Right after his fourteenth birthday Richie got his first guitar and discovered that this was the perfect way to fill the hours, often staying up all night practicing, adding to his mothers worries.  Within a year-and-a-half he was playing  gigs, first with a family band who's bass playing daughter he knew from school, and then in his own band. Growing up in an entertainment town, the opportunities to perform are many, and it didn't take long before he was playing rock-n-roll at casinos,weddings, and  local events.

    Richie moved to Portland Oregon when he was 22 years old, where made his bones  as the lead guitarist in the acclaimed Hudson Rocket Band, who were Semi-Finalists in the 2000 International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee, where they performed at the Beale Street Hard Rock Cafe. He later went on to form the King Juju Trio , who played at many blues festivals, opening for artists including Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Walter Trout and the Radicals, Smokin' Joe Kubeck , and the Paul DeLay Band.  His next band the Catillacs, a classic top 40 rock-n-roll band, performed hits of the sixties and seventies several times a week from 2011 thru 2013, opening for Three Dog Night, Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts, headlining the Art and the Vineyard festival, Hot Summer Nights,
the Brewfest and Meeker Days.
 
    Richie is known for his guitar style, where he marries a flamenco right hand technique with a blues, swing and
pedal-steel left hand technique a-la Mark Knopfler.  Along the way, he released a few CDs, often getting airplay on college stations and podcasts, and has done many live radio broadcasts.  Record reviewers, DJs, and other music business people, as well as fans have often compared his singing and guitar style to that of iconic rocker and country-rock pioneer Neil Young and John Fogerty. Inspired by these comparisons, as well as by a deep love of Young's and Fogerty music, Richie is now performing a tribute to Mr. Young's musical legacy which he is calling Harvest Gold and tribute to Fogerty/CCR called Fortunate Son. Currently playing 2 hours shows at theaters, concerts & festivals.   www.HarvestGoldNY.com  // www.FortunateSonPDX.com

* Semi-Finalist International Blues Challenge Memphis, TN
* Opened for Jimmie Vaughan, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Three Dog Night , Curtis Salgado & Johnny Limbo & the Lugnuts
* Signed to Voodoo Doughnuts Recording

* Radio airplay on KINK FM, KMHD, KBOO, KMUZ
* Headlined the Art in the Vineyard, Hot Summer Nights, Vancouver Brewfest, Microbrews Festival
*  On TV KGW Today Show