REO Speedwagon - Son of a Poor Man with tribute to Gary Richrath and acoustic intro (11/13/2015)

REO Speedwagon's "Son of a Poor Man" at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis, Missouri on November 13th, 2015.

[@LeatriceCharlton-oi3lp]

Gary richrath is REO. It was his band and the beginning albums were the best. I'm from the St Louis area and saw them every time they came to play. They were my favorite band.The 70's were the greatest!!

[@jeffincabo]

I grew up in Ste.Genevieve ! I know and understand the St.Louis connection! I was at the May1978 concert introducing the Tuna album. Greatest decade of my life!

[@Chief2Moon]

Gary had a certain style, charisma, grin, & talent that can't be replaced.

[@acgillespie]

Gary put the sex in sexy

[@edarnold1426]

Amen

[@user-iz6ik8cd2o]

비지스

[@p.g.8138]

I don't know what fru fru stuff your'e talkin bout I just know he was a great guitar player and the guy on the stage in this video doesn't hold a candle to Gary.

[@judithmagill1449]

So true!

[@corytrevorson1411]

To me, Gary was the best there ever was when it came to playing solos that captured the spirit of the songs they were in.

[@larryjoe1956]

Tru dat

[@larryjoe1956]

Buddy rupprath secand

[@billherman7294]

Gary....so so so underrated

[@cherylnewland6538]

I So Love REO! I've seen them many times! Gary was Always Rocked the Place to Epic~ness!! He will Always be REO Speedwagon for me! Wished You could've put the Damn bottle Down Gary!! You were Amazing! 💖

[@jackydove2632]

Nobody can replace Gary

[@tinamarie0701]

Gary was a badass shredder! Missing you on this Earthly plane Gary! He was a part of my love affair with REO, NEVER to be forgotten!

[@lasvegasdwellers3565]

my deceased father always said' time marches on"... you know we cant go back to the wonderful concerts we saw...memories ...esp of Gary...

[@frankderudder7290]

Gary was reo speedwagon! When he left i never seen them in concert again!! May he b shredding wherever he is!! R.I.P. GARY!!!

[@oddkarlsen7593]

This must be one of the best Reo songs ever..🇳🇴

[@jennifernanzer384]

I did a project for the Illinois rock and roll museum on the 2013 concert for those effected by the tornado in Washington Il Gary reunited with REO for that concert and what I can say from the people he knew personally he loved playing again with REO. Thru my research I came across this song . It was perfect it was Gary !!

[@gregakinson2800]

GARY RITCHRATH was ALL THAT and he always will be!

[@danielcorreard3746]

Gary was the best and most under rated guitarist in rock and roll may he rip he greatly miseed hard to believe it's been six years since he passed when he died i changed the name of my fantasy football team to richrath and ended up winning the championship after an 0 5 start I always believed I got help from the super natural

[@barrymiller2272]

Richrath's tone was amazing. I've been a Les Paul through a big tube amp guy for 35+ yrs. Gary could flat out make that setup sing. RIP

[@cherylnewland6538]

He Rocked the Stadium's Till they Almost Blew Up, Right!!

[@dawn4559]

He was the best! What he did with that Les Paul can not be beat!

[@gregwilkinson5185]

I play Les Pauls because that's what Gary played.Hell I cut my hair the way I did because that's how Gary wore his. He was my guitar hero. I'd put you get what you play for on the turntable and play right along with Gary

[@barrymiller2272]

@@gregwilkinson5185 incredibly cool! Everytime an REO song comes on, i drop what I'm doing and listen. He was a master of tone....and I'm a Les Paul guy as well. Current count 7!🎸🎸👅😁

[@erictyrka615]

Gary was great. Kevin is the energy and sound of REO, and for Dave and Brian to step in and continue in their own great way and what else can you say about Bruce and Neal. Guys you are doing a great job. and as the song says keep pushin I am saying keep the REO SPEEDWAGON dream alive. I know it is still working for me, and I know it is still working for the rest of the fans Thanks Guys Eric from Oak lawn.

