Richie Furay

All Music Guide:

Richie Furay started his musical career playing folk clubs as a solo artist in the 1960s, as well as with bands like the Monks and the Au Go Go Singers (which included Stephen Stills in the lineup). After meeting Neil Young they formed Buffalo Springfield with Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin. The band cut its first album, Buffalo Springfield, in 1967; it included the single "For What It's Worth." Buffalo Springfield recorded two more albums -- Buffalo Springfield Again and Last Time Around -- before disbanding in 1968. Furay and Jim Messina (who had replaced Palmer in the Springfield) formed a new band, Poco, with steel guitar player Rusty Young, George Grantham (ex-Boenzee Cryque), and Randy Meisner (ex-Poor). Poco recorded its first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, and Meisner quit soon afterward. The band continued as a quartet, building a reputation at the Troubadour. Timothy B. Schmit was added as their second album, Poco, was released. After Poco's third album, Deliverin', Messina quit and was replaced by Paul Cotton (ex-Illinois Speed Press). Poco went on to cut albums such as From the Inside, A Good Feelin' to Know, and Crazy Eyes before Furay left.

At David Geffen's request, Furay formed the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with Chris Hillman (ex-Byrds) and J.D. Souther. The band split after two unsuccessful albums in 1974 and 1975. Furay then converted to Christianity and formed the Richie Furay Band, a Christian group featuring Jay Truax, John Mehler (ex-Love Song), and Tom Stipe. After two albums -- Dance a Little Light and I Still Have Dreams -- the band recorded Seasons of Change for Myrrh Records, Furay's first album for a Christian label. Furay became a minister in Colorado and continued singing and recording. He rejoined Poco in 1990 for their comeback album, Legacy, which included the hit single "Call It Love." In 1997, Furay recorded his fifth solo album, In My Father's House, for the Christian Calvary Chapel label. The Christian-themed I Am Sure followed on the Friday Music label in 2005, while also signaling that Furay remained a country-rocker who maintained his old connections -- the album featured appearances by the likes of Rusty Young (who had also played on In My Father's House), Jim Messina, Paul Cotton, and Chris Hillman. Released in 2006, Heartbeat of Love kept the country-rock flame burning and included contributions from Steven Stills and Neil Young. The Richie Furay Band’s two-disc Alive set -- recorded on tour in Colorado -- arrived in 2009. Furay has also made selected live appearances (along with other Poco alumni) with the post-millennial incarnation of Poco led by original bandmember Rusty Young (and also featuring Paul Cotton until March 2010).

Wikipedia:

Richie Furay (born Paul Richard Furay, May 9, 1944, Yellow Springs, Ohio) 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.

Career

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 for the famous Cafe Au Go Go in New York.

In the late 1960s he formed the country-rock band Poco with Jim Messina 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.

Although Souther, Hillman, Furay's self-titled first album was certified Gold and yielded the top thirty hit with "Fallin' in Love" in 1974, the group could not follow up on that success, and poor record sales eventually led to its demise.

After moving from Los Angeles to Sugarloaf Mountain near Boulder, Colorado, Furay formed The Richie Furay Band with Jay Truax, John Mehler, and Tom Stipe, releasing the album I've Got a Reason in 1976, which reflected Furay's newfound beliefs. To support the release of this album Furay formed an alliance with David Geffen and Asylum Records. Furay assured Geffen that his album would be Christian influenced but would not be an attempt to preach his newfound beliefs. "I've Got a Reason" did, however, establish Furay as a pioneer in Christian Rock. The title track of his third album, the secular "I Still Have Dreams", became a mild radio hit in 1979.

Overall, his albums charted unsatisfactorily, and, compounded with the strain of touring wearing on him and his family, he hung up his rock and roll shoes in favor of a call to the ministry. In 1983 Furay became senior pastor of the Calvary Chapel in Broomfield, Colorado, a non-sectarian Christian church in the Denver area. He continues to perform as a solo artist, and very occasionally with Poco. He toured as an opening act for America and Linda Ronstadt during the Summer of 2006. The 2006 release of his latest CD The Heartbeat of Love returns Furay to his early country-rock roots with a contemporary flair.

In 2007 he toured with a new formation of the Richie Furay Band. At the Boulder and Bluebird Theatres in Colorado they recorded a double live CD ALIVE. The ALIVE set covers 29 songs of Furay's career. The Richie Furay band continued to tour through 2008 and 2009. Furay appeared with Poco for several shows in early 2009. At the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California in the Spring of 2009, Furay and the current Poco lineup were joined onstage by original members Jimmy Messina and George Grantham and former bass player Timothy B. Schmit reuniting the Poco lineup that achieved the most critical acclaim.

On October 23, 2010, he reunited with surviving Buffalo Springfield bandmates Stephen Stills and Neil Young for a set at the 24th annual Bridge School Benefit at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California.

Richie is currently performing with The Richie Furay Band and has regrouped with Buffalo Springfield for a 2011 tour. He headlined 2011 Bonnaroo with Buffalo Springfield. In July 2011, Furay announced on his Facebook page that he will be touring with Buffalo Springfield in early 2012, ending speculation there would be a 2011 fall tour with Buffalo Springfield.

Partial discography

Albums

As a member of the Au Go-Go Singers:

As a member of the Buffalo Springfield:

As a member of Poco:

As a member of Souther-Hillman-Furay Band:

Solo:

Compilations

The Richie Furay Band

Singles