Paul Revere Dick

Paul Revere Dick (January 7, 1938, Harvard, Nebraska - October 4, 2014, Garden Valley, Idaho)[1] was an American musician, best known for being the leader, organist and (by dropping his last name to create the stage name) namesake of Paul Revere & the Raiders. The band became notable for a string of hits (they claim 23 straight) from the early 1960s to the early 1970s and thrust Revere into the position of a celebrity.[2]

Paul Revere Dick
Revere in 2007
Background information
Born(1938-01-07)January 7, 1938
Harvard, Nebraska, United States
DiedOctober 4, 2014(2014-10-04) (aged 76)
Garden Valley, Idaho, United States
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsKeyboards
Years active1958–2014
Associated actsPaul Revere & the Raiders
Websitewww.paulrevereraiders.com

Career

Dick was the "idea man" behind the group. Even before the group, he was convinced there was a place for a combination of music and humor after seeing Spike Jones & His City Slickers. After taking piano lessons, he emulated the style of Jerry Lee Lewis. Dick grew up on a farm near Boise, Idaho. After attending barber college, he had opened a barbershop and a drive-in restaurant in Caldwell, Idaho. While picking up hamburger buns from a local bakery he met teenaged Mark Lindsay. The two became the foundation of the band in 1959.[3]

The band originally started calling themselves the Downbeats. When they started recording, record company executives hated the name and they took their name as an embellishment from his name. He had the band dress in Revolutionary War uniforms, giving the band a distinctive look.[4]

"We were visual and fun and crazy and were America's answer to the British music invasion. ... We just happened to be at the right time and had the right name and had the right gimmick."[5]

Revere was the energetic comic relief, the madman of rock and roll,[6] in contrast to the teen idol look of Lindsay. He pushed for elements of showmanship including having the band's guitarist, originally Drake Levin, and bassist, originally Phil Volk, perform synchronized dance moves.

Starting in 1965, the band became the house band for the Dick Clark ABC weekday afternoon variety show Where the Action Is, the first active, charting band to take on such status. After the show was canceled in 1967, the band continued its house band position on the ABC Saturday afternoon shows Happening '68, and later It's Happening. Lead singer Mark Lindsay and Revere became the hosts of the shows while the rest of the band added slapstick comedy to the show.

Death

Revere continued the legacy of the band until mid-2014 when his battle with cancer forced his retirement. He left his son Jamie to continue the legacy.[7] He died on October 4, 2014.

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References
  1. Kreps, Daniel (2014-10-05). "Paul Revere Dead at 76". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  2. "Paul Revere – five great songs from one of America's 60s rock legends". New York Times. October 6, 2014.
  3. "Paul Revere | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  4. "Paul Revere, Rocker Who Founded the Raiders, Dies at 76". The New York Times. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  5. "Paul Revere dies at 76, founded Paul Revere and the Raiders". Los Angeles Times. October 5, 2014.
  6. Ellis, Ralph (5 October 2014). "'60s rocker Paul Revere dies at 76". CNN. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  7. "Paul Revere Dick, 'The Madman of Rock & Roll': An Appreciation". Billboard. October 5, 2014.
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