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American Generation

The Richie Family

The Ritchie Family est un groupe vocal américain basé à Philadelphie qui a connu plusieurs succès à l’époque du disco. Ils continuent de se produire. Leur dernier single « Whatcha Got » est sorti en 2021.

Les trois membres d’origine n’étaient pas apparentés ; le groupe était une création de Jacques Morali, qui avait également formé le groupe Village People. Le groupe a pris son nom du producteur de disques Richie Rome ; il était à l’origine composé de trois chanteuses : Cassandra Ann Wooten et Gwendolyn Oliver (qui a fini par épouser le musicien Fred Wesley) du groupe de filles Honey & the Bees, et Cheryl Mason Jacks.

Leur manager était Jimmy Bishop, une personnalité de la radio à succès de Philadelphie qui a également géré Barbara Mason. Morali se souvenait que Wooten et Oliver avaient fait du travail de studio pour lui, pour les récompenser il les appela quelques années plus tard, ce qui donna le groupe « The Richie Family. »

American Generation

The Richie Family

The Ritchie Family are an American vocal group based in Philadelphia that achieved several hits during the disco era. They have reunited and continue to perform. Their latest single « Whatcha Got » was released in 2021.

The three original members were not related; the group was a creation of Jacques Morali who also formed the Village People. The group took its name from record producer Richie Rome, who added a T to the name; it originally consisted of three singers: Cassandra Ann Wooten and Gwendolyn Oliver (who eventually married musician Fred Wesley) of the girl group Honey & the Bees, and Cheryl Mason Jacks. Their manager was Jimmy Bishop, a successful Philadelphia radio personality who also managed Barbara Mason. Morali remembered Wooten and Oliver had done some session work for him, and he called them a few years later when he wanted to form a group and the Ritchie Family was born.

Following Brazil, they had success with the Arabian Nights album. Their follow up albums Life Is Music, which followed a 1930s theme, and African Queens were only mediocre successes. Each of these four albums was a concept album featuring songs of a similar theme as suggested by each album title. Each album also featured a long medley, usually running from 15 to 20 minutes.