Rick Lyon

Rick is a San Diego legend and treasure! And don’t even THINK about requesting a long song without putting money in the tip jar! He is surly and I love it! God bless that keyboard that plays his backing tracks off of floppy disks!!!

Rick Lyon is half man, half god. Legend has it he used to play keys for the angels in heaven but things got weird when John Denver showed up and couldn’t pull off Country Roads the way Rick could. So, always the gentleman, Rick decided to take up residency at the Imperial House and dwell among mortals, wooing us with his sultry singing and gracing us with the sounds of heaven and the 1970’s.
It didn’t take long before Rick Lyon became synonymous with San Diego awesome. Setting up shop in a bar built by the hands of Ron Burgundy himself, with its dynamic 8 Track tape and combo synth system, perfection had been achieved. And, since everything was perfect, there was no need to change a goddam thing. And as it was in the 1970’s so it is today in all of Rick Lyon’s piano man glory.
Rick is an accommodating soul and will sing most any song requested, and better than you! But god help the man who places a drink on the piano. He’s cool with a lot of things, but that, my friends, is the greatest of sins in Rick Lyon’s piano bar. Seriously, don’t do that.
You can catch Rick on Friday and Saturday nights. If you’re lucky, and if it’s slow, he may even saddle up to you at the bar during a break in the set, which would be the second best part of your night because the only thing better than Rick Lyon sitting next to you at the bar is Rick Lyon on the keys, right where heaven wants him.

Just saw Rick Lyon at an Eaton Open House event. This guy knows how to entertain. Tickled the ivories for hours straight and hit his high with his rendition of Werewolves of London. Genius!

Rick Lyon played at my daughter’s wedding for the cocktail hour and he was a huge hit! We, as well as all of the guests, enjoyed his musical styling and were raving about how great he was! His performance set the tone for a fun time at the reception and we’re so happy he was there! Rick made more than a few new fans that night and they’ll be showing up at the IH soon!

Behold the King of San Diego.
Rick Lyon rules the city from his throne of ivory keys, set in a palace of red leather and dim, sexy lighting otherwise known as the Imperial House. Long live the king.

Words can’t describe the magic. Trust the reviews. Go see for yourself.

Give it Up for Rick Lyon In The HOUSE! He is a San Diego legend and IS the man. If Rick doesn’t know the song… he will learn it. I highly recommend him for any corporate event party. Better then karaōke, Rick entertains your crowd. He is an icon at the Imperial House Bar every Friday & Saturday night. Luv luv luv him.

The man has magic in his fingers. Mostly derived from the power of his mustache. Tickling the ivory at imperial house.

I experienced the enigma that is Rick Lyon last night and let’s just say he didn’t disappoint. With women flocking to his every key stroke as he tickled the ivories, the man was a master at pushing the party to higher and higher heights. Move aside dos Equis guy, there is a new sheriff in town and his badge is a wooden plaque with a cartoon lion on it!

I might become Jewish just to have Rick Lyon play at my Bar Mitzvah. People never understand why I bring them to the Imperial House — only takes one song and some mumbled song requests to realize you’re in the presence of a legend.
Top 3 nights ever was randomly walking into their 42^nd anniversary party. Old people getting down n’ dirty. Do not miss Rick if you’re in San Diego on a Friday or Saturday night!!!

I have been coming to see Rick for nearly a decade, and who knows how long he graced the Imperial Room before that. Best rendition of «The Weight» since The Band.

Rick Lyon farted in my fish tank and now my Betta fish is a 3^rd Dan black belt.

Rick once killed a man with his bare hands and now he kills synthesizers without mercy.

Best keyboard-​faux piano bar player ever. he knows everything. even ‘thunder road.’ and no, i don’t mean the bruce springsteen, ‘thunder road,’ which would be pretty cool anyway, but the robert mitchum ‘thunder road’ from the 1950’s movie. i think that says it all right there.

Rick Lyon gave me a hug the other night at quality social and it cured my asthma and arthritis… Man works miracles. Have him play your next party and you wont be disappointed. He needs to play petco during offseason they would probably sell more tickets.

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Rick Lyon.

I love the fact that I just randomly stumbled upon RIck’s Unilocal page, and I love it even more that it is for him and not for Imperial House.
This place is SO much fun — stupid fun, but fun nonetheless!!!

2 words for Rick… Pure genius!

Rick Lyon could’ve been bigger than Billy Joel or Elton John combined. He could’ve sold out Madison Square Gardens on consecutive nights, but he choose to sing at the Imperial House each and every weekend. San Diego has been graced with an unknown superstar pianist.

The man. The myth. The legend.
Why are there so few reviews posted for this San Diegan cultural institution? (yes, at 1:30 a.m., your boozy ass will also consider Rick a cultural institution) I’ve spent many Saturday nights taking in a Jack and Coke or Chip Shot, listening to Rick’s amazing renditions of classic pop songs. Every now and then, he’ll surprise you – I remember hearing some Nirvana one time, though I can’t remember what he played. I think it was «Come As You Are.»
Most evenings, though, songs like «Don’t Stop Believing» are more common. And you better believe the whole room gets into it when Rick gets to the chorus.
Ladies and gentleman, this Lyon can roar.