Gary Richrath
Encyclopedia
Gary Richrath is an American guitarist, best known as a member of the band REO Speedwagon
from 1970 until 1989. He grew up across the river in East Peoria
, where he attended high school.
much of the material for REO Speedwagon's first twelve album
s. In 1977, he and other members of the band took over their own production
, which resulted in the band's first platinum
album. Richrath wrote many of the band's songs including "Golden Country" from 1972, "Ridin' the Storm Out" (1973), "Only the Strong Survive" (1979) and "Take It On the Run
" from 1981.
In addition, Richrath sang several REO Speedwagon song
s including "Find My Fortune" (1973) and "(Only A) Summer Love" (1976). He left REO Speedwagon in 1989, and released a solo album titled Only the Strong Survive in 1992 under the name "Richrath".
REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US...
from 1970 until 1989. He grew up across the river in East Peoria
East Peoria, Illinois
East Peoria is a city in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,402 at the 2010 census. East Peoria is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area, located across the Illinois River from downtown Peoria. It is home to many Caterpillar Inc. facilities...
, where he attended high school.
Career
Richrath provided much of the creative and driving force in the early days of the band, writingSongwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
much of the material for REO Speedwagon's first twelve album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s. In 1977, he and other members of the band took over their own production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, which resulted in the band's first platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
album. Richrath wrote many of the band's songs including "Golden Country" from 1972, "Ridin' the Storm Out" (1973), "Only the Strong Survive" (1979) and "Take It On the Run
Take It On the Run
"Take It on the Run" is the fifth track on the REO Speedwagon album Hi Infidelity. It was released as a single in 1981 and reached #5 on the Billboard charts. The song was written by guitarist Gary Richrath. "Take It on the Run" was the follow-up single behind the group’s #1 hit, “Keep on Loving You”...
" from 1981.
In addition, Richrath sang several REO Speedwagon song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s including "Find My Fortune" (1973) and "(Only A) Summer Love" (1976). He left REO Speedwagon in 1989, and released a solo album titled Only the Strong Survive in 1992 under the name "Richrath".
Guitars
- Gibson Les Paul SunburstGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
- Gibson US-1
- Gibson SGGibson SGAt the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
- Charvel Model 4CharvelCharvel is a brand of guitar originally founded in the 1970s by Wayne Charvel in Azusa, California and then later, Glendora, California. Charvel guitars became popular in the 1980s due to their association with famous rock guitarists such as Edward Van Halen , Richie Sambora , Warren DeMartini ,...
- Charvel Model 6CharvelCharvel is a brand of guitar originally founded in the 1970s by Wayne Charvel in Azusa, California and then later, Glendora, California. Charvel guitars became popular in the 1980s due to their association with famous rock guitarists such as Edward Van Halen , Richie Sambora , Warren DeMartini ,...
- Charvel Model 7CharvelCharvel is a brand of guitar originally founded in the 1970s by Wayne Charvel in Azusa, California and then later, Glendora, California. Charvel guitars became popular in the 1980s due to their association with famous rock guitarists such as Edward Van Halen , Richie Sambora , Warren DeMartini ,...
- Ibanez RGIbanez RGThe Ibanez RG series has the maximum subtypes of guitars under the Ibanez Electric Guitar catalog and a popular series of Ibanez electric guitars produced by Hoshino Gakki. The Ibanez RG was originally designed as a derivative of Steve Vai's JEM\Universe series and released in 1987. Manufacture of...
- Fender StratocasterFender StratocasterThe Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
- Fender TelecasterFender TelecasterThe Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
- Martin Acoustic Guitars
REO Speedwagon
- 1971 REO SpeedwagonREO Speedwagon (album)REO Speedwagon was the debut album by American rock band REO Speedwagon. Released in 1971, it was the only album recorded with singer Terry Luttrell until Kevin Cronin joined the band for R.E.O./T.W.O. The album sold well and produced the fan favorites "157 Riverside Avenue," "Sophisticated Lady"...
- 1972 R.E.O./T.W.O.R.E.O./T.W.O.R.E.O./T.W.O. is the second LP released by the Illinois based rock band REO Speedwagon. Under the leadership of guitarist Gary Richrath, this album continued the musical direction set on 1971's R.E.O...
- 1973 Ridin' the Storm OutRidin' the Storm OutRidin' the Storm Out is the third album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1973. It was the first album to feature Mike Murphy on vocals. The sessions started out with Kevin Cronin, but he left the band before the album was finished, due to creative differences. The title track would later become a hit...
- 1974 Lost in a DreamLost in a DreamLost in a Dream is the fourth album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1974. It was the second album to feature Mike Murphy on vocals. The title track was written by Murphy and future bassist Bruce Hall, who would join the band in 1978. The title track was featured on the compilation A Decade of...
- 1975 This Time We Mean ItThis Time We Mean ItThis Time We Mean It is the fifth album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1975. It was the third and last album to feature Mike Murphy on vocals. The CD version of this album has been out of print for many years, but produced the single "Reelin'"...
- 1976 R.E.O.R.E.O.R.E.O. is the sixth album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1976. It marked the return of Kevin Cronin to the band, after a four year absence. Five of the songs were featured on the band's subsequent live album, Live: You Get What You Play For...
- 1977 Live: You Get What You Play ForLive: You Get What You Play ForLive: You Get What You Play For is a live album by rock band REO Speedwagon, which was released as a double-LP in 1977...
- 1978 You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna FishYou Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna FishYou Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish, REO Speedwagon's seventh studio album, was the first to be co-produced by lead singer Kevin Cronin and lead guitarist Gary Richrath. The album was REO's first to make the Top 40, peaking at #29. The album sold over 2 million copies in the U.S. which led...
- 1979 Nine LivesNine Lives (REO Speedwagon album)Nine Lives is the eighth studio album by REO Speedwagon. The title Nine Lives was chosen because the album was the band's ninth, including their live album, and it also featured nine songs. It was the last REO album to prominently feature a more hard rock sound...
- 1980 A Decade of Rock and Roll 1970 to 1980
- 1981 Hi InfidelityHi InfidelityHi Infidelity is the ninth studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1980 . It went on to become the biggest selling rock LP of 1981, eventually selling over ten million copies. Six songs from this album hit Billboard charts, including "Keep on Loving You" which was the band's first Number 1 hit,...
- 1982 Good TroubleGood TroubleGood Trouble is the tenth studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1982 as a follow up to Hi Infidelity. It was the second best selling album in the band's history, peaking at #7 on the Billboard charts. None of the songs from this album have been performed by the band in concert since 1983...
- 1985 Best Foot Forward
- 1985 Wheels Are Turnin'Wheels Are Turnin'Wheels Are Turnin' is the eleventh studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1984 . It features "Can't Fight This Feeling," which was REO's second and longest-running #1 single. The LP version contained a cut-out stroboscope...
- 1987 Life as We Know ItLife as We Know It (album)Life as We Know It is the twelfth studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1987 . It features "That Ain't Love" and "In My Dreams," both of which were Top 20 hits; "Variety Tonight", which reached #60 on the Hot 100; and "One Too Many Girlfriends", which showcased the ongoing friction between...
- 1988 The Hits
- 1991 Keep On Loving You - Best of
- 1991 The Second Decade of Rock and Roll 1981 to 1991
- 1993 Star Box
- 1995 Believe in Rock And Roll
- 1995 High Infidelity Gold
- 1995 Subway in Tokyo
- 1998 Only the Strong Survive - REO
- 1998 Premium Best
- 1999 The Ballads
- 2004 The Essential REO Speedwagon
- 2008 The Very Best of REO Speedwagon