GARY RITCHIE, a lifelong CHICAGOAN (nw side) uh..er.. until recently (more on that later) thought he was going to be the next shortstop for the CHICAGO CUBS, until one night some kids on T.V. were singing YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! Then came The DAVE CLARK 5, The ANIMALS, KINKS, Gerry & the PACEMAKERS, HERMAN's HERMITS, and many more. He was in!

The next thing he knew was that his younger brother got a guitar, formed a band and was playing at the movie theater BETWEEN movies. People applauded and there were um...GIRLS acting friendly! He thought, in the words of JOHN LENNON, "THAT seems like a good job". The next thing he know's is that his brother is asking him to audition for his band THE PARAMODS. Well, he didn't even own a set of drums, but, he could try-out on the other drummers drums! The first thing they ask him to play is WIPEOUT! He couldn't play WIPEOUT. So needless to say, he failed the audition. But, that really got him interested in playing. So during the great SNOWSTORM of '67 his dad drove down to the southside of CHICAGO to get his first set of drums. Oh, by the way, Gary's brother Greg has still never said a word about the failed audition!

Gary went on to play in many bands, toured, recorded and just had a good 'ol time. And he has his younger brother to thank for getting him started. Oh, and of course those four MOPTOP guys too!! And oh yes, he still plays Shortstop in his dreams!

That leads us up to the NOW!

Drummer/vocalist Gary Ritchie, has recently moved to the Austin, Texas area (Wimberley). He came "kicking & screaming", but is now starting to get used to the idea.

Gary and former "Loose Lips" bandmate Jeff King have been writing and recording music for many years now. They seem to have that special musical bond rarely found these days. They first got together back in 1979 in a very popular Chicago band called "Loose Lips". They, along with Richie Mayer (guitar, vocals) and Danny Welch (bass, vocals, resident pretty boy) were among the top bands in Chicago. In 1980 they released what is now a classic Pop record. "Hung Up On Pop" received heavy air play for quite a while. The band went their separate ways in the mid-80's, but remained good friends. There were even talks of a reunion some years back. But, they came to their collective senses. Richie and Danny check in every once in a while just to make sure G & J are still breathing.

A few years ago, Gary was about to embark on a project saluting his musical hero's, The BEATLES. He was going to record one song from every Beatle album. Just about that time, Jeff King called to see what he was up to. Gary mentioned the "Beatle" project. Jeff wanted in. So, that's how they got back together. They went on to record 22 Beatle songs and called it "Beat The Meatles". It was so much FUN they decided to do it again, but this time doing ORIGINAL material. That is how "POP! RADIO" was born. It is a true and great collaboration. They are now working on TWO follow up albums. One for Jeff and one for Gary. We hope that you will enjoy "POP! RADIO" as much as we do. And by the way, if you ever see a copy of "BEAT THE MEATLES"...grab it! It's Goooood!!!

Oh yes, Gary's NEW cd is now available!!!! "HUM, SING...REPEAT" is an 18 song Popfest!! 57:40 of Upbeat, Rockin', Goodtime Fun!! And what's this? Another BRAND NEW CD release as of 8/1/2013. "DRAKE, NEAR THE ALLEY' is the newest noise. Pick it up on CDBABY or AMAZON.

SOME GARY RITCHIE CD REVIEWS!!

Wow!! Gary is at it again. After his highly praised "Hum, Sing...Repeat!" cd from 2011, and his "Pop! Radio" album from 2006, he's back and rockin' the joint. Yes, the volume has been turned up a bit. This may be considered more of a "Guitar" album than his previous work. Oh, don't get me wrong...The POP is still there but with a definite edgier sound. The catchy melodies, harmonies, pounding drums, cool guitars are still front and center. Imagine if the Kinks, Herman's Hermits, The Who, The Beatles, Hollies, The Romantics, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Fastball, Nick Lowe, Bobby Fuller 4, The Records, Badfinger, The Raspberries all got together to play Everly Brothers tunes. Well, you get the picture. This is a labor of love and you can feel it. So turn it up....and RUN! as Gary likes to say.

by Beverly Paterson How refreshing it is to come across someone such as Gary Ritchie, who for all the years he has been making music, sticks to his principles. Trends and gimmicks are fleeting, but this greatly gifted singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalistpossesses a diehard devotion to pure and plucky pop rock matter.

Snipping paragraphs in the book from the fabled British Invasion acts of yore and blending them with new wave shadings, Gary’s latest album, Drake, Near the Alley (Fancy Tone/Tone Productions) calls up images of the Searchers, the Dave ClarkFive, the Spongetones, the dBs and the Cheepskates, yet does so in a way that his own individual personality prevails among the influences. Choppy chords, jingling and jangling with energy, tend to direct the show on the disc, withtracks like “Hear My Pleas,” “Woman, Oh Woman,” “Victimized” and “Here’s To You” logging in as majorly memorable morsels.

Pointy hooks, boyish vocals dripping with vulnerability, and tightly-knitted arrangements also allow the tunes to shine brightly. A bit of a bluesy edge is detected on “Hum, Sing, Repeat,” while “Mr. Ordeal” yields a combative garage rock feel. Bouncy keyboardworkouts, jumpy rhythms and enthusiasm by the bushel are other ingredients embedded in Drake, Near The Alley, lending it to be the tour de force of a album that it is. An extra round of applause goes to Jeff King, who contributed his instrumental prowess tothe record.

Absent of clutter and chaos and big on short, simple, smart and snappy songs, Drake, Near the Alley stresses everything good and fun there is about standard pop rock music. Gary Ritchie really has a flair for creating the catchy stuff, and he just getsbetter and better with each release. Crank the volume and let it rock!

Hits the sweet spot, and never lets up!

GARY RITCHIE: Drake Near the Alley (Fancy Two/Tone) Ritchie hits the sweet spot on the first track and never lets up. Drake hums and throbs like the best of Shoes or Dwight Twilley sustaining an incandescent power pop mood. "Total domination from the English boys/We were glad all over they made a joyful noise," he sings on "Hum, Sing and Repeat," which sums up the record. Jeff King's guitar hovers over these songs like God's flaming finger with a distinctive buzzing tone. Like the Toms or classic Shoes there are no weak tracks. Influences sometimes peak through the curtains but Ritchie's got his own sound. "Woman Oh Woman" could have been a Cars hit with Ritchie's Ocasek-like vocal. The Yardbirds are in a "Tailspin," with its rawer bluesy approach and King's insistent guitar. Four and a half stars.

Michael A. Baron

Gary Ritchie “Drake, Near The Alley”

Chicago based Gary Ritchie gives us a follow-up to Hum, Sing, Repeat from 2011. This time we start with the title track from his last album “Hum, Sing, Repeat,” a loving nostalgic look at rock back in Ritchie’s childhood. With his partner in crime Jeff King (bass, guitar, keys) they play through a terrific collection of songs. “Victimized” and “Charming Life” are catchy melodies that compare well to The Romantics.The band takes on early Beatles simplicity for “Hear My Pleas” and then it’s back to the guitar riffs of “Midnight Lovers,” which sounds like a lost Raspberries tune. Clearly Ritchie knows his classic power pop, as “Back To You” has some Badfinger-styled guitar. The quality of tracks vary after the mid point, but standouts include “Invisible Man” and “Pull Your String.” Rock on, Ritchie!