die' with 9 original songs showcasing his talents as a multi faceted songwriter and performer. 'Kissin' Booth' was in the final stages of production when Nafey unexpectedly died October 2005. Completed posthumously, ‘Kissin’ Booth’ was released in 2008.
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