[@johnkyllonen2223]

Yes Gary was an under rated guitarist. Which is odd because if anyone listens with a discerning ear, you hear right away how good he was. Not many include slide guitar in their repertoire and he was great. I always remember REO was a legit rock band in spite of the top 40 stuff

[@jettechdonatkins]

They were better without Cronin taking them away from the rock sound they started with.I saw them with Cronin and Mike and really liked Mike's vocals.Gary and Neal were REO!

[@gregwilkinson5185]

I was in the Army and stationed in Berlin Germany when Hi infidelity came out. When it got to the PX I went and got a copy, put it on the record player and thinking This is REO? Sorry just didn't care much for pop music.

[@rolandoposada1522]

@@jettechdonatkins I've tried and I've tried and I've tried, but I have never been able to quite enjoy Mike Murphy's vocals. They sound nasal, and definitely don't pack the punch that the powerful and melodic Kevin Cronin voice packs. Of the three records on which Mike sang, I only listen to the 73 record, "ridin' the storm out"... The songs on that record are amazing, despite the vocals.

[@acgillespie]

*God bless Gary - God bless R.E.O. Speedwagon*

[@josieowl7833]

Sweet an angel name Gary Richrath Is always with REO

[@shawno66]

my favorite REO song

[@daviddyer348]

Taking my daughter to REO in July in Nashville Tennessee my favorite group she's going to love it

[@gregakinson2800]

I just wish that she could have seen the real deal as I did back in 1979! I also seen them in 1994 and they were great but go see them now and, well..........

[@joejohnston2035]

Gary WASSSSS REO SPEEDWAGON , period

[@flyingburritobro68]

Gary was REO. The band was dead to most of us long before Gary was told to leave his band by the guy he brought in. Sadly the band let Cronin move them to lightweight status. If people like that period of REO that’s fine but I am with Gary and prefer the early stuff that Gary had his mark on.

[@sashasue00]

totally disagree...tired of reading Cronin ruined the band. Gary was Great, but had his demons, and spoiled that for himself (RIP). Kevin IS the "voice" of REO, and is not to blame for Gary's demons/demise

[@flyingburritobro68]

sashasue00 glad you like him but Luttrell and Murphy were far better than popster Kevin for me

[@sashasue00]

@@flyingburritobro68 Fair Enough :)

[@jimmer1047]

I agree. I hated the soft rock albums they made after GR left.

[@jimmer1047]

@@flyingburritobro68 ABSOLUTELY! 💯

[@jamessator5564]

GDR was the reason I play a honey burst “no frills” GLP !! He came up with great licks and ROCKED THE HOUSE !

[@robertbigelow647]

No reason to be dissing Kevin people, Gary had his problems and demons. Being a guitar player myself, I do think Dave should be playing a Gibson Led Paul on every song that Gary did, but at the same time, Dave is an awesome 🎸 player in his own right and should be able to play what he feels so that's how music goes. Enjoy

[@RODE2112]

Started slow, picked up awhile and got slow again. God Bless Gary!

[@jamescarey2367]

Gary was rocker way more talented than he got credit for. RIP.

[@connordixonpt]

Kevin's into give me geese bumps. We love you, Gary!!

[@tinamarie0701]

I may have gotten teary eyed

[@randyreinfeldt1520]

Love this song. Rip Gary Richrath

[@jettechdonatkins]

Saw REO many times in St.Louis in the mid '70's.Gary was a great entertainer and was the heart of the band.If Kevin and Neal cared more about him maybe they could have helped him with his problem with alcohol.The band hasn't impressed me after Gary left.

[@jonvanskaik2191]

You can't help someone unless they want help

[@jimmer1047]

Kinda makes me sad. Feelin old. Saw them twice in the 70's. Time flies.

[@sherrycrichton3539]

My sentiments exactly.

[@lindagreaney5136]

You’re so fortunate

[@gregakinson2800]

I am a grass roots listener and I am saying some people like Gary are not replaceable. I grew up with REO and without Gary you are done!

[@spiraljoe1273]

I love REO and most of my favorite songs have Gary and Kevin in the credits.,

[@josieowl7833]

Yep Awesome song one of my favorite songs Richrath Rules my Angel Gray

[@EdwardCoulter-tn2vy]

Love that song son of a poor man it's a song you can really connect to thanks REO Speedwagon you're the greatest

[@TopJimmyWinn]

I was lucky enough to see Gary on the wheels are turnin' tour, when I was a kid, rock on

[@josieowl7833]

My Angel my favorite songs Gary Richrath I miss you Gary my Angel

[@wendyhope6410]

Beautiful song! Thank you for sharing with us!

[@johnmeade9521]

I know nothing about music but my ears knew in 1979 that Gary was making music w his guitar when I heard the classic REO tunes; Golden Country, Sophisticated Lady, Like You Do, Son of a Poor Man…the entire REO Two set…especially Being Kind Can Hurt Sometimes. Combine Gary’s guitar w Alan’s drums and Neal’s keyboards and you have what you might call a “true rock and roll” band not a “rock” band.

[@trishjohn6050]

Tempo is too slow but they nailed it. Thank god I saw em on Gary's last tour in 1988. Front row in front of Richrath. Summer Love should be next.

[@sherrycrichton3539]

Agreed. The tempo is too slow but still one of my favs.

[@cherylnewland6538]

Yep, I saw the last tour also, in The Twin Cities!!

[@joehahn8817]

That sounds dull as fuck without Gary's fills between the vocals. That's one of my all time favorite songs by anybody...ever. When Gary is playing on it anyway...

[@akrocuba]

Gary R.I.P, ❤

[@francismoncreiffe5531]

As a matter of fact, Kevin Cronin sang lead vocals, and played rhythm guitar on REO's second album, back in 1972!

[@flyingburritobro68]

francis moncreiffe and then he was gone for three albums returning in 1976. Personally I liked Murphy better. A matter of taste. Sorry just can’t stand his stage presence either. RIP Richrath!

[@oranjguy]

I think Dave's solo was good but Gary would shit if he knew the solo to this song was being played on a strat

[@kaylarivers4377]

You said that well and I agree!! It was always Gary and his Les, or a Gibson. There was no replacement in REO for Gary. Cronin said here how Gary took the band on his shoulders and led them to a recording contract with Epic Records. Gary did so very much more for this band. Why couldn't Cronin give Gary credit while he was alive, furthermore if he loved his Big Brother so much, why didn't he give him the support friends give to one another. He did Gary wrong. RIP Gary

[@walter770]

I like dave and gary

[@tinahedge5569]

Yea,......holding my old cherry Sunburst LP standard watching this thinking the same damned thing! Really?! Playing a song in honor of Gary on a frikkkin strat?!! COMETHEPHUKKON!! That's just frikkkin wrong man! And......the solo sucked anyway. Gary would have owned that!!

[@corytrevorson1411]

Agreed! Need to be rockin a flame maple Les Paul.

[@therugburnz]

He's great but not Gary. Good job though.

[@steveninpetaluma]

Too bad they didn't reach out to Gary when he was living.

[@christaray2966]

Exactly

[@toddshroyer4227]

@@yeahright302 even so, there's over 20 years that went by before that happened... Now that he's gone KC now pays homage to him every show... He should have done that a long time ago while there was hope for Gary

[@jamieromine2901]

Well they finally did,but yeah I feel they let him down ,regardless how many times Gary let his demons get the best of him ,the band gave up on him

[@acgillespie]

@@jamieromine2901 .That's just good business.. They saw one another very often.. family and friends are one thing but that band is/was a business. nothing personal

[@acgillespie]

@@toddshroyer4227 .people only knew or saw what they let be seen. There's a whole lot more to the story. And that is no ones business.. R.E.O Speedwagon is a Business. they are all great dudes but even so sometimes we get issues. they never quit loving one another though

[@CurtisGrant-BoilerLA80]

I loved REO! Gary Richrath could just kick ass! Probably didn't have a problem getting a date back in the day. Does this song feel like it's just dragging a bit??

