All rights reserved. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. REO Speedwagon has not had a major hit since Gary left the band. It was Gary that called me and asked me if I was ready to join REO, and it wasnt so much that he asked me, he said its time for you to pack up your stuff, youre movin to California.. NEW YORK Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the group's hit song "Take It on the Run," died Sunday, He would stand up there with his guitar slung low and just rock, Cronin said. I was just sitting there, strumming a guitar, thinking, 'God, these guys' relationships are worse than mine.' Family Life Gary was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. In 1981 the band had their greatest success with the ten million selling album Hi Infidelity. The cause of death was not given. Eighties nation is still a little stunned at the sudden death of REO Speedwagon guitarist Gary Richrath, who passed away He left the band in 1989. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. NEW YORK REO Speedwagon guitarist Gary Richrath, who wrote the bands 1973 hit Ridin the Storm Out, has died at the age of 65, bandmate Kevin Cronin said. [2] Originally playing saxophone in the school band, he took up guitar as a teenager, becoming self-taught. Gary Richrath, who co-wrote some of REO Speedwagons greatest hits such as Take It On The Run and Time for Me to Fly, died at age 65, according to public records. We commit to cover sensible issues responsibly through the principles of neutrality. Though the band didnt break through to radio until the late 70s, its constant touring earned it a solid core of fans, particularly in the groups native Midwest. My longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier today. Gary Richrath, founding guitarist and songwriter of classic rock band REO Speedwagon, died on Sunday, the LA Times reports. As lead guitarist and songwriter for REO Speedwagon. With the new movie Big George Foreman, the boxing great shares a comeback story fueled by the power of belief: in himself, in a better world, in reinvention. Legal Statement. Gary Richrath, the REO Speedwagon guitarist who wrote some of the bands biggest hits, including Take It on the Run and In Your Letter, died Sunday, according to a post by REO lead singer Kevin Cronin. He was 65. He did not give a cause of death. I feel so sad. Tampa Bay home sales are down. The last album he recorded with the band wasLife As We Know(1987). Gary Richrath, the longtime guitarist for REO Speedwagon, died Sunday, Sept. 13, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Richrath, who joined the U.S. rock band in 1970, died on Sunday, Cronin said in a message on the bands official website. Richrath last played with REO Speedwagon in 2013, when the band performed a benefit concert in Bloomington, Ill., to raise money for tornado victims. Gary Richrath 9/2015. He did not give a cause of death. Gary Richrath, former REO Speedwagon lead guitarist (left), and Kevin Cronin, frontman (foreground). He tore into Ridin the Storm Out., I feel so sad, Cronin said in the Facebook post announcing his death. Gary Richrath joined REO Speedwagon as the bands guitarist in 1971, just in time for the bands self-titled debut release. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Inquisitr is a registered trademark. REO Speedwagon has become a major concert attraction, filling up every arena in their tours. Kevin listened to the story politely and then chuckled. DailyPress.com. The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans. But REO Speedwagon was more than a hair band. "I feel so sad. He was 65. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. All Rights Reserved. These words do not come close to expressing the depth of emotions I am feeling at this timekc. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the groups hit song Take It on the Run, died I learned most of what I know about being in a rock band from Gary Richrath.. I was going to tell him the painful love triangle of Janette, Harold and me and see if I could conjur some sage wisdom from my rock 'n' hero. Don't miss the big stories. Hehadone sister named Sheri and one brother named Dennis. REO Speedwagon reached the apex of their popularity by the time they released their 1980 album Hi Infidelity, which sold more than 10 million copies. Doughty retired from touring in 2023. Richrath co-wrote some of the band's songs, including "Take It on the Run," which became a Top 5 pop hit on the Billboard charts. Later, he took up guitar as a teenager and learned guitar skills by himself. Gary Richrath, songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon for decades, has died, the band announced on its Facebook page Sunday. Both songs were written at a time when the friends were going through hard times with their marriages. Why are real estate prices still rising? [7] Families affected by the storm and first-responders sat near the stage at this concert. These words do not come close to expressing the depth of emotions I am feeling at this time.. He had a pure sound. Cronin was advertising through a Musicians Referral Service that he created. I feel so sad. Gary Dean Richrathwasborn to Eunice and Curtice Richrath on 18 October 1949 in Peoria, Illinois. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Born Oct. 18, 1949, Richrath New Gary Richrath music has been released, almost six years after the death of the East Peoria native. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Steve Spears. Thousands of American workers are sickened or injured on the job every day. It's also "technically" the ninth video that MTV played when the network went on the air back on Aug. 1, 1981. When I play live, I rip my fingers up and I love it, he said in 1987. Biography - A Short Wiki. Harold?!? He joined the band for its debut album and served the band as the lead guitarist. He and his Gibson Les Paul deserved kudos for the sound of REOs hits, according to Guitar World. Richrath was born in Peoria, Illinois, on October 18, 1949, to Curtis and Eunice Richrath,[1] and grew up in East Peoria, Illinois. I can't help looking back. Just a few weeks ago, I messaged my old friend Janette and told her the story about the conversation with Kevin Cronin. