Richie Furay | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Paul Richard Furay |
Born |
Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States |
May 9, 1944
Genres | Rock, folk rock, blues rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, Christian minister |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1961–present |
Labels | Atco, Asylum, Epic, RCA, Roulette, Myrrh, Calvary Chapel, FridayMusic |
Associated acts | Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, Au Go Go Singers, The Richie Furay Band |
Website | richiefuray |
Paul Richard "Richie" Furay (born May 9, 1944) 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.
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 of the famous Cafe Au Go Go in New York City.
In the late 1960s he formed the country rock band Poco with Jim Messina (who produced albums and occasionally played bass for Buffalo Springfield) 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.