Gary Ritchey

"Gary Ritchey is the Hemingway of Texas!"Hank Moon 92.5 The Outlaw in San Antonio.
"Buy Gary's CD or I'll kick your butt!"Matt Hughes
"Gary's voice is powerful. So powerful that he can kill at yak at 200 yards."Spence Peppard; Producer
"Yaks Tremble at the sound of my name."Gary Ritchey
Here is what one Event Promoter says...
"Acoustic solo performances are a dying art...well, that is unless you have the privilege of hearing Gary Ritchey play an acoustic set. Gary is a first class entertainer! Whether captivating patrons in a coffee house or kicking off a motorcycle rally, both groups will know that they have just experienced something very special. His vocals can be soothing and entrancing and if you close your eyes, you'll forget he is the only one on stage. When you open your eyes (and you will want to, because he is fun to watch) you'd swear there was a full band playing as he is rocking out on the acoustic guitar and delivering a vocal performance that you will not soon forget.
Those who don't believe an acoustic performance can be powerful and alive; have never seen Gary perform."
Dr. Deb from D Rose Inn and Resorts. Leakey, Texas
Gary was born in Garland Texas into a musical family. He began singing at 4 years old for his grandfather’s friends at the town square every summer in Madill Oklahoma when he visited there. His uncle, Walter Pitts, played guitar for Sonny James and introduced Gary to the guitar and taught him his first lick as a young child. “I was hooked from that moment on,” says Ritchey.
Another defining moment occured during a family vacation to Red River, New Mexico when Gary was 7. “This is one of the coolest memories of my life! Our family had this really cool jeep driver, Ray, who took us up into the mountains one day. Later that night we went to hear this jeep driver, who also happened to be a singer/songwriter, perform with his group “Three Faces West”. I had no idea that my first taste of the music that would eventually become such a part of me was none other than the legendary Ray Wylie Hubbard!” says Ritchey.
Gary began singing in churches as a teen and released his first Gospel Rock recording in 1984. He followed with 6 more recordings over the next 17 years.
Gary’s latest recording, and his first foray into Texas Country Music, is a powerful sound that was honed out over many years of writing and live performances. “I think this is the most mature recording I have ever released. This is more authentically “me” from the beginning to the end.” Gary’s new CD harnesses the musicianship, production, and engineering talents of Spence Peppard; of Nacogdoches, Texas; as well as the writing talents of Robert “BlindDog” Cook of Marshall, Texas. The combination proved to be the magic behind this project.
On his decision not to self-produce this CD like his earlier work Ritchey said, “Spence Peppard was my first choice as a producer. If I was going to relinquish total control then Spence was one of the few I knew could do it. This CD is better because of his contributions and because I did what I do best and let others do what they do best. It worked.”
The maturity and diversity of this project starts with the song “Drinking in Texas” a true story of the time when Gary attempted to order a fully dressed Dos XX in the Midwest. It runs the gamut of funny tongue-in-cheek story lines about divorce and inflation in “One More Nickel” to the hard-hitting self explanatory “Remember My Name”.
COMMENTS
Nine-time UFC champion Matt Hughes says “Buy Gary’s CD or I’ll kick your butt!”
Chris Taylor of “Chris Taylor and the Bleeding Hearts” said of “Knock on Wood” “This song has that infectious groove!”
Deb from the D Rose Inn and Cabins says
"For Dear Life is a philosophical collection of music sung with the intensity and compassion of an old soul who has lived through some of life's toughest experiences and come through it with a smile on his face and in his voice, albeit with a very slanted sense of humor that he shares with his producer that is undescribable, not indiscribable, but undescribable!"
If you are a famous big shot, semi-pro mud wrestler, or other person of great acclaim please send us your comments! Gary needs all the help he can get!
:)