Richard Manuel March 4, 1986

[Esau.]

April 3, 1943 - March 4, 1986.

Embedding disabled, but this is worth the watch. Do your self a favour and check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM_ZqESUuFU

"Richard Manuel was a whole show unto himself. He was hot. He was about the best singer I'd ever heard; most people said he reminded them of Ray Charles. He'd do those ballads, and the ladies would swoon. To me that became the highlight of our show."

--Levon Helm

"He brought a lot of powers and strengths to the group. He brought in gospel music from his church upbringing. Plus, he loved to play and just come up with new things. It was like having a force of nature in the band."

--Rick Danko

"Richard not only had the voice, he had this great rhythmic feel..."

--Garth Hudson

"Richard was a sweet, sweet guy... Always pushed the envelope beyond where it would go. Drove one hundred fifty miles an hour in his driveway; faster on the road."

--John Simon

"I was madly in love with Richard... At the time, [1975] we had the same troubles. I felt insecure and he was clearly insecure, and yet he was so incredibly gifted....For me he [Richard] was the true light of the Band. The other guys were fantastic talents, of course, but there was something of the holy madman about Richard. He was raw. When he sang in that high falsetto the hair on my neck would stand on end. Not many people can do that."

--Eric Clapton

"Richard Manuel's is the first voice you hear on the first Band album Music from Big Pink. After a Robbie Robertson guitar intro that sounds as if it's being fed through Garth Hudson's Lowrey organ at its most distorted, his aching baritone launches into the first reproachful line of `Tears of Rage`. As it arches over `arms`, you can't help thinking of Ray Charles, the singer who more than any other shaped this unlikely white soul voice from Stratford, Ontario. And by the end of the first chorus you realize why, in an almost unspoken way, Manuel's fellow Band vocalists Levon Helm and Rick Danko always looked upon him as the group's `lead` singer."

--Barney Hoskyns

"Well, let's see: I started [in music] at nine and quit. Then got back to it when I was twelve. Then I became a party star. In fact, I became a party!"

--Richard Manuel

[Prost]

It was an honour to stand over where he now lays to rest.

RIP Richard

[Schwa.]

I wholeheartedly meant to get to his grave for a shot and a doob while in Stratford last weekend but completely forgot in our haste to get out of Dodge. RIP.

[Northern Wish]

Great vid, thanks Esau.

So great but so sad.

[Esau.]

Hard to believe it's been 27 years since I saw Richard with the Band (opening for Grateful Dead) at Kingswood (my first for both bands).

Date: 6/21/84

Performer: Band

Location: Toronto, ONT Kingswood Music Theater

Source/Quality/Length: FM/E/80

Note: w/Cates Bros. Open for Dead

Song list:

1. Story Everybody Knows

2. Long Black Veil

3. Shape I'm In

4. It Makes No Difference

5. Milk Cow Boogie

6. Mystery Train

7. King Harvest

8. One More Shot

9. WS Walcott Med Show

10. You Don't Know Me

11. Stagefright

12. Caledonia

13. Genetic Method

14. Chestfever

15. Java Blues

16. Up On Cripple Creek

[TheGoodRev]

One of the absolute greats and one of my major inspirations. I grow this beard for Richard Manuel (and wear these glasses for Buddy Holly)(and to see properly).

[Blurry]

I might just pop over to the Avon Cemetary when I get home.

[Rick Rank]

Anyone seen "Lets get laid"? Richard Manuel's 1978 film debut, and I think his only film....british comedy....

Rest in Peace Richard Manuel.

[backbacon]

From 2006 visit with Mud and Blurry: