Gary Richrath
{{Short description|American musician (1949–2015)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|
| name = Gary Richrath
| image = Gary Richrath.jpg
| caption = Gary Richrath, 1980.
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Gary Dean Richrath
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|10|18}}
| birth_place = Peoria, Illinois
| death_date ={{death date and age|2015|9|13|1949|10|18}}
| death_place =
| genre = Hard rock
| occupation = Musician, songwriter, producer
| instrument = Guitar, vocals, slide guitar
| years_active = 1968–2015
| label =
| associated_acts = REO Speedwagon, Richrath
}}
Gary Dean Richrath (October 18, 1949 – September 13, 2015){{cite web | url = http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?pid=175883872 | title = Gary Richrath Obituary - East Peoria, IL | publisher = Legacy.com | access-date = 2018-01-30 }} 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.{{cite news | url = http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150914/ENTERTAINMENT/150919595 | title = Promoter Jay Goldberg 'in shock' over Gary Richrath's death | work = PJStar.com | location = Peoria, Illinois | first = Thomas | last = Bruch | date = 2015-09-15 | access-date = 2018-01-30 }} Originally playing saxophone in the school band, he took up guitar as a teenager, becoming self-taught.{{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 = PJStar.com | location = Peoria, Illinois | access-date = 2024-11-26 }} He graduated from East Peoria Community High School in 1967.
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).{{cite news |url=https://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=B-kSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hvsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6773,4378789&dq=gary-richrath&hl=en |title=REO Speedwagon climbing back to No. 1 |date=January 28, 1983 |work=The Ledger |author=Steve Turner |access-date=2010-07-21}} 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,{{cite news |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/content/living/stories/0613LVbands.html |title=Where are they now?|date=June 13, 2006 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |author=Shane Harrison |access-date=2010-07-21}} 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.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvH5JdSulKg Video of Gary Richrath's performance with REO Speedwagon in December 2013] Retrieved 9-19-2015. 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.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNvzqPlQ3tA Video "Rock to the Rescue Benefit Concert"] Retrieved 9-26-2015. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.music-news.com/ShowNews.asp?nItemID=92204 |title=Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon dies |publisher=Music-News.com |access-date=2015-09-18}} 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/kevin_cronin_of_reo_speedwagon/ |title=Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon |publisher=Songfacts.com |date=2017-06-16|access-date=2017-08-24}}
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
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231627/http://www.guitarjamdaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=383&Itemid=46 Review of Gary Richrath on Guitar Jam Daily]
- [http://www.legacy.com/ns/gary-richrath-obituary/175825514 Gary Richrath] at Legacy.com
{{REO Speedwagon}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richrath, Gary}}
Category:People from East Peoria, Illinois
Category:American rock guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:American male songwriters
Category:REO Speedwagon members
Category:Guitarists from Illinois