Ritchie Family

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Ritchie Family

Disco group (1975- Present)

The RITCHIE FAMILY was not related, they were created. Isn't that how all families come to be, they are created? But not like this, JACQUES MORALI and RITCHIE ROME are the ones responsible for assembling this group. It was so successful, that years later CASABLANCA Records let themselves get talked into a ridiculous concept of Stereotypical Gay Fantasy Characters becoming a group, remember them, The VILLAGE PEOPLE. But that is another completely different story.

What MORALI and RITCHIE ROME did is take that PHILADELPHIA Sound to another level. Using a group that had been called HONEY AND THE BEES (Very Original?) that consisted of JEAN DAVIS, CASSANDRA WOOTEN, GWEN OLIVER and NADINE FELDER. The brain-trust revamped, and the trio of THE RITCHIE FAMILY was born. Nadine was released.

In the infant days of DISCO, 1975 was a very big year. The arrival of DONNA SUMMER and the un-veiling of THE RITCHIE FAMILY from the South Florida DISCO record company T.K.. On their MARLIN Label, they took off, setting DANCE FLOORS ablaze with their music. THE RITCHIE FAMILY dominated, starting with the reworking of a 1930's song called BRAZIL (made popular by CARMEN MIRANDA) which was a great track to dance to. It took over DISCOS and was one of the first DISCO records to get extensive airplay on TOP 40 radio stations. The New York City deejays embraced this song and soon everyone was dancing the HUSTLE to BRAZIL! This extremely popular song left everyone wanting MORE.

All THE RITCHIE FAMILY albums were "concept" albums. And there was a certain attraction to the 1930s. After the Album BRAZIL, came ARABIAN NIGHTS, again with a 30s theme. Then came AFRICAN QUEENS. All these albums featured a 15 to 20 minute medley. The Medley from ARABIAN NIGHTS was especially good. From that LP came THE RITCHIE FAMILIES' biggest hit, THE BEST DISCO IN TOWN, which itself was a medley of the biggest DISCO hits of 1976.

MARLIN & T.K. Records made a lot of money from these albums. QUIET VILLAGE may be their best work, though it went mostly un-noticed. This "Hidden Gem" was the smoothest, best dance track they released.

By 1978, THE RITCHIE FAMILY followed JACQUES MORALI to CASABLANCA Records where their music gained a more European flavor to it. The album was called AMERICAN GENERATION and wasn't as well received as their earlier work. Their final album of the 70s had PUT YOUR FEET TO THE BEAT which did real good in DISCOS, but failed to generate excitement in the now, anti-disco radio stations that called themselves TOP 40.

As AIDS arrived, one of it's first victims was JACQUES MORALI, and subsequently, THE RITCHIE FAMILY. They were without leadership, and no creative direction. It was all over but the name. THE RITCHIE FAMILY is still around today, but with totally different women, playing the Club circuit. There is no real hope for a return to their Glory Days. Still, while they were around, we enjoyed them. THANKS!!

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