Dick Richards (drummer)
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February 12, 1924
Dick Richards | |
|---|---|
 Richards in 1954, seated behind Bill Haley | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Dick Richards |
| Born | Richard Marley Boccelli February 12, 1924 |
| Died | July 12, 2019 (aged 95) |
| Genres | Rock and roll |
| Occupations | Musician, actor |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1954–2019 |
| Formerly of | Bill Haley & His Comets, The Jodimars |
Richard Marley Boccelli[1][2] (February 12, 1924 — July 12, 2019),[2] also known as Dick Richards, was an American drummer and actor, best known for being in Bill Haley & His Comets, a group he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of in 2012.
Dick Richards was born Richard Marley Boccelli in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.[1] His father, Luigi Boccelli, was blind and worked as a tenor singer.[3][4] He attended Upper Darby High School until 1949.[2] Richards then attended Fairleigh Dickinson College, and finally West Chester University, where he majored in physical education, played for the American football team, and earned a teaching degree.[1] As a teenager, he dated Grace Kelly.[3]
Career
In April 1954, Richards joined Bill Haley & His Comets as their drummer. A month later, they recorded their biggest song "Rock Around the Clock", however session player Billy Gussak played drums on the record instead of Richards.[1] Richards left the Comets a year later, with Marshall Lytle and Joey Ambrose in September 1955, after they were refused a $50 raise from their manager;[5] they formed the Jodimars, who toured until 1958.[1]
In the 1960s, Richards took up acting. He performed on film, television, and theatre.[1] He appeared on Broadway in the 1970s.[1] Richards played a minor character in crime drama / soap opera show The Edge of Night, playing Charlie in 34 episodes of the show from 1980 to 1981, and played Henrick Schilinger in two episodes of the prison show Oz in 1998 and 1999.[1][6]
Richards reunited with most of the Comet members in 1987, a few years after Bill Haley's death, and toured as "Bill Haley's Original Comets".[7] Richards played drums in the Ready Rockers until his death.[2][7]