Dave with Deke Dickerson
Click on the following to see a Live Performance by DAVE RICH with Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Fonics! High-Quality, Large Files - Allow two or three minutes for each song to buffer on your windows multimedia player!
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Original "RCA" Country Cat
Article by An Amazing Wonderful Friend in France
DAVE RICH
AN ORIGINAL "RCA" 50's
COUNTRY CAT
My story with Dave Rich started long time ago, way back in the late 70's, when RCA issued that fabulous "RCA Rock-n-Rollers" LP in UK. That was vinyl time and that record followed in my rack those great "Imperial", "Chess" and "Capitol" Rockabillies LP's and made me discover Janis Martin, Joe Clay, David Houston and Dave Rich. Featured with "Rosie Let's Get Cozy", Dave sure made an impact on me with that driving song and the fine backing provided by the top of Nashville sessions crew. That 1957 attempt to catch with the teenage sound followed a string of recordings done for RCA since 1955 but I don't know that way back then. Nothing was knew about that Kentucky cat and I don't expected to know more until came the Bear Family CD "Ain't It Fine". At last some great pictures, a nice biography, a complete discography and his recordings on digital quality. Usual great work from Richard Weize's label but nothing about Dave's present days. Hopefully, Thanks to my friend Tillman Franks I was able to catch the "Man with a steel Guitar Pedal in his throat" and to share words with him.
Did you know than Dave Rich was the first to record the classic Bill Anderson's song "City Lights"? Did you remember him being the first to record Carl Belew unforgettable song "Lonely Street" later covered by countless performers?
In December 1956, Country and Western Jamboree magazine put him in "Best New Male Singer" category where he preceded Bobby Helms, Tommy Collins and Gordon Terry who recently passed away. Not too bad so let me tell you that man is still well and kicking and ready to perform overseas if bookings are offered. Being ministry since years, he still performs for church assemblies. He recently shared a show with Claude Gray and made a video with Deke Dickerson in Texas. As he offered to me to write something for his web site, I thought it should be nice to do. So here’s the man story told by his French friend!
Dave Rich was born in Kentucky on February 3, 1936 and broke into the country music world at the age of 14, singing in his brother’s band. His brother knows as "Spider Rich", a guitarist, was a close friend of Chet Atkins who took an interest for Dave’s voice. Chet easily worked a deal with RCA Records who lead to a first Nashville session in September, 1955 where was recorded "I Think I’m Gonna Die", a Dave composition. It's funny to think than that line bore some resemblance with Elvis sad thoughts in "Heartbreak Hotel" recorded few months later. But here that's pure country stuff close to "The Last Letter" or "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" in spirit and style. His voice is so special and unusual than Web Pierce once said "If Dave Rich never sells but one record, I’ll be the one to buy it". On that first session, four sides were recorded, all from the pen of Dave, and two singles will be on the market by May, 1956.
A session, in June, 1956 will offer the fine "Your Pretty Blue Eyes" close to Webb Pierce style and the Boudleaux Bryant composition "Ain't It Fine" with great vocal work. Soon, Dave will guest the Grand Ole Opry and on event such the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial festival in Meridian. By November 1956, Dave recorded Carl Belew's "Lonely Street" and a Mel Tillis's up-tempo composition "Tuggin' On My Heart Strings" with the usual Nashville session crew.
Early 1957, a fan club run by Lou Hamilton was on the way and Dave staged the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana. On March 23, 1957 he topped the bill and shared the stage with Bob Luman, Tibby Edwards, plus Jimmy and Johnny, the great country duet who recorded for "Decca".
More sessions will follow until the late 50's producing Country, Rock-n-Roll or sacred songs. Among the highlights are "Rosie Let's Get Cozy", a Rockabilly song with the fine backing of Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland and "School Blues", both from a December, 1957 session.
One little knows fact about Dave is he was a very accomplished Radio Disc Jockey. He never forgot this and befriend with Country music DJ's all across the nation. A DJ named Waylon Jennings banged his fist on his desk at a radio station, and screamed to Dave to never, ever stop singing country music like he was doing, because no one else could do it that way.
On another way, he was the one who helped Kentucky natives Everly Brothers to have a deal with "Cadence Records" at a time when they were goin' nowhere except back home. At his asking his manager Hal Smith worked out an audition for them with Acuff Rose. Waiting in the lobby for audition they were approached by Boudleaux Bryant who gave them "Bye Bye Love". They were signed instantly and four week later "Bye Bye Love" as number 1 on both country and pop charts. Don said of Dave Rich "If it were not for this man, Phil and I would be Coal Miners today!". Think about it, Buddy! Today Dave has such personal friends as Merle Haggard, Jerry Reed, George Jones and the list goes on and on.
In April 1958, Dave was back on studio and recorded Bill Anderson's "City Lights", a classic country song now. Dave own version was working good in the charts when his manager suggested to Ernest Tubb that maybe Ray Price should cover it. He did and Ray's record was a super hit being covered by more than four hundred artists. The last session will came in October, 1959 and will give birth to sacred songs with the help of "Pig" Robbins on piano and the vocal support of The Echoes of Calvary Quartet.
Dave vocal work range from straight country to Rockabilly and even Doo Wop and pop. He became minister but never stopped to record and you can find a lot of CD on his web site. You can also check the essential Bob Timmer's web site www.rockabillyhall.com (Dave was inducted in January 2006) or take contact with Dave's manager at LRClinton@daverichmusic.com
I hope Dave will soon be back in the spotlight and, why not, in European Rockabilly festivals. I'm sure his work with Deke Dickerson should bring us such great recordings as those done by Jimmy Lee Fautheree. Those old cats may have take some rest in the last years but … when they are back, they are coming strong and ready to rock your socks off.
Dominique "Imperial" Anglares
Best R-n-R Appreciation Society
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