Richie Furay
Encyclopedia
Richie Furay is an American
singer, songwriter
, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who is best known for forming the bands
Buffalo Springfield
with Stephen Stills
, Neil Young
, Bruce Palmer
, and Dewey Martin
, and Poco
with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham
and Randy Meisner
. His best known song (originally written during his tenure in Buffalo Springfield, but eventually performed by Poco, as well) was "Kind Woman", which he wrote for his wife, Nancy.
in New York
.
In the late 1960s he formed the country
-rock
band Poco
with Jim Messina and Rusty Young. This band, while influential to many future country-rock acts, experienced uneven commercial success. Furay's best known songs, "Pickin' Up The Pieces" and "Good Feelin' To Know", however, have reached classic status and appear on many country rock compilations
. Furay left Poco in 1974 to form the Souther Hillman Furay Band. It was during this time that Al Perkins
, the band's pedal steel guitar
player, introduced Furay to Christianity
. His newfound faith helped him rebuild his troubled marriage.
Although Souther, Hillman, Furay's self-titled first album was certified Gold and yielded the top thirty hit with "Fallin' in Love" in 1974, the group could not follow up on that success, and poor record
sales eventually led to its demise.
After moving from Los Angeles to Sugarloaf Mountain near Boulder, Colorado
, Furay formed The Richie Furay Band with Jay Truax
, John Mehler
, and Tom Stipe, releasing the album I've Got a Reason in 1976, which reflected Furay's newfound beliefs. To support the release of this album Furay formed an alliance with David Geffen
and Asylum Records
. Furay assured Geffen that his album would be Christian influenced but would not be an attempt to preach his newfound beliefs. "I've Got a Reason" did, however, establish Furay as a pioneer in Christian Rock. The title track of his third album, the secular "I Still Have Dreams", became a mild radio hit in 1979.
Overall, his albums charted
unsatisfactorily, and, compounded with the strain of touring wearing on him and his family, he hung up his rock and roll
shoes in favor of a call to the ministry. In 1983 Furay became senior pastor
of the Calvary Chapel
in Broomfield
, Colorado
, a non-sectarian Christian church in the Denver area. He continues to perform as a solo
artist
, and very occasionally with Poco. He toured as an opening act for America
and Linda Ronstadt
during the Summer of 2006. The 2006 release of his latest CD
The Heartbeat of Love returns Furay to his early country-rock roots with a contemporary flair.
In 2007 he toured with a new formation of the Richie Furay Band. At the Boulder and Bluebird Theatres in Colorado they recorded a double live CD ALIVE. The ALIVE set covers 29 songs of Furay's career. The Richie Furay band continued to tour through 2008 and 2009. Furay appeared with Poco for several shows in early 2009. At the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California in the Spring of 2009, Furay and the current Poco lineup were joined onstage by original members Jimmy Messina and George Grantham and former bass player Timothy B. Schmit
reuniting the Poco lineup that achieved the most critical acclaim.
On October 23, 2010, he reunited with surviving Buffalo Springfield
bandmates Stephen Stills
and Neil Young
for a set at the 24th annual Bridge School Benefit
at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California.
Richie is currently performing with The Richie Furay Band and has regrouped with Buffalo Springfield for a 2011 tour. He headlined 2011 Bonnaroo with Buffalo Springfield
. In July 2011, Furay announced on his facebook page that he will be touring with Buffalo Springfield in early 2012, ending speculation there would be a 2011 fall tour with Buffalo Springfield.
As a member of the Buffalo Springfield:
As a member of Poco:
As a member of Souther-Hillman-Furay Band:
Solo:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
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...
, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who is best known for forming the bands
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
with Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Bruce Palmer
Bruce Palmer
Bruce Palmer was a Canadian musician notable for playing bass guitar in the folk rock band Buffalo Springfield.-Early years:Palmer was born and raised in Toronto Ontario, Canada...
, and Dewey Martin
Dewey Martin (musician)
Dewey Martin was a Canadian rock drummer, best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield.-Career:Martin was born Walter Milton Dwayne Midkiff in Chesterville, Ontario in 1940. He was raised there and the surrounding Smiths Falls and Ottawa...
, and Poco
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham
George Grantham (musician)
George Grantham is a drummer and vocalist best known for his work with pioneering American country-rock band Poco....
and Randy Meisner
Randy Meisner
Randy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
. His best known song (originally written during his tenure in Buffalo Springfield, but eventually performed by Poco, as well) was "Kind Woman", which he wrote for his wife, Nancy.
