Altamonte Springs, Fl. Greg Rike of GRP (Greg Rike Productions), has been very successful in the audio, video, and film industry that has come with a cliental list that some of us could only dream of working with. Most people in his shoes can focus on the lifestyle that comes with such a success, but Greg is different. He takes nothing for granted and appreciates the simplest things. In 1986, Greg survived a diving accident that left him a quadriplegic. Yet, he wears a smile that is more sincere than you could imagine.

He has an affect on a person that is beyond words. While many of us get caught up in the day to day, and may lose focus, Rike has an ability to always look at things from the human perspective. He appreciates when someone pours him a cup of coffee like it is the first time anyone has done that for him. He is gentle, yet his brilliant creative mind can storm into action to create a masterpiece of many sorts. His life story is tear inducing and joyful in the same breath.

He is more than willing to share his story. “Here is the story”, he says as he pulled up his wheelchair to the restaurant table. He flashes a smile and says, “I am excited!” Rike began a story that unfolded like the pages of a good novel while interjecting with humor and giggles. It was 1986 and Greg, who still had a passion to play live music, had just finished playing at a graduation party when they decided to tryout the trampoline partly submerged by a pond in the backyard. Those at the party were using the trampoline as a diving board into the pond. Greg made his first dive and thought he would try again. He jumped, but his feet slipped and he landed in the water headfirst. Greg said he did not think he hit the bottom very hard, but remembers a tingling sensation come over him. Then he was in trouble. He recalls that he could not move and that friends thought he was joking. Finally, after Greg feared drowning his business partner pulled him from the lake. That is when Greg realized his neck was broken.

A little over a week later as Greg lay in the hospital bed, he was informed that the business partner had not kept up the health insurance payments. Greg was uninsured. When he got out of the hospital months later, he discovered that his business partner had also left unpaid invoices and there was work that had not been done. To make matters worse the IRS then came to collect on unpaid payroll taxes. He and his wife separated, and Greg was left to start over from scratch. With a positive attitude that most could not comprehend, he believed it was possible. While still learning to do things that most of us take for granted everyday, Greg was also rebuilding his business from a loss that seemed immutable. Greg credits his faith and positive outlook on life for getting him through.

Two friends that Greg had previously sung with brought him home and helped with the accommodations. Kris and John Taylor used their carpenter and healthcare training skills to make the adjustment easier for Greg. They had hoped that Greg would walk again, but several months later Greg was just happy to return to work. Greg has not slowed down since then. Slowly he began to rebuild his business with an even bigger facility with nearly 7,000 sq ft that had been adapted to Greg’s wheelchair located on Douglas Avenue in Altamonte Springs.

While building the business, Greg also worked on getting his driver’s license back. It took him four months of weight training so that he could pull himself behind the wheel and maneuver in and out of the van.

Soon after, a client hired Greg to videotape some training materials for Mac users. When he arrived that morning to greet them, he discovered that he could not get to them. Greg recalls, “I was so weak at that time that I could not even push my wheelchair over a garden hose or a door railing. I managed to get the side door open and then pushed with all my might, but the wheelchair was jerked to the left.” Greg says he laughs about those awkward moments now. “I can’t be embarrassed by stupid things. If you don’t laugh at it what are you going to do?” He says with a smile.

He contacted clients and began rebuilding the client relationships that he once had. His business then began to grow. He worked harder than ever before and managed to watch the debt slowly dwindle away. Greg says he paid off, “every nickel”. Over the next several months Greg says the doors were almost never locked and that he must have been riding on some sort of miracle. Over the next several years, Greg faced other struggles, but always held fast to a positive attitude that is still unstoppable. Greg’s gentle smile and bright-eyed enthusiasm is unmatched.

One of Greg’s desires is to leave a legacy of passion. Greg says, “I no longer enjoy being in the spotlight, but I savor the ability to empower those who have a passion for what they do.” Greg has also come to a point in his life where he wants to give children something to look up to. “Being involved in charity events like “Sharing the Arts” gives me a chance to plant seeds that may someday blossom into a passionate artist and it doesn’t get any better than that,” says Greg. “Everyone has an artistic ability inside of them whether they are fit to sing on stage or heart-filled enough to sing to their children, great with the family camera or have the makings of the next Mutt Lang. Art is alive in all of us and it makes our world a better place”.

Now, more than 17 years after his accident, Greg can compete with the best in his industry. Greg’s list of cliental includes: Deep Purple, Little River Band, Matchbox 20, Patti Labelle, The Backstreet Boys, Aaron Carter, Starship, and Mandy Moore. Such reputable companies such as Disney, the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Jive, MTV, PBS, ABC, Motown, Mitsubishi, BMG, Benson Records and others have also used GRP for everything from voice-overs and commercials to music videos. Greg has produced several television pilots, sound tracks for movies, and has even been nominated for an Emmy award. While most of us dream of the lifestyle of the rich and famous, Greg continues to look at life with the faith as strong as a child’s and the appreciation of a good friend. Greg Rike of GRP has set precedence and accomplished more in his industry than many could with the same circumstances and he is still going strong! Greg Rike is living proof that life offers many things to those who make the most of every opportunity.

 

Greg Rike Productions’ clients include: MTV, BMG, ABC, the Discovery Channel, Disney, National Geographic, PBS, Wind-up, Jive, Motown, Deep Purple, the BackStreet Boys, Mandy Moore, Aaron Carter, Otown, Matchbox 20, Patti Labelle, Brittany Spears, Fog Hat, Molly Hachet, Little River Band, Allen and Allen, Pam Thum, DJ Magic Mike, 7Mary3, Vince Neil, Pat Travers, Les Dudek, 7 Nations, Starship, Micheal Franks, Lionel Richie, Yellow Jackets, Shai, and Buzz Cocks. Also be sure to check out our website www.gregrikeproductions.com for more information.