AboutKathy Expertise History of the band, their music, lyrics, instrumentation, touring, hits, chart activities, and just about everything else in between.
Experience
REO Speedwagon fan for over 35 years, having attended hundreds of concerts all over the world
Organizations belong to: President of REO FANS, the band's largest fan club with members in all 50 states and 26 countries overseas. Check us out at SPEEDWAGON.INFO and REO-FANS.COM!
Other great REO sites? SPEEDWAGON.INFO: http://Speedwagon.info
REO FANS eGroup: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/REOFANS
Gary Richrath: http://GaryRichrath.com Gary Richrath eGroup: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Gary_Richrath
Publications: REO FANS NEWS, Editor & Publisher for the last 15 years
Education/Credentials: Attorney
Awards and Honors: With a 30+ year photographic history of the band, one of her photos was selected to appear on the band's 25th anniversary t-shirts. She was also featured on VH-1's "Rock Collectors" program in January 2000 where her rock photography was displayed.
I got in an argument the other day defending Gary's role in the band to a fellow REO fan. I tried to point out that Gary wrote songs as well. I know Gary wrote "Take It on the Run" and I think "Riding the Storm Out". Is there a list of REO songs that Gary wrote? Even if Gary didn't write the lyrics did he collaborate on the music?
Answer Hi Bill,
A friend of mine put together a "Dream REO Concert" set list that might best answer your question. His dream concert:
The band takes the stage and blasts out of the starting gate with "Take It On the Run," followed by "Like You Do," "Only the Strong Survive," "Do You Know Where Your Woman Is Tonight" and a kick ass version of "Son of a Poor Man." To the astonishment of everyone, they race into high gear with 4 (count them, FOUR) songs from Good Trouble, including "Every Now & Then," "Back in My Heart Again," "I'll Follow You" & "Stillness of the Night." The crowd goes nuts, but there's an absolute uproar when they hear the first few notes of "Flyin' Turkey Trot," and know they're in store for a REAL guitar solo, followed by a Country & Western twist to "Lucky For You." Since the band's worked the crowd into such a frenzy, they slow it down a bit with 2 top hits from Hi Infidelity rarely performed for 20 years: "In Your Letter" & "Follow My Heart."
Certain tired & worn out ballads have been nixed from the set list, so the band has time for a few more rarely performed fav's like "Runnin' Blind" and "Break His Spell" before gathering everyone up for a gigantic "a capella" sing along to "Sing to Me." As they close to a rousing rendition of "Easy Money" and the band makes a hasty retreat from the stage to the refrain of "Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye Easy Money," people remark they've gotten a real show for their money.
But of course that's not all! To the thrill of screaming braless chicks, the band returns with a thunder-cracking version of "Ridin' the Storm Out," complete with a full blown drum solo.
The crowd just won't let them quit! They return again for two more encores of "Shakin It Loose" followed by a powerful explosion of "Say You Love Me or Say Good Night." As the closing chords come to an end and the band lines up to say goodnight, the crowd is damn near as exhausted as the band. In a bleary-eyed haze, everyone suddenly realizes they've been tricked, and this wasn't an REO Speedwagon at all!! It was Gary Richrath and his band playing nothing but GARY'S ORIGINAL SONGS!
NINETEEN SONGS, 2 1/2 hours... what a REAL rock concert should be!"
Every one of the songs mentioned above were either written or co-written by Gary Richrath.
In addition, many folks aren't aware of Gary's vocal talent. Here's a list (along with the albums) of songs that Gary sang:
-- "Find My Fortune" (Ridin' The Storm Out)
-- "Wild As The Western Wind" (with Mike Murphy on Lost In A Dream)
-- "Dance" (This Time We Mean It)
-- "Only A Summer Love," "Tonight," "Breakaway" (with Kevin) and "Any Kind Of Love" (with Kevin) (The Cow Album)
Gary can also be heard singing harmony on "Five Men Were Killed Today"
from REO's debut album as well as harmony vocals on "Do You Know
Where Your Woman Is Tonight?" from the Tuna album.
During REO's live performances, Gary sang backing vocals a lot in the '70s, especially on "Keep Pushin'", "Roll With the Changes", and "Say You Love Me Or Say Good Night." On the Hi Infidelity tour, Gary sang backing vocals on "Keep Pushin'," "Roll With The Changes," "Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight," and "Ridin' The Storm Out." On the Wheels Are Turnin' tour, Gary sang backing vocals on "Ridin' the Storm Out."
Thanks for an absolutely fabulous question about a guy who was truly the driving creative force behind this band.
