New Gary Richrath music has been released, almost six years after the death of the East Peoria native.
The fresh material comes courtesy of Richrath Project 3:13, helmed by former Richrath collaborator Michael Jahnz.
After Richrath left REO Speedwagon in 1989, he started the Gary Richrath Band, of which Jahnz was lead vocalist. The band released just one album, “Only the Strong Survive,” though the pair wrote much material that never got recorded, according to the website for Richrath Project 3:13.
That band, which pays homage to Richrath’s career with REO and beyond, recently was contacted by GNP Crescendo regarding a possible rerelease of “Only the Strong Survive.” One thing led to another, including the production of Richrath-penned tracks that include his musical input, according to the website Ultimate Class Rock.
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“I had a very talented group of musicians with me,” Jahnz told the website, “so I dusted off a few of those never-before-heard tracks that Gary and I recorded in my studio, and we started working on them. I had the idea, with today’s technology, to try to somehow include Gary’s actual guitar on this album. I went to my sound engineer with the idea and, sure enough, he was able to isolate and pull off Gary’s guitar.”
The resulting album is “L.A. Is Mine.” The first single, “Help Me Save Me From Myself,” features Richrath’s guitar work and backing vocals.
A sampling of the music is available on the band’s website.
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