Rick's full name seems to have been Richard Edward Morrison Evers. He was born the son of Dorothy Nettie (nee Hoff) Ingelstrom and Harold "Hal" J. Olsen, who wed in Reno, Nevada. He was adopted by Luey (nee Morrison), a nurse, and Francis "Frank" William Evers. His adoptive parents divorced when he was seven, his mother charging grievous mental suffering and mental anguish in the suit. His adoptive father, who had years of military service, would wed four times during his life.

Rick was the third husband of singer/songwriter Carole King. Jailed early in life for forgery, he was later an artist who worked in hand-tooled leather, and played guitar and co-wrote songs with King. He is remembered by her as a complex and ultimately abusive man. Nonetheless, in the liner notes for her album released near the time of Rick's passing, "Welcome Home" Ms. King wrote of him "He had more love to give than anyone I've ever known."

Rick's passing occurred less than three weeks after his adoptive mother's third and final marriage, and soon after an altercation with King where he reportedly attempted to throw her through a large glass window. King's friends put her on a flight to Hawaii to get her away, and Rick headed to Los Angeles. Days later, Rick died in LA of a drug overdose variously described as being from heroin or cocaine or a mixture of drugs. The date of his passing is given as March 20th, 21st, or 22nd depending on the source consulted. The most widely publicized date was the 20th; his California death certificate cites the 21st.

There is room for doubt on his place of rest. In the book "Girls Like Us" by Sheila Weller, the author states that one of Rick's friends, Roy Reynolds, claimed to have followed Rick's wishes by having him cremated, and his ashes scattered in the Robie Creek. The funeral home program for his service indicates he was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery.