Tony Richards - how it all began (continued)
In 1957 Jonny Milsom, a band leader from Robin Hoods Bay, asked Tony to join his band. Not for his ability on guitar, Tony admits, but to make up the band number to five, as the contract Jonny had acquired for two winter seasons at Whitby Spa stated. Playing with the band was a great experience and taught Tony ballroom dance tempos, something that would come in useful in later years when he started his own band. It was at one of the dances at the Spa that he met Ann, a local girl from Whitby, and in 1959 they got married. In 1963 Tony's father died at the age of 61. Shortly after this sad event Ann and Tony moved farther down the dale to another farm where they still live.
In the sixties Tony played summer seasons at Whitby with local bands including the ‘East Coast Show Band’. Wednesday night was continental night, and it was due to its success that Tony was asked to play at the Corner Cafe Theatre at Scarborough's North Bay. For six years he did a carbaret spot on his own and then was asked by Scarborough Council if he could put together a full Country Music Show with the help of a number of local musicians, two of whom were his son and daughter, Mark on drums and Sally Ann on keyboard guitar and vocals.
Professional singer, Pamela Rose, helped make the nights a great success and Country Sunshine also played their part. The nights proved to be amazingly successful and by the time Tony finished he had clocked up twenty three consecutive Summer Seasons.
During these years as well as The Corner Café Tony played the Northern Clubs, taking in Humberside, the West Riding, and as far north as the Scottish Border. Other venues were holiday camps down the East Coast and private functions making in all approximately one hundred and eighty gigs a year.
Through the winters Tony booked The Corner himself and promoted a number of shows using top American and British Stars. It was at one of these shows that he met Bob Everhart from the USA, a terrific performer. Their friendship kicked off straight away and, to Tony’s good fortune, Bob turned out to be president of the ‘National Traditional Country Music Association Inc.’, USA. From their meeting Tony was invited to appear on their annual festival, the first one in Council Bluffs, Iