| Ric Grech | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Richard Roman Grechko |
| Also known as | Rick Grech |
| Born | 1 November 1946 |
| Origin | Bordeaux, France of Ukrainian origin |
| Died | 17 March 1990 (aged 43) |
| Genre(s) | Rock |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, Violin |
| Years active | 1965–1977 |
| Associated acts | Family Blind Faith Ginger Baker's Air Force Traffic KGB Gram Parsons |
Richard Roman Grech (1 November 1946 – 17 March 1990) was an English musician. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ( Gascon: Bordèu) is a port city in southwest France, with one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area at a 2008 estimate This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the The violin is a bowed String instrument with four strings usually tuned in Perfect fifths It is the smallest and highest-pitched member This article is about the British rock band For other uses see Family (disambiguation. Blind Faith were an English blues-rock band that consisted of Eric Clapton Ginger Baker's Air Force was a jazz-rock fusion band comprising Ginger Baker on drums Steve Winwood on organ and vocals Ric Grech on violin Traffic were an English rock band formed in 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. Gram Parsons ( November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973) was an American Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar)
Born in Bordeaux, France in 1946, Grech was a versatile, accomplished, and sought after British rock musician. ( Gascon: Bordèu) is a port city in southwest France, with one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area at a 2008 estimate This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a He originally gained fame in the United Kingdom as the bass guitar player for the progressive rock group Family. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the This article is about the British rock band For other uses see Family (disambiguation.
Grech joined the band when it was a largely blues-based live act in Leicester known as the Farinas; he became their bassist in 1965, replacing Tim Kirchin. Leicester (ˈlɛstə is the largest city and Unitary authority area in the East Midlands of England, and is the traditional Family released their first single, "Scene Through The Eye of a Lens," in September 1967 on the Liberty label in the UK, which got the band signed to Reprise Records. Reprise Records is an American Record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra, which is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated The group's 1968 debut album Music in a Doll's House was an underground hit that highlighted the songwriting talents of Roger Chapman and John "Charlie" Whitney as well as Chapman's piercing voice, but Grech also stood out with his rhythmic, thundering bass work on songs such as "Old Songs New Songs" and "See Through Windows," along with his adeptness on cello and violin. Music in a Doll's House is the debut album by Progressive rock group Family, released in July 1968 Roger Chapman (born Roger Maxwell Chapman on Richard John Whitney (born June 24, 1944) AKA John "Charlie" Whitney is a British rock Guitarist and a former member of both Family The violoncello (abbreviated to cello, or 'cello, plural cellos or celli —the c is tʃ The violin is a bowed String instrument with four strings usually tuned in Perfect fifths It is the smallest and highest-pitched member
Released in February 1969, Family Entertainment, the group's second album, was a major turning point for Grech personally. In addition to playing excellent bass and violin lines on Family's signature song "The Weaver's Answer", he wrote three of the album's other songs: "How-Hi-The-Li," "Face In the Cloud," and the exciting rocker "Second Generation Woman," which was first released as a single in Britain in November 1968. The Weaver's Answer is a song by the British progressive rock band Family that is the first track on their 1969 album Family Entertainment. This song featured Grech on lead vocals, leading Family through a cheeky lyric about a woman who "looks good to handle from a personal angle," with an arrangement that recalled the Beatles's "Paperback Writer" and owed an obvious debt to Chuck Berry. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18 1926 in St Tellingly, however, all of Grech's songs contained obvious drug references - "How Hi-The-Li" wondered aloud if Chinese premier Chou En-Lai "gets high with all the tea in China" - and drugs would eventually plague Grech throughout his career. Zhou Enlai ( (5 March 1898 – 8 January 1976 was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from 1949 until his death in January 1976
In the spring of 1969, former Cream guitarist Eric Clapton and former Traffic frontman Steve Winwood formed the supergroup Blind Faith; in need of a bassist, they immediately recruited Grech, whom they'd both jammed with when Clapton was in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Winwood was in the Spencer Davis Group. Cream were a 1960s British rock band Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer Traffic were an English rock band formed in 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. Stephen Lawrence "Steve" or "Stevie" Winwood (born 12 May 1948 in Handsworth, Birmingham) is an English Singer-songwriter Blind Faith were an English blues-rock band that consisted of Eric Clapton John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are a pioneering English blues band led by Singer, Songwriter, and The Spencer Davis Group was a mid 1960s British Beat group from Birmingham, England, founded by Spencer Davis (born 17 July 1939 Unfortunately, Grech failed to give Chapman and Whitney adequate notice, and Family was due to start a U. S. tour with Ten Years After. Ten Years After are an English Blues rock band, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s Grech agreed to go on the tour until Family could replace him, but he proved to be unreliable when Family played their first American show on April 8, 1969 at the Fillmore East in New York. Fillmore East was promoter Bill Graham 's late Sixties / early Seventies rock palace in the East Village area of New Though that show is remembered for Roger Chapman throwing a microphone stand at Bill Graham, Grech contributed an indignity of his own; he was so disoriented he could barely play. Bill Graham ( January 8, 1931 &ndash October 25, 1991) was an American Impresario and rock Concert promoter
Returning to England, Grech recorded the first Blind Faith album with Clapton, Winwood, and drummer Ginger Baker, a former bandmate of Clapton's in Cream. Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (born 19 August 1939 Lewisham, South London) is an English Drummer. Their eponymous debut album was regarded as a disappointment by critics, but Cream and Traffic fans in America enjoyed it, and the quartet toured the U. S. to support it. Clapton was disappointed with the quality of the music and the performances, and Blind Faith called it quits. Grech and Winwood stayed with Baker to form Ginger Baker's Air Force, a marvellously unwieldy supergroup which also included Denny Laine (ex-Moody Blues) on guitar, Chris Wood (ex-Traffic) on sax and flute, and several other musicians; when that group collapsed under its own weight, Winwood reformed Traffic with original members Wood and Jim Capaldi, and Grech soon joined as their bassist. Ginger Baker's Air Force was a jazz-rock fusion band comprising Ginger Baker on drums Steve Winwood on organ and vocals Ric Grech on violin Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Arthur Hines, October 29, 1944, in Tyseley, Birmingham) is an English Songwriter The Moody Blues are an English psychedelic rock band originally from Erdington in the city of Birmingham. For other people by this name see Chris Wood. Christopher Gordon Blandford 'Chris' Wood (born 24 June 1944, in Traffic were an English rock band formed in 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. Nicola James "Jim" Capaldi ( 2 August 1944 &ndash 28 January 2005) was an English Musician and Songwriter
In October 1969, between Blind Faith and Traffic, Grech recorded two tracks for a failed solo project, "Spending All My Days" (which he sang) and "Exchange And Mart" (instrumental). Among the participants in the session was George Harrison. George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001 was an English rock Guitarist Singer - Songwriter, Author [1] These tracks were released as bonus tracks on a 1986 CD reissue of the Blind Faith album, and incorrectly credited to the band.
Grech remained a vibrant musician as a member of Traffic. As in Family, he lasted two albums with the band, Welcome To the Canteen and The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys. Grech's bass playing on the title song of the latter album was stirringly moody. Along with drummer Jim Gordon, Grech co-wrote the minor hit "Rock N Roll Stew. James Gordon or Jim Gordon may refer to In politics: James Gordon (New York (1739-1810 American Indian trader U " Drugs, however, remained a problem, and Winwood and his bandmates eventually decided they had no alternative but to dismiss him.
Grech remained active in session work, playing with Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane, and Muddy Waters. Roderick "Rod" David Stewart, CBE (born 10 January 1945 is a Singer and Songwriter born and raised in London England and currently Ronald Frederick "Ronnie" Lane ( 1 April 1946 - 4 June 1997) was an English Singer, Songwriter For the album by Redman, see Muddy Waters (album. For the college football coach see Muddy Waters (football coach. He also worked with Rosetta Hightower, the Crickets and Gram Parsons. In January 1973, he performed in Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert, and he even reunited with Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney when the duo recorded an album in 1974 after Family's breakup. Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert is an album recorded live at London 's Rainbow Theatre on January 13 1973, and released within Grech was one of many special guests on that record, which led Chapman and Whitney to form the group Streetwalkers. Streetwalkers were an English rock band of the mid-1970s led by two former members of Family, vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist John "Charlie" Grech, however, was not in that band.
Grech made at least two reported attempts to start a new rock group in the seventies; he hoped to start a new band with fellow Family alumnus John "Poli" Palmer in 1973, but that plan fell apart. John Michael Palmer (born May 25, 1943, in Evesham, Worcestershire) is a British rock musician who was a key member in the progressive rock band This group was to be Ric, Poli Palmer, Mitch Mitchell, Alan Kendal (Bee-Gees) and Jimmy Stevens. They got together at Ric's Little Cansiron farm in Sussex. Because of drug problems they were never in the same room together at the same time. He also planned to start a new group with former Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell around Joe Jammer, a guitarist they'd both discovered. James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) (November 27 1942 – September 18 1970 was an American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter John "Mitch" Mitchell (born 9 July, 1947 in Ealing, Middlesex) is an English Drummer, most famous for his involvement That group was in fact never formed, and Jammer went on to form his own band, the Olympic Runners.
In 1973 RSO Records released the only album under his own name, credited to 'Rick' Grech. RSO Records was a Record label, formed by Rock and roll and Musical theatre impresario Robert Stigwood in 1973 The album was titled The Last Five Years. The Last Five Years is a one act musical written by Jason Robert Brown. It contained songs that Ric wrote and recorded with Family, Blind Faith, Traffic, Ginger Baker's Airforce and others between 1968 and 1973.
In 1974 Grech finally hooked up with another supergroup, KGB. Consisting of Grech on bass, Michael Bloomfield (ex-Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Electric Flag) on guitar, Carmine Appice (ex-Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and Beck, Bogert & Appice) on drums, Barry Goldberg on keyboards, and Ray Kennedy (co-writer of "Sail On, Sailor") on vocals, the group released its homonymous debut that year. Michael Bloomfield may refer to Michael J Bloomfield, astronaut Mike Bloomfield, guitarist Paul Butterfield ( December 17 1942 – May 4 1987) was an American Blues Harmonica player and Singer The Electric Flag, formed in 1967, was a Blues rock soul group led by Guitarist Mike Bloomfield, keyboardist Barry Goldberg Carmine Appice (b December 15, 1946 in Brooklyn New York) is an American rock Drummer of Italian ancestry Vanilla Fudge was an American psychedelic band that recorded albums from 1967 to 1970 A cactus (plural cacti) is any member of the Spine plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas Beck Bogert & Appice was a hard rock Power trio composed of guitarist Jeff Beck ( The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group) bassist Tim Bogert Barry Goldberg (born 1941 Chicago, Illinois) is a Blues and rock Keyboardist, Songwriter and Record producer Raymond Kennedy (born 28 July 1951 is an English former football player who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal and Liverpool in the 1970s Grech and Bloomfield immediately quit after its release, stating they never had faith in the project. The album was not critically well received.
Eventually Grech grew tired of the rock scene and retired in 1977, returning to Leicester to sell carpets. He eventually developed a drinking problem, and in 1990 he died due to a brain hemorrhage. [2]
References
- ^ Beatles' Timeline: 01FEB69 thru 02APR70 - Abbey Road
- ^ Romanowski, , Patricia (2003). Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll Rolling Stone Press, ISBN 0-671-43457-8
External links
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