Turley Richards

Turley Richards (born Richard Turley, June 12, 1941) is an American singer and guitarist.

Turley Richards
BornCharleston, West Virginia, United States
GenresFolk, rock, disco, funk, rhythm and blues
Occupation(s)Singer, musician
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1959–present
LabelsFraternity Records, MGM Records, 20th Century Fox, Columbia Records, Warner Bros. Records, Silba, Epic, Atlantic Records, Vitag Records, Kiongazi Music
Associated actsThe Greg Foresman Band
WebsiteTurley's Place

Richards was born in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. He was blinded in the left eye at the age of four in an archery accident and lost sight in the right eye as well at the age of twenty-nine. He began playing in a group called The Five Pearls while still a teen in the 1950s. His first appearance on record was in 1959, a single titled "All About Ann", released on label Fraternity Records. "Makin' Love With My Baby", also released by Fraternity Records, followed later that year. Richards is listed in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame as a Rockabilly Legend for this song.[1]

He moved to Los Angeles with an ensemble in the early 1960s, but his band failed and he returned to West Virginia. Later in the 1960s he moved to New York City. He played the uptown East Side local Bar's (Malachy's II) and eventually found success. He released his debut album on Warner Bros. Records in 1970. He scored two minor hit singles in the early 1970s. Further releases followed later in the decade, as did a third hit in 1980.

Richards made the first recording of Tom Snow and Nan O'Byrne's "You Might Need Somebody", which was subsequently a UK hit twice, reaching number 11 for Randy Crawford in 1981 and number 4 for Shola Ama in 1997.

Discography
  • (1959) - "All About Ann" / "Makin' Love with My Baby" (single) (Fraternity Records)
  • (1959) - "I Wanna Dance" / "Since I Met You" (single) (Fraternity Records)
  • (1964) - "Since You Been Gone" / "What's Your Name " (single) (MGM Records)
  • (1965) - The Many Souls Of Turley Richards (20th Century Fox)
  • (1966) - "Crazy Arms" / "I Just Can't Take It Any Longer" (single) (Columbia Records)
  • (1966) - "I Feel Alright" / "I Can't Get Back Home To My Baby" (single) (Columbia Records)
  • (1970) - Turley Richards (Warner Bros. Records)
  • (1971) - Expressions (Warner Bros. Records)
  • (1972) - From Darkness To Light (Silba) - Solo concert, rare release
  • (1973) - Because I Am (Clearlight Productions) - featuring one song
  • (1976) - West Virginia Superstar (Epic)
  • (1978) - "Under The Boardwalk" (single) (Epic)
  • (1979) - Therfu (Atlantic)
  • (1984) - "Skin Fever" (single) (Vitag Records)
  • (2007) - A Matter Of Faith (Kiongazi Music)
  • (2007) - Back to My Roots (Kiongazi Music)
  • (2008) - Blindsighted (Kiongazi Music)

Charting singles

References
  1. "Rockabilly Hall of Fame". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  2. Billboard Singles, Allmusic.com, passim.
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