Ricky Wyatt
October 21, 1971–December 28, 2025
#IWonderU40 is Dedicated to Our Dear Ricky Wyatt
Ricky Wyatt, “The Ricker,” was a bassist, performer, comic book author, long time Prince fan and a disciple of the MPLS sound. A native of Atlanta, GA, Ricky led the jazz-funk unit “SoWhut?!” and the R&B unit “Footprints.” A graduate of Virginia State University’s Department of Political Science and a student of Prince’s purple grooves since ’79, Ricky taught history at the Binford Middle Arts & Integration Program for Richmond Public Schools and maintained an active performance schedule. Ricky was a regular co-host on What Did Prince Do This Week? and a speaker at countless polished solid symposia.
Statement from De Angela
My true friends are Prince friends, and Ricky was my longest-standing. We met in high school.
We have always talked about Prince from day one. In fact, we didn’t really talk about anything else. I will miss our conversations, but I’m blessed to have so many recorded.
Not only have Ricky and I been doing What Did Prince Do This Week? together for the past three years alongside Michael Dean and C Liegh, but we also did the Prince episodes of the now defunct Grown Folks Music podcast, alongside Ivan Orr from roughly 2016 to 2021, as well. And, we used to write Prince retrospectives for the Grown Folks Music blog before that.
He is loved beyond measure and will be sorely missed.
Reposted Here:
John Frank Wyatt IV, affectionately known as Rick or Ricky to family and friends, was born on October 21, 1971, in Richmond, Virginia, to John F. Wyatt III and Rita Cunningham Wyatt.
Ricky was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John F. Wyatt Jr & Louise Wyatt, maternal grandparents, Miles & Wilhelmina Cunningham and mother-in-law, Arie W. Taylor
At an early age, Ricky accepted Christ and was baptized at Sardis Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He continued to grow in his faith throughout his life, actively practicing and nurturing his walk with Christ at West Hunter Street Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia and Mount Gilead, Richmond, Virginia
Ricky was a proud graduate of Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia, Class of 1989. He went on to attend Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. Demonstrating a lifelong commitment to learning and service, he later obtained his teaching certification from Virginia Union University and pursued paralegal training at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.
Ricky devoted his professional career to education, beginning as a Social Studies teacher at Fairfield Middle School in Henrico County Public Schools. He also served students at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School and Dogwood Middle School (formerly Binford Middle School) within Richmond Public Schools, where he made a lasting impact through his dedication to teaching and mentorship.
In the Spring of 1999, Ricky was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Phi Chapter, where he exemplified the ideals of brotherhood, camaraderie, and service.
A lifelong lover of music, Ricky discovered his passion for the guitar at the age of 15, beginning with lead guitar before later transitioning to bass guitar. He served as a bass guitarist for Truth Ministries Church and was the founder of the bands So Whut?! and Footprints, through which he shared his creativity and love of music with others.
Ricky leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Neysa Taylor Wyatt; daughters Dyamond and Nyla Wyatt, and bonus son Isaiah Hopkins; parents, John F. Wyatt III and Rita Cunningham Wyatt; sisters, Tiffanii Wyatt and Tanielle Milline (Ronald); aunts and uncles Johnetta Hardy, Jacqueline Williams, Ethel Jackson (Willie), Miles Cunningham (Phyllis), and Roderick Wyatt (Rosetta); godfather, Carroll E. Zanders; father-in-law, Lawrence Taylor; sister-in-law, April Taylor; uncle-in-law Thaddeus Felton; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other loving family members and friends.
Ricky will be remembered for his unwavering faith, dedication to education, musical gifts, and the profound love he shared with all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following: