The Ritchie Family

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The Ritchie Family was the name of an American vocal group, based in Philadelphia, who achieved several hits during the disco era.

Career

The four original members were not related; the group was created by Jacques Morali who soon after also created Village People. The group took its name from record producer Ritchie Rome, and originally consisted of four singers Jean Davis, Cassandra Wooten,Gwen Oliver, and Nadine Felder. They were originally known as Honey & The Bees. Then they were reformed as a trio with Cheryl Mason-Jacks, Cassandra Wooten, and Gwen Oliver as the new line-up. (Honey and the Bees was a totally different group) Honey and the Bees was managed by Jimmy Bishop, a successful Philadelphia radio personality. He also managed Barbara Mason. After Honey and the Bees disbanded Cheryl Mason-Jacks, Gwendolyn Oliver and myself Cassandra Wooten begin singing with the idea to do background vocals. A few years before Nadine Felder and myself had done background work for Jacque Morali. He called a few years later when he wanted to form a group. By then Gwen, Cheryl and myself were preparing to get session work. Jacque liked our sound and thus the Ritchie Family was born.

Their first hit single, a reworking of the 1930s song "Brazil" reached the Top 20 in the United States in 1975, and the album, also titled Brazil, sold well. The following year they released the album Arabian Nights, and with it the single "The Best Disco In Town". The song was essentially a medley of recent disco songs linked together with an original chorus and it became a worldwide hit.

Their follow up albums Life is Music, which followed a 1930s theme, and African Queens were only mediocre successes. Each of these four albums was a concept album featuring songs of a similar theme as suggested by each album title. Each album also featured a long medley, usually running from 15 to 20 minutes.

By 1978, the three members had been replaced by Jacqui Smith-Lee, Theodosia 'Dodie' Draher and Ednah Holt. Their 1978 album American Generation was a slight departure from disco and more in the style of europop, although one of the singles from it was called "I Feel Disco Good." The group abandoned the exotic and highly kitsch costumes of their earlier incarnation in favour of a more contemporary, sexually provocative style. This album was followed by the album "Bad Reputation", at which point Holt departed (and formed her own group Ednah Holt and Starluv) and was replaced by lead singer Vera Brown; the group enjoyed success with "Put Your Feet To The Beat."

The Ritchie Family lineup of Brown, Smith-Lee and Draher next recorded the Give Me A Break LP which contained the hits "Give Me A Break" and "Never Be Able to Set You Free." Continuing with album releases, the next was a markedly different partnership with Jacques Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi, the pair behind Change. The album they recorded was I'll Do My Best For You Baby; following that was All Night All Right. By the time of 1983's "All Night, All Right" lp, Dodie Draher had left the group and newcomer Linda James took over her spot.

In 1980 they joined Village People for the movie Can't Stop the Music. The film was a resounding failure and still appears on many critics' "worst ever" lists; however the soundtrack album sold well in some parts of the world. By this time disco music had already reached its peak, at least in the US.

Also in 1980, Wooten and Mason-Jacks sang background vocals on John Lennon's final album, Double Fantasy.

After deciding to split, when group owner Jacques Morali discovered he had AIDS, the group continued as Vera Brown and the Rich Girls for one song called "Too Much Too Fast" that crashed completely. Vera Brown has reformed The Ritchie Family, with Dodie Draher and Jacqui Smith-Lee, but without further releases.

With original members Wooten, Mason-Jacks and Oliver, the group achieved its highest grossing sales.

Discography

Singles

• 1975 "Brazil" / "Hot Trip"
• 1975 "Dance With Me" / "Lady Champagne"
• 1975 "Dance With Me" / "Pinball"
• 1976 "The Best Disco In Town" / "Part II"
• 1976 "Istanbul" / "Baby I’m On Fire"
• 1977 "Life Is Music" / "Lady Luck"
• 1977 "African Queens" / "Part II"
• 1977 "African Queens" / "Summerdance"
• 1977 "Quiet Village" / "Voodoo"
• 1977 "Quiet Village" / "Versions"
• 1978 "American Generation" / "Music Man"
• 1978 "American Generation" / "I Feel Disco Good"
• 1978 "Good In Love" / "I Feel Disco Good"
• 1978 "La Barbichette" / "Forever Dancing"
• 1979 "Where Are The Men?" / "Bad Reputation"
• 1979 "Put Your Feet To The Beat" / "Bad Reputation"
• 1979 "Put Your Feet To The Beat" / "Sexy Man"
• 1979 "It’s A Man’s World" / "Bad Reputation"
• 1980 "Give Me A Break" / "Bad Reputation"
• 1980 "All My Love" / "Bad Reputation"
• 1980 "All My Love" / "Versions"
• 1980 "I’ll Never Be Able To Set You Free" / "Not As Bad As It Seems"
• 1982 "I’ll Do My Best" / "You’ve Got Me Dancin’"
• 1982 "Walk With Me"
• 1982 "Real Love" / "Stop And Think"
• 1982 "Alright On The Night" / "You Can Always Count On Me"
• 1983 "All Night, All Right" / "Versions"
• 1983 "This Love’s On Me" / "Tonight I Need To Have Your Love"
• 1987 "The Best Disco In Town" (Remix) / "American Generation"
• 1995 "I’ll Do My Best" / "Versions"
• 1996 "I’ll Do My Best" / "Versions"
• 1997 "American Generation" / "Versions"
• 1997 "Brazil" samba mix and dub mix
• 1998 "The best disco in town" summer mega club mix/ radio mix

Albums

• 1975 Brazil
• 1976 Arabian Nights
• 1977 Life Is Music
• 1977 African Queens
• 1977 The Best Of …
• 1978 American Generation
• 1979 Bad Reputation
• 1979 Je Te Tiens, Tu Me Tiens Par La Barbichette
• 1980 Can’t Stop The Music
• 1980 Give Me A Break
• 1982 I’ll Do My Best
• 1983 All Night, All Right
• 1990 Greatest Hits
• 2005 The Best Of …
•  ? African Queens – Greatest Hits

See also

The Ritchie Family Photo Gallery http://www.geocities.com/tggfritchiefamily/

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart