Buffalo Springfield

Buffalo Springfield

Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renowned both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined rock, folk, and country music into a sound all its own. Its million-selling song "For What It's Worth" became a political anthem for the turbulent late 1960s.

Formed in April 1966, Buffalo Springfield was plagued by infighting, drug-related arrests, and line-up changes that led to the group's disbanding after just two years. Three albums were released under its name, but many demos, studio outtakes and live recordings remained and were issued in the decades that followed.

Despite the band's short tenure and limited output it was one of the most influential of its era, earning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognition and spawning fellow Hall honorees Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Poco, as well as popular acts Loggins and Messina and Crazy Horse.

Despite their popularity, Buffalo Springfield was never a major commercial success. "For What It’s Worth" was a significant hit and the group's legend grew stronger after the breakup, increasing with the later successes of its members.

Stills went on to form Crosby, Stills & Nash with David Crosby of The Byrds and Graham Nash of The Hollies in 1968. Young launched a solo career, but in 1969 also reunited with Stills in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, which saw the beginning of his sporadic relationship with that trio. Furay and Messina were founding members of Poco. Furay joined J.D. Souther and Chris Hillman to form the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, and Messina teamed with Kenny Loggins in Loggins & Messina.

Richie Furay

Richie Furay

Paul Richard "Richie" Furay (born 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.[1] 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.

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 regrouped with Buffalo Springfield for a 2011 tour, headlining 2011 Bonnaroo with them. In July 2011, Furay announced on his Facebook page that he would be touring with Buffalo Springfield in early 2012, ending speculation there would be a 2011 fall tour with them.

WEBSITE
http://www.richiefuray.com/

With Buffalo Springfield

Richie Furay - Dance a little light

Dance a little light

Richie took his time to craft some beautiful heartfelt intimate songs, in the tradition of the best california sound of the seventies. It leaves you with positive feelings as the voice, the rendition, the tones convey such optimism. Richie Furay's "dance a little" finds its place somewhere between John Denver and Dan Fogelberg music. If you appreciate these artists, you will enjoy this release...a release that may be forgotten today, but cherished by the happy fews.

Richie Furay- Alive

Alive

Richie Furay is the Heart & Soul of what has come to be known as Country-Rock music. His contagious, joyful energy adds an effervescent quality to whatever he does. In this album, Alive, he sings and talks his musical history in a way that you know he was glad to be there. The renditions of his songs from the Buffalo Springfield, Poco, the SHF Band and his solo career, both gospel and secular, are fresh and filled with the vitality that surrounds Richie. I get chills listening to this inspired album. It is a must have for anyone that considers themselves a fan of Country-Rock Music. Thank you, Richie . . .



Richie Furay - Heartbeat of Love

Heartbeat of Love

The album opens with a fresh new track called Forever With You Loaded with hooks and harmonic melodies, this tune gives the listener a welcome back feeling when they hear the wonderful voice of Richie Furay with a little help from his friends like Jeff Hanna from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Timothy B. Schmidt lends a hand on My Heart Is Cryin' Tonight. One of those rich ballads that Richie is famous for, with lyrics that match the emotion of the vocal artistry of both singers "I know a love that is strong, will somehow carry on, But My Heart Is Cryin' Tonight."

Neil Young and Kenny Loggins chime in on the Buffalo Springfield/ Poco revisit of Kind Woman. After a recent tour with Linda Rondstadt, this song was truly one of the biggest crowd pleasers. This 2007 treatment has all of the qualities you would expect from this classic and more.

Another strong track, Callin' Out Your Name features Stephen Stills and Richie's daughter Jesse Furay. This is classic Furay. No matter which way you look at it, a hook-laden song, masterful harmonies and number one musicianship. This will be one of your favorite go to songs once you add this album to your collection.

The Heartbeat Of Love is Richie's first rock album in almost two decades. This is a definitive "worth waiting for" album, and it shows full circle his career in song with some of his most notable and famous friends from the past four decades. Enjoy!