R.I.P. Gary Richrath, REO Speedwagon 1949

I learned most of what I know about being in a rock band from Gary Richrath.

Gary Richrath, who played guitar for REO Speedwagon during their most popular years along with writing the classics Ridin’ Out the Storm and Take It On the Run, has died from an undisclosed ailment at the age of 65. No details on the cause or circumstances of his death were immediately available.

Cronin also posted a personal photo with Richrath. He was a member of the band when it released its self-titled debut in 1971 and was with REO Speedwagon until 1989.

Richrath wrote the REO Speedwagon hit Take It On The Run and sang lead vocals on the songs Find My Fortune and Only A Summer Love. He reunited with the band in 2013 for a benefit concert in Bloomington, Illinois. “We hugged one another, I told him how happy I was that he came, and he expressed his gratitude for the invitation”, wrote Cronin at the time.

He went on to form his own band Richrath. REO Speedwagon reached its commercial peak in 1980 with a #1 album, Hi Infidelity, which yielded a #1 single, “Keep On Loving You“, amidst a string of hits for Epic Records in the late 1970s-early ’80s.

Richrath, who joined the USA rock band in 1970, died on Sunday, Cronin said in a message on the band’s official website.