| Revision as of 14:34, 20 September 2024 editQuasyBoy (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers123,606 edits Added lifetime years to short description.← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 12:50, 26 November 2024 edit undoA Quest For Knowledge (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers24,193 edits →Early life: Fixed broken link to Phil Luciano's Peoria Journal Star article, "Ex-REO Speedwagon guitarist and East Peoria native Gary Richrath dies at 65". | ||
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| ==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
| Richrath was born in ], on October 18, 1949, to Curtis and Eunice Richrath,<ref name="legacy-pjstar"/> and grew up in ].<ref name="pjstar-shock">{{cite news | url = http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150914/ENTERTAINMENT/150919595 | title = Promoter Jay Goldberg 'in shock' over Gary Richrath's death | work = ] | location = Peoria, Illinois | first = Thomas | last = Bruch | date = 2015-09-15 | access-date = 2018-01-30 }}</ref> Originally playing saxophone in the school band, he took up guitar as a teenager, becoming self-taught.<ref name="pjstar-dies-luciano">{{cite news | url = |
Richrath was born in ], on October 18, 1949, to Curtis and Eunice Richrath,<ref name="legacy-pjstar"/> and grew up in ].<ref name="pjstar-shock">{{cite news | url = http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150914/ENTERTAINMENT/150919595 | title = Promoter Jay Goldberg 'in shock' over Gary Richrath's death | work = ] | location = Peoria, Illinois | first = Thomas | last = Bruch | date = 2015-09-15 | access-date = 2018-01-30 }}</ref> Originally playing saxophone in the school band, he took up guitar as a teenager, becoming self-taught.<ref name="pjstar-dies-luciano">{{cite news | url = https://www.sj-r.com/story/entertainment/local/2015/09/15/ex-reo-speedwagon-guitarist-east/33544559007/ | title = Ex-REO Speedwagon guitarist and East Peoria native Gary Richrath dies at 65 | first = Phil | last = Luciano | date = 2015-09-14 | work = ] | location = Peoria, Illinois | access-date = 2024-11-26 }}</ref> He graduated from ] in 1967.<ref name="pjstar-dies-luciano"/> | ||
| By 1968, Richrath was in a band called Suburban 9 to 5.<ref name="pjstar-dies-luciano"/> | By 1968, Richrath was in a band called Suburban 9 to 5.<ref name="pjstar-dies-luciano"/> | ||
Latest revision as of 12:50, 26 November 2024
American musician (1949–2015)| Gary Richrath | |
|---|---|
 Gary Richrath, 1980. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gary Dean Richrath |
| Born | (1949-10-18)October 18, 1949 Peoria, Illinois |
| Died | September 13, 2015(2015-09-13) (aged 65) |
| Genres | Hard rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals, slide guitar |
| Years active | 1968–2015 |
Gary Dean Richrath (October 18, 1949 – September 13, 2015) was an American guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist and a songwriter for the band REO Speedwagon from 1970 until 1989.
Early life
Richrath was born in Peoria, Illinois, on October 18, 1949, to Curtis and Eunice Richrath, and grew up in East Peoria, Illinois. Originally playing saxophone in the school band, he took up guitar as a teenager, becoming self-taught. He graduated from East Peoria Community High School in 1967.
By 1968, Richrath was in a band called Suburban 9 to 5.
As lead guitarist and songwriter for REO Speedwagon
Richrath wrote, performed on and sang on some of REO Speedwagon's early hits, including "Golden Country" (1972), "Ridin' the Storm Out" (1973), "Find My Fortune" (1973), "Son of a Poor Man" (1973), "Wild as the Western Wind" (1974), "(Only A) Summer Love" (1976), "Flying Turkey Trot" (1976), "Only the Strong Survive" (1979) “In Your Letter” (1980) and "Take It on the Run" (1981). In 1977, he and other members of the band took over production, which resulted in the band's first platinum album. Along with playing lead guitar, Richrath sang lead vocals on "Find My Fortune" (1973), "Wild as the Western Wind" (1974), "Dance" (1975), "Any Kind of Love" (1976), "Only a Summer Love" (1976), "Breakaway" (1976) and "Tonight" (1976).
Solo career
Richrath left the band in 1989, and with his new band named Richrath, released the album Only the Strong Survive in 1992.
Later years
On November 22, 2013, REO Speedwagon and Styx announced a benefit concert titled "Rock to the Rescue" to raise money for families affected by a tornado in central Illinois. The concert was held on December 4, 2013 in Bloomington, Illinois. Richrath reunited with the band for a performance of "Ridin' the Storm Out" to end their set at the sold-out concert. Richrath stayed on stage to help with the encore of "With a Little Help from My Friends" along with REO Speedwagon, Styx, Richard Marx and others. Families affected by the storm and first-responders sat near the stage at this concert.
Death
Richrath died on September 13, 2015, with news of his death confirmed by his former REO Speedwagon bandmate Kevin Cronin. He was 65 years old. Speaking to the Songfacts website in 2017, Cronin disclosed the cause of Richrath's death: "He had some stomach problem or something and he went in the hospital to get treated for a stomach ailment and there were complications and he didn't make it."
Discography
with Richrath
- Only the Strong Survive (1992)
with REO Speedwagon
- R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971)
- R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972)
- Ridin' the Storm Out (1973)
- Lost in a Dream (1974)
- This Time We Mean It (1975)
- R.E.O. (1976)
- Live: You Get What You Play For (1977)
- You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978)
- Nine Lives (1979)
- Hi Infidelity (1980)
- Good Trouble (1982)
- Wheels Are Turnin' (1984)
- Life as We Know It (1987)
- The Hits (1988) (2 new songs: "I Don't Want to Lose You", "Here with Me")
References
- ^ "Gary Richrath Obituary - East Peoria, IL". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
- Bruch, Thomas (2015-09-15). "Promoter Jay Goldberg 'in shock' over Gary Richrath's death". PJStar.com. Peoria, Illinois. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
- ^ Luciano, Phil (2015-09-14). "Ex-REO Speedwagon guitarist and East Peoria native Gary Richrath dies at 65". PJStar.com. Peoria, Illinois. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- Steve Turner (January 28, 1983). "REO Speedwagon climbing back to No. 1". The Ledger. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
- Shane Harrison (June 13, 2006). "Where are they now?". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
- Video of Gary Richrath's performance with REO Speedwagon in December 2013 Retrieved 9-19-2015.
- Video "Rock to the Rescue Benefit Concert" Retrieved 9-26-2015.
- "Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon dies". Music-News.com. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
- "Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon". Songfacts.com. 2017-06-16. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
External links
| REO Speedwagon | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums |
|
| Live albums | |
| Compilation albums | |
| Singles | |
| Video albums | |
| Related articles | |