Member Since: 10/16/2007
Band Members: This page is dedicated to the amazingly talented and stunningly attractive Ritchie Family.The original featured singers were as pictured above Cassandra Wooten, Gwendolyn Oliver and Chery Mason Jacks. They were not related, but were bestowed the name
Ritchie after Ritchie Rome, the group's original producer.The group first met as background singers at Sigma Sound studios in Philadelphia.Prior to that, Cassandra and Gwendolyn had been part of a quartet known as Honey & The Bees in 1966
The group had a few, hits on the Jubilee label including 'That's,What Boys Are Made For' and 'Sunday Kind Of Love'.The band stayed together until 1971 when the group split up.They then began working as background singers.Cassandra met Cheryl in drama class and the core of the group were formed.Then Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo came over from Europe with the idea of recording a disco album at Sigma Sound.They worked with Ritchie Rome and they chose the girls to perform back-up work on an album, entitled 'Brazil' in 1975.
What followed in 1976 and 1977 were three more incredible disco theme albums that would help define an era. Most of the backup musicians on their first three albums were also members of the Salsoul Orchestra. In fact, Phil Hurtt a prominent member of the Salsoul Orchestra, wrote many of the songs that would help the Ritchie Family gain fame.Their 1976 album "Arabian Nights" contained the monster hit "Best Disco in Town."
As you can see their album covers were strikingly original and aesthetically appealing.
Early in 1977, they did their last album with Ritchie Rome, the 1930's inspired "Life Is Music." This album remains very underrated. My favorite cuts from this album include "Lady Luck,""SuperLover," and the title track "Life Is Music."
Ritchie Family Life is music
Uploaded by libelule64 Then in late 1977, the original singers got together for perhaps their most critically acclaimed album, "African Queens."
Ritchie Family - Sexy thing
Uploaded by scorpiomusic
Ritchie Family - African queen
Uploaded by scorpiomusic
This album featured one of the top Billboard Magazine Chart Dance hits of 1978, a remake of Les Baxter's "Quiet Village." In addition, "Summer Dance" and "Voodoo" were excellent percussion laden tracks. This album also featured a side long disco medley which explored the various aspects of African Antiquity.In 1978, a horrible decision was made to fire all three singers and replace them with a brand new three. Their image was also inexplicably changed from a Philly Disco Glamour Sound to a more predictable Eurobeat style.
The new Ritchie Family produced a few more minor dance hits after that, most importantly "Put Your Feet to the Beat," and American Generation." For the most part they never did attain their earlier prestige.
Ritchie Family - American Generation
Uploaded by coolfunk The only other albums after 1978 that I could find Cheryl and Cassandra on was as backup singers on John Lennon's 1980 "Double Fantasy" Album.
They also sang backup on Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice" also from 1980.
Influences: Important Message- If anyone knows either Cassandra, Cheryl, or Gwendolyn, please let them know about this page. Also it would be great if any of the producers or musicians associated with any of the Ritchie Family projects could leave a comment on the page particularly with any information that could add to what I already have on this page !
Fans of the Ritchie Family, please do leave comments, particularly regarding your favorite Ritchie tracks !
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Record Label: Unsigned