Wikipedia

Herbie Rich

Herbie Rich (February 23, 1944 – May 12, 2004) was an American multi-instrumentalist from Omaha, Nebraska, who was a member of The New Breed, The Electric Flag, and the Buddy Miles Express. He also played with Jimi Hendrix, Mike Bloomfield and others.[1]

Herbie Rich
Birth nameHerbert Lewis Rich
Born(1944-02-23)February 23, 1944
OriginOmaha, Nebraska, United States
DiedMay 12, 2004(2004-05-12) (aged 60)
Mableton, Georgia, United States
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
Years active1960s - 2000s

Career

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In the 1950s, Rich was a member of The 7-Wonders, a group that included his family members. Around 1964, he formed the Omaha group, The New Breed. Members included Stemsy Hunter, Hoshal Wright, Jerry Bennett, Hank Redd and Curly Martin and Jerry Bennett.[2]

The Electric Flag

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Mike Bloomfield once said of Herbie Rich that he plays keyboard like Jimi Hendrix plays guitar.[3] Another member of The Flag, Peter Strazza referred to Rich as a monster, an unbelievable musician who could play any instrument.[4]

Having been a member of The Electric Flag since joining in 1967, Rich had been with the band from its early days. Mike Bloomfield had added the baritone saxophonist in time for their show at the Monterey Pop Festival.[5][6] Rich was part of the band's horn section that included Marcus Doubleday and Peter Strazza.[7] Michael Fonfara had replaced the organist Barry Goldberg who had left in early December 1968. When Fonfara was arrested for drugs, Rich took over as the band's organist. He had a dual role, playing both saxophone and organ until Stemsy Hunter came on board in the beginning of 1968[8] Rich had really been brought into the band as a sax player and to increase the breadth or the horn section. Now playing organ, Bloomfield got to hear how good he really was. And he was very impressed. Rich had a liking for Jazz and a soulful sound which to a degree had an effect on where the band was heading.[9]

An incident took place after the band did a one night show in Detroit. Peter Strazza had tried to make a drug deal in his room. This resulted in Rich and Stemsy Hunter being up and robbed by the drug dealers, who had also taken Strazza hostage. Unwise to what was taking place, Buddy Miles and Mike Bloomfield who were in another room, slept through the whole event. In addition to Rich and Hunter having their money stolen, the band's clothes were stolen, the dealers even stole Rich's wig.[10]

By March 1968, the Flag had released A Long Time Comin'. In addition to both baritone and tenor sax, Rich had contributed some vocals and guitar to the album.[11][12]

In late 1968, An American Music Band was released on Columbia CS 9714. Mike Bloomfield was not featured on the album as he had left in May 1968.[13] Rich played an active part on the album. His organ solos can be heard on "Hey, Little Girl", and their rendition of Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" with Buddy Miles on vocals. Rich also did the sax solo and sang lead on a song called "Qualified". He also did the sax solo for " My Woman That Hangs Around The House" and did the horn arrangements for " Mystery".[14]

The Buddy Miles Express

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After the Electric Flag broke up, Buddy Miles formed The Buddy Miles Express.[15] Rich was one of the four ex-Flag members of the group that joined Miles's new band.[16][17] In addition to Miles and Rich, the group included his brother Billy Rich on bass, Jimmy McCarty on lead guitar, who was formerly with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Terence Clements on tenor sax, and Virgil Gonsales on baritone sax.[18] Rich played organ on The Buddy Miles Express debut album, Expressway to your Skull which was released in 1968.[19] He also played some sax and co-wrote two songs, "Spot On The Wall" and "Train".[20] A short review on the album in the November, 30 issue of Billboard, singled out those two songs as the ones that would give the fuel for the album's quick rise to the charts etc.[21] "Train" Part 1 bw "Train" Part 2 was released as a single on Mercury 72860.[22]

Jimi Hendrix

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On March 17, 1968, Rich got to play with Jimi Hendrix when Hendrix was invited to Jam with Butterfield on stage at the Café Au Go Go in New York. Rich was playing organ. Other musicians present were Harvey Brooks on bass, Phil Wilson and Buddy Miles on drums, and James Tatum on sax.[23] Rich would play with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. One live show was at Winterland in San Francisco on October 11, 1968. He joined the group on its cover of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". According to review Alan Bershaw, the presence of Rich sent Hendrix into new areas. Rich played on other songs like "Lover Man", Hey Joe", "Fire" and "Foxy Lady".[24] Carter Shelter of Paste in his May 15, 2017 article, noted his organ playing on "Fire" adding a new dynamic to the song.[25]

Later years

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Rich became involved in the ministry with his wife Hilda who he had married in 1989. They would take their message to places like large malls around Atlanta, to schools and nursing homes. They also visited homeless shelters and halfway houses.

