Billy Rich
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
April 7, 1949
Billy Rich | |
|---|---|
| Born | Eddie Wilbur Rich April 7, 1949 Omaha, Nebraska, United States |
| Genres | Blues, rock, R&B, funk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, arranger |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1956–present |
| Website | billrichmusic.com |
Eddie Wilbur "Billy" Rich (born April 7, 1949) is an American electric bassist and blues musician. He is known for his association with Buddy Miles, John McLaughlin, Jimi Hendrix and especially Taj Mahal, with whom he has played since 1972. Rich was born in Omaha, Nebraska and is based out of Denver, Colorado. On July 29, 2004, Rich was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame, and is a member of the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame.
Billy Rich was born to Milton Rich and Callie "Chaney" Rich. Billy's brother, Herbie Rich, was one of the original members of Electric Flag and also worked with Jimi Hendrix. His sister, Carolyn, was a vocalist with various bands. All three were inducted into the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame together. Billy's father played the harmonica as a hobby. Billy said that his father was influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson I and Lightnin’ Hopkins, and loved the song "Stone Fox Chase".[1] Another brother, Bob, sang and played percussion. Rich began playing guitar at the age of seven. Together, his father and siblings they started a band called The 7 Wonders Combo. Rich's first guitar was a Silvertone.
Rich played primarily guitar for about seven years. At one point he had a double neck Danelectro guitar with a bass on the bottom. He found he enjoyed the bass neck, and decided to switch. His first bass was a Japanese "knockoff" of a Fender Jazz called a Conrad. Rich states his guitar influences are Chuck Berry, Lonnie Mack, and Duane Eddy. His bass playing influence was James Jamerson, who played bass on many Motown recordings.[1]
Early career
Two months after graduating from high school, The Whispers were on tour in Omaha and were looking for a bass player, and Rich joined. A few months later, after a tour ended, The Whispers were doing local gigs in the San Francisco Bay area. His brother Herbie, Buddy Miles and Stemsey Hunter (all from Omaha) were playing in Electric Flag in San Francisco at that time. Rich met Miles, who invited him to join his new band, The Buddy Miles Express, along with his brother Herbie Rich in 1968. The three were inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame together many years later. Their first gig was at the Whisky a Go Go, a show in which Jimi Hendrix joined them on stage. Hendrix joined with Rich and with The Buddy Miles Express at various times during this period.[1] Rich wrote the song "69 Freedom Special" for The Buddy Miles Express (on the album Electric Church), and Hendrix produced it.[2][3]
He was invited by Hendrix's producer, Allen Douglas, to play bass on Hendrix's Band of Gypsies album, but he had a prior engagement. Two months later, Douglas invited Rich to participate in the recording of the John McLaughlin Devotion album with him in New York, which he did.[1]