Career
Before Buffalo Springfield, Furay performed with Stills in the nine-member group, the Au Go Go Singers (Roy Michaels, Rick Geiger, Jean Gurney, Michael Scott, Kathy King, Nels Gustafson, Bob Harmelink, and Furay & Stills), the house band for the famous Cafe Au Go GoCafe Au Go Go
The Cafe au Go Go was a Greenwich Village night club located in the basement of 152 Bleecker Street. The club featured many well known musical groups, folksingers and comedy acts between the opening in February 1964 until closing in October 1969. Originally owned by Howard Solomon who sold the club...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In the late 1960s he formed the country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
-rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Poco
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
with Jim Messina and Rusty Young. This band, while influential to many future country-rock acts, experienced uneven commercial success. Furay's best known songs, "Pickin' Up The Pieces" and "Good Feelin' To Know", however, have reached classic status and appear on many country rock compilations
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
. Furay left Poco in 1974 to form the Souther Hillman Furay Band. It was during this time that Al Perkins
Al Perkins
Al Perkins is a Texas-born American guitarist. The Gibson guitar company called Perkins "the world's most influential Dobro player", and even began producing an "Al Perkins Signature" Dobro in 2001 - designed and autographed by Perkins....
, the band's pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
player, introduced Furay to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. His newfound faith helped him rebuild his troubled marriage.
Although Souther, Hillman, Furay's self-titled first album was certified Gold and yielded the top thirty hit with "Fallin' in Love" in 1974, the group could not follow up on that success, and poor record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
sales eventually led to its demise.
After moving from Los Angeles to Sugarloaf Mountain near Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, Furay formed The Richie Furay Band with Jay Truax
Jay Truax
Jay Truax is a bass player and singer with Love Song, a pioneer Christian rock group. Jay formed a Salt Lake City rock group with John Mehler and Fred Field called Spirit of Creation...
, John Mehler
John Mehler
John Mehler, born August 27, 1948 in Long Beach, California, drummer for Love Song, Spirit of Creation, Noah and other bands. John graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1969 and soon thereafter moved to Salt Lake City with two musician friends, Chuck Fraher and Jay Truax to form Spirit of...
, and Tom Stipe, releasing the album I've Got a Reason in 1976, which reflected Furay's newfound beliefs. To support the release of this album Furay formed an alliance with David Geffen
David Geffen
David Geffen is an American record executive, film producer, theatrical producer and philanthropist. Geffen is noted for creating Asylum Records in 1970, Geffen Records in 1980, and DGC Records in 1990...
and Asylum Records
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
. Furay assured Geffen that his album would be Christian influenced but would not be an attempt to preach his newfound beliefs. "I've Got a Reason" did, however, establish Furay as a pioneer in Christian Rock. The title track of his third album, the secular "I Still Have Dreams", became a mild radio hit in 1979.
Overall, his albums charted
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
unsatisfactorily, and, compounded with the strain of touring wearing on him and his family, he hung up his rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
shoes in favor of a call to the ministry. In 1983 Furay became senior pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
in Broomfield
Broomfield, Colorado
The City and County of Broomfield is a prominent suburb and tier of the Denver metropolitan area in the State of Colorado of the United States. Broomfield has a consolidated city and county government which operates under Article XX, Sections 10-13 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. The...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, a non-sectarian Christian church in the Denver area. He continues to perform as a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, and very occasionally with Poco. He toured as an opening act for America
America (band)
America is an English-American folk rock band that originally included members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. The three members were barely out of their teens when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist...
and Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
during the Summer of 2006. The 2006 release of his latest CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
The Heartbeat of Love returns Furay to his early country-rock roots with a contemporary flair.
In 2007 he toured with a new formation of the Richie Furay Band. At the Boulder and Bluebird Theatres in Colorado they recorded a double live CD ALIVE. The ALIVE set covers 29 songs of Furay's career. The Richie Furay band continued to tour through 2008 and 2009. Furay appeared with Poco for several shows in early 2009. At the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California in the Spring of 2009, Furay and the current Poco lineup were joined onstage by original members Jimmy Messina and George Grantham and former bass player Timothy B. Schmit
Timothy B. Schmit
Timothy Bruce Schmit is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as bass guitar player and singer for Poco and the Eagles. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist.-Early career:Raised in Sacramento, Schmit began playing in the folk music group...
reuniting the Poco lineup that achieved the most critical acclaim.
On October 23, 2010, he reunited with surviving Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
bandmates Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
and Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
for a set at the 24th annual Bridge School Benefit
Bridge School Benefit
The Bridge School Benefit is an annual non-profit charity concert held in Mountain View, California, every October at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. The concerts are all organized by musician Neil Young and his wife, Pegi....
at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California.
