Richie Furay

Richie Furay started his musical career playing folk clubs as a solo artist in the 1960s, as well as with bands like the Monks and the Au Go Go Singers (which included Stephen Stills in the lineup). After meeting Neil Young they formed Buffalo Springfield with Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin. The band cut its first album, Buffalo Springfield, in 1967; it included the single "For What It's Worth." Buffalo Springfield recorded two more albums -- Buffalo Springfield Again and Last Time Around -- before disbanding in 1968. Furay and Jim Messina (who had replaced Palmer in the Springfield) formed a new band, Poco, with steel guitar player Rusty Young, George Grantham (ex-Boenzee Cryque), and Randy Meisner (ex-Poor). Poco recorded its first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, and Meisner quit soon afterward. The band continued as a quartet, building a reputation at the Troubadour. Timothy B. Schmit was added as their second album, Poco, was released. After Poco's third album, Deliverin', Messina quit and was replaced by Paul Cotton (ex-Illinois Speed Press). Poco went on to cut albums such as From the Inside, A Good Feelin' to Know, and Crazy Eyes before Furay left.

At David Geffen's request, Furay formed the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with Chris Hillman (ex-Byrds) and J.D. Souther. The band split after two unsuccessful albums in 1974 and 1975. Furay then converted to Christianity and formed the Richie Furay Band, a Christian group featuring Jay Truax, John Mehler (ex-Love Song), and Tom Stipe. After two albums -- Dance a Little Light and I Still Have Dreams -- the band recorded Seasons of Change for Myrrh Records, Furay's first album for a Christian label. Furay became a minister in Colorado and continued singing and recording. He rejoined Poco in 1990 for their comeback album, Legacy, which included the hit single "Call It Love." In 1997, Furay recorded his fifth solo album, In My Father's House, for the Christian Calvary Chapel label. The Christian-themed I Am Sure followed on the Friday Music label in 2005, while also signaling that Furay remained a country-rocker who maintained his old connections -- the album featured appearances by the likes of Rusty Young (who had also played on In My Father's House), Jim Messina, Paul Cotton, and Chris Hillman. Released in 2006, Heartbeat of Love kept the country-rock flame burning and included contributions from Steven Stills and Neil Young. The Richie Furay Band’s two-disc Alive set -- recorded on tour in Colorado -- arrived in 2009. Furay has also made selected live appearances (along with other Poco alumni) with the post-millennial incarnation of Poco led by original bandmember Rusty Young (and also featuring Paul Cotton until March 2010). Furay, Young and Stills finally reunited as Buffalo Springfield for a pair of shows at Young's annual Bridge School Benefit in the fall of 2010. It wasn't a complete reunion, since bassist Bruce Palmer had died in 2004 and drummer Dewey Martin passed in 2009, but the three singers used drummer Joe Vitale and bassist Rick Rosas to fill in. The same configuration played six concerts in the spring of 2011, but reportedly did no studio work. ~ Mike Edmunds, Rovi