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Gary Richrath, a former guitarist for the classic rock band REO Speedwagon who also co-wrote the groups hit song Take It on the Run, died Sunday, according to a publicist for the band. To REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall, Gary Richrath was more than just a bandmate. He attended East Peoria Community High School, from where he graduated in 1967. Upcoming Birthday Gary Richrath, a former REO Speedwagon guitarist, died of undisclosed causes on Sunday, September 13th, marking the fifth anniversary of his death. The cause of death was not given. Again and again. Released as the fifth single off the 1980 album Hi Infidelity, Take It On The Run shot up to No. "I'm flattered I was mentioned but I wish it was on a better note!" He was 65. In 1972, he was fired from the group, and was only reinstated four years later. He taught me a lot of what I know about being in a rock band, because I was a folk singer up until then. Jeff Beck was Mr. Richraths idol, but his earliest guitar influence was his Uncle Leroy a country picker, Cronin said. The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans. When you're 14 years old, there's no forgiveness for heartache like that. Erik Stein confirmed on Monday that Richrath passed away but offered no details about the cause of death. REO Speedwagon has released a number of successful albums, including 1980's "Hi Infidelity," which sold 10 million copies in the United States. What are we back in the 1920s? Gary Richrath (left), formerly of REO Speedwagon. Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. He was 65. Gary Richrath, who co-wrote some of REO Speedwagons greatest hits such as Take It On The Run and Time for Me to Fly, died at age 65, according to public records. The bands keyboardist Neal Doughty recalls in his Facebook post a happy moment with Gary around the time when the band re-united for a benefit show in 2013. Richrath last played with REO Speedwagon in 2013, when the band performed a benefit concert in Bloomington, Illinois, to raise money for tornado victims. He spent nearly 20 years with the group before leaving around 1990 and relocating to California. It was probably all I deserved. He had a rock star look and could really play the guitar, keyboardist Neal Doughty told www.classicrockrevisited.com. Gary was both a unique guitarist and songwriter, and the embodiment of the tough guy with a heart of gold. RIP. The song, which became a huge hit for the band, was Gary's answer to frontman Kevin Cronin's monster ballad Keep On Lovin' You. If were in the studio or rehearsing for too long, my fingers get all tender and I dont play as loud., In a 1991 interview with the Sun-Times, Cronin said, I was a melodic folk singer; Gary likes to turn up the guitar as loud as possible.. But REO Speedwagon was more than a hair band. The group had a string of hits that combined bombast with ballad rock, including Time for Me to Fly and songs Mr. Richrath wrote or co-wrote: Ridin the Storm Out, Keep on Lovin You, Say You Love Me or Say Goodnight, and Take it on the Run. Richrath, who joined the U.S. rock band in 1970, died on Sunday, Cronin said in a message on the bands official website. The cause of death was not given. Richrath recorded some 12 albums with the band, writing their 1980 hit Take it On the Run and singing lead vocals on tracks including Find My Fortune and Wild as the Western Wind. He left the band in 1989 and released a solo album in 1992. Why do I remember these things? Former guitarist and songwriter for rock band REO Speedwagon from 1970 to 1989. That name may or may not mean anything to you, but if you liked pop/rock back in the 1980s, you definitely knew his work. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. I remember Take It On The Run best for being the theme song for the breakup with my first girlfriend, Janette. Mr. Richrath was under a doctors care when he died in Louisiana, where he and his wife, Justine, had been assisting her elderly mother, Cronin said. Just so happened that the anniversary of 9/11 passed. I learned most of what I know about being in a rock band from Gary Richrath," REO Speedwagon's lead singer, Kevin Cronin, wrote on the band's website and Facebook page. In recent years, he returned to the Peoria area to be closer to his mother, Eunice, a hospital worker who died last year. Gary's solo was just sooooo inspiring. Migrant children have been put to work in hazardous jobs, in violation of child labor laws, according to recent news reports. The guitarist died Sunday. Richrath died on 13 September 2015 at age 65. REO Speedwagons frontman Kevin Cronin revealed the cause of Richraths death to the Billboard website in 2015, stating that Richraths wife told him that Richrath had abdominal surgery a few days before his death. Decades later, I interviewed Kevin Cronin a few weeks before REO was set to play in Tampa Bay. The longtime talk show host, who died Thursday at age 79, sang as the King, for real, while hosting The Price Is Right Live!. Another brother, Dennis, a worker at Caterpillar, died in 2013. Gary Richrath, the longtime guitarist for REO Speedwagon, died Sunday, Sept. 13, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In retrospect, maybe I should have reached out to Gary, though he'd long departed REO by that time. Sure, we were only in eighth grade at the time, but you remember how great first love felt, right? "There was a soap opera on it. He co-wrote some of the band's songs, including "Take It on the Run," which became a Top 5 pop hit on the Billboard charts. Gary Richrath, who co-wrote some Gary Richrath provided much of the creative and driving force in the Richrath was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971. His trademark soulfulness came from his upbringing and that he always wanted to get the approval of his dad, and his dad was a tough character, Cronin said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. On this International Workers Day, were committed to fighting for a better future for all workers in our city and state, two labor leaders write. Sep 18, 2015 at 10:10 pm. REO Speedwagons representative, Erik Stein, confirmed Gary Richraths death on Monday. REO Speedwagon has released a number of successful albums, including 1980s Hi Infidelity,which sold 10 million copies in the United States. Drag is awesome. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? The cause of death was not given. 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