[@jamieromine2901]

Just isn't the same ,without Gary!

[@edarnold1426]

It doesn't take 20 years for a good friend to pick up the phone and call to shoot the breeze with you! This was only said to capitalize on Gary's passing. Remember what Neal said when ask if Kevin was gonna call Gary! "Not In This Lifetime"!!!

[@RB-pm2ni]

Agree, treated Gary like dirt

[@DannyDick-gk5wk]

Gary wrote all them songs he put the band together

[@DannyDick-gk5wk]

I remember Kevin said I didn't think we would mix cuz he was a screaming rock and roll guitarist

[@jlkbbk2003]

That;s a "soft" intro, but not an acoustic intro.

[@dashjeffreys6998]

They missed out by not having Gary back a long time ago. Should have done the right thing. Long time REO fans wanted to see Gary back on stage. I don't think Kevin could handle sharing the spotlight. I met the band back in the '70's. Very nice guys and at 60 years old, I'll never forget that moment. But retire. It's time to let it go. And yes Kevin loves to talk

[@tyronesharp401]

Cronin has no fucking shame.

[@mikedwello931]

Neal!!!

[@yeahright302]

16 losers gave thumbs down to a tribute!!wow

[@buckbard]

Dave Amato should replicate the end of the movie "Crossroads." Just toss your guitar down and walk off. Gary is looking down and is embarrassed.

[@rneu1978]

aint that the truth!!! the more I see and remember what REO was at the beginning...what Gary wanted and then what Cronin turned it into...Makes me mad! ..in what appears to me that Cronin got "his way" meaning they mellowed out....insert Gary for a quick guitar solo and then back to the "Cronin Crooning" through another damn ballad..for GOds sake ..they have a CD out entitled ballads of REO!!!! Goodness!!! yea...no wonder Gary had issues!!! I would like to know what role Neal had in this..founding member he was!!! did he reach out to Gary ? Maybe I have it all wrong ..I hope I do ..but this what impression left with this very loyal fan.

[@daviddyer348]

No hating don't know how old you are the s*** happens life happens in my opinion Gary was one of the best guitar players ever when he played I could feel it in my soul

[@cbrugh]

Sorry but Amato is no Richrath

[@artheriford]

I stand by what I said a year ago. Dave Amato on a Strat opposed to Gary on a Les Paul? Nope

[@keylago220]

i think he sounds good.

[@craigchesnut4139]

Hone town lady is my fav REO song. I feel Kevin sold out REO for commercializing, jst putting it out there

[@jaspernewcomb5656]

That song wont ever sound right after Michael Murphy and Gary did it. Cronin is ok but when I think of REO SPEEDWAGON he's not in the band....

[@Jewels122003]

Cronin sucks ass

[@artheriford]

Dave Amato on a Strat and no Gary on a Les Paul?

[@DannyDick-gk5wk]

Then he left I think he knew he was sick I think his liver went out on him he used to go down to Florida and play on the beach for people and then Kevin took over

[@dongtingwong]

Gary died of a broken heart caused by yours truly Kevin Cronin

[@rogerockomon4279]

Tribute

[@wndowpayne]

Cool to see Cronin give Gary some love

[@Livehonestly2024]

This guitar man sucks on REO songs. He should use his union card and move on. He has talent, but can he write ?

[@davidmccombs4874]

a fender i dont think so....

[@bumpdunlop]

He talks way too much.

[@acgillespie]

Now ya know why his family only lets him home for 2 months a year..

[@suzannecarwell1391]

@@acgillespie 🤣🤣🤣 best comment!

[@chuckwilliams6294]

That is NOT an acoustic intro! 😡

[@yankotactical1134]

Yeah the old farts just like a Timex takes a licking and keeps on ticking wonder how much more touring he still got in him

[@ykmjc]

wow, they have really slowed this song down. Not close to the original.

[@TopJimmyWinn]

He should have took Gary back

[@tomvana4270]

Hang it up Cronin. You're starting to sound like an old woman

[@mikewelsh7115]

You're clueless