Rich died in Mableton, Georgia, on May 12, 2004, at the age of 60.[26]

Selected discography

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Album US releases unless specified otherwise
Act Title Release info Year Notes
The Electric Flag A Long Time Comin' Columbia CS 9597 1968 LP
The Electric Flag An American Music Band Columbia CS 9714 1968 LP
The Buddy Miles Express Expressway to Your Skull Mercury SR-61196 1968 LP
Various artists You Are What You Eat
(Original Soundtrack Recording) 		Columbia Masterworks OS 3240 1968 LP[27]
The Electric Flag The Best of the Electric Flag Columbia C 30422 1971 LP[28]
Mike Bloomfield Bloomfield: A Retrospective Columbia C2 37578 1983 LP
The Electric Flag The Best Of The Electric Flag Back-Trac Records P 17721
CBS Special Products P 17721 		1984 LP
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live At Winterland +3 Rykodisc RCD 20038/+3 1992 CD, EP
Jimi Hendrix Blues At Midnight Radioactive RRCD 105 2009 CD
The Electric Flag Featuring Erma Franklin Live 1968 RockBeat Records ROC-3311 2015 CD
Mike Bloomfield Don't Say That I Ain' Your Man! Essential Blues 1964-1969 Columbia CK 57631
Legacy CK 57631 		(unknown year) [29]

References

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  1. ^ Reverb Nation Ron E Beck, Vocalist for Ron E Beck Soul Revue
  2. ^ Nebraska Music Hall of Fame website - HERBIE RICH
  3. ^ The Adventures of Mike Bloomfield & Al Kooper with Paul Butterfield and David Clayton Thomas, Ken Brooks - Page 39
  4. ^ Michael Bloomfield - If You Love These Blues: An Oral History, By Jan Mark Wolkin, Bill Keenom, Michael Bloomfield - 1 5 Killing Floor
  5. ^ Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero, By Ed Ward, Billy Gibbons - 11 "Mike Bloomfield Plugs His Guitar and His Flag"
  6. ^ Blues-rock Explosion, Summer McStravick, John Roos - Page 116
  7. ^ Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories, By Scott R. Benarde - 106 Barry Goldberg
  8. ^ Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero, By Ed Ward, Billy Gibbons - 11 "Mike Bloomfield Plugs His Guitar and His Flag"
  9. ^ Mike Bloomfield Website - An American Music Band, Michael Bloomfield's Electric Flag • Page 2, More Changes
  10. ^ Mike Bloomfield Website - The Electric Flag Page 3
  11. ^ Billboard, March 30, 1968 - Page 69 Album Reviews
  12. ^ AllMusic - Herbie Rich, Credits
  13. ^ Technicolor Web of Sound - The Electric Flag
  14. ^ Discogs - The Electric Flag – An American Music Band
  15. ^ Encyclopedia of Classic Rock, By David Luhrssen, Michael Larson - Page 234 Miles, Buddy (1946-2008)
  16. ^ Billboard, October 12, 1968 - Page 12 Talent, Signings
  17. ^ Blues-rock Explosion, Summer McStravick, John Roos - Page 118
  18. ^ The Heights, 26 November 1968 - Page 14
  19. ^ Billboard, 30 November 1968 - Page 78 Billboard Album Reviews
  20. ^ Discogs - Buddy Miles Express – Expressway To Your Skull
  21. ^ Billboard, November 30, 1968 - Page 78 Billboard album Reviews
  22. ^ Billboard, November 30, 1968 - Page 77 Buddy Miles Express Delivers!
  23. ^ The Jimi Hendrix Record Guide - BLUES AT MIDNIGHT
  24. ^ Concert Vault - Jimi Hendrix Experience, Winterland (San Francisco, CA) Oct 11, 1968 - Late - Written by Alan Bershaw
  25. ^ Paste, May 15, 2017 - Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced Turns 50: Celebrate With Paste's Exclusive Live Recordings by Carter Shelter
  26. ^ Nebraska Music Hall of Fame website - HERBIE RICH
  27. ^ Discogs - Herbie Rich Discography, Instruments & Performance
  28. ^ Discogs - The Electric Flag Discography, Compilations
  29. ^ Discogs - Herbie Rich Discography, Instruments & Performance
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