Richie is currently performing with The Richie Furay Band and has regrouped with Buffalo Springfield for a 2011 tour. He headlined 2011 Bonnaroo with Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
. In July 2011, Furay announced on his facebook page that he will be touring with Buffalo Springfield in early 2012, ending speculation there would be a 2011 fall tour with Buffalo Springfield.
Albums
As a member of the Au Go-Go Singers:- Au Go-Go Singers (With Stills) (1964) (Roulette RecordsRoulette RecordsRoulette Records is an American record label, which was founded in late 1956, by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Khals, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed as director...
)
As a member of the Buffalo Springfield:
- Buffalo SpringfieldBuffalo Springfield (album)Buffalo Springfield is the self-titled debut album by folk rock band Buffalo Springfield, released in late 1966. It was originally released in both mono and stereo versions as Atco 33-200, but when the single "For What It's Worth" became a hit, the album was re-released as Atco 33-200A and added...
(1966) (AtcoAtco RecordsATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
) - Buffalo Springfield AgainBuffalo Springfield AgainBuffalo Springfield Again is the second 1967 folk rock album by Buffalo Springfield.-Production:The recording has been stated by some as tense and protracted, because Young was often absent and the band was unable to keep a permanent bass player...
(1967) (Atco) - Last Time AroundLast Time AroundLast Time Around is the third and final album by folk rock band Buffalo Springfield, released in 1968 . The members included Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin, Bruce Palmer, and Jim Messina.- History :...
(1968) (Atco)
As a member of Poco:
- Pickin' Up the PiecesPickin' Up the PiecesPickin' Up the Pieces is the debut album by Country rock pioneers Poco, released in 1969. It was one of the earliest examples of the emerging genre of Country rock. Several of the songs here date back to Richie Furay's days in Buffalo Springfield...
(1969) (Epic) - PocoPoco (album)Poco is the second album by the Country rock band Poco. The Messina-penned "You Better Think Twice" became a signature song for Poco. A copy of this record hangs in the Poco exhibit in the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville along with the jacket Rusty Young wears on the back cover.-Track...
(1970) (Epic) - Deliverin'Deliverin'Deliverin’ is the third album, and first live album, by the Country rock band Poco. Jim Messina quit the band in October 1970, prior to the release of the album.-Track listing:#“I Guess You Made It” – 3:58#“C’mon” – 3:10...
(1971) (Epic) - From The Inside (1971) (Epic)
- A Good Feelin’ To KnowA Good Feelin’ To KnowA Good Feelin’ to Know is the fifth album by the country rock band Poco. The title track became Poco's most recognizable tune of its early days. The album did not do as well commercially as expected, discouraging Richie Furay.-Track listing:...
(1972) (Epic) - Crazy EyesCrazy EyesCrazy Eyes is the sixth album by the country rock band Poco. The album pays homage to Gram Parsons, as Richie Furay sings both the title track, which he wrote in honor of Parsons, and one of Parsons' own compositions, "Brass Buttons". The album was released just four days before Parsons' death on...
(1973) (Epic) - LegacyLegacy (Poco album)Legacy is the 19th album by the Country rock band Poco, released in 1989. The album reunited the five original members of the group and contained two top-40 singles, "Call It Love" and "Nothin' to Hide."...
(1989) (RCA)
As a member of Souther-Hillman-Furay Band:
- The Souther-Hillman-Furay BandThe Souther-Hillman-Furay Band (album)The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band is the debut album by The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, released in 1974. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 chart.-History:...
(1974) (Asylum) - Trouble in Paradise (1975) (Asylum)
Solo:
- I've Got a ReasonI've Got a ReasonI've Got a Reason is the debut solo album by American singer-songwriter Richie Furay, released in 1976.-History:After leaving Poco in 1974 and the country rock supergroup Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, Furay released his first solo album which reflected Furay's newfound Christian beliefs. He formed...
(1976) (Asylum) - Dance a Little Light (1978) (Asylum)
- I Still Have Dreams (1979) (Asylum)
- Seasons of Change (1982) (Myrrh RecordsMyrrh RecordsMyrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
) - In My Father's House (1997) (Calvary Chapel Records)
- I am Sure (2005) (FridayMusic)
- The Heartbeat of Love (2006) (Richie Furay and John Macy)
Singles
- "Souther Hillman Furay" (1974) (Asylum)
- Souther Hillman Furay: "Safe at Home" / "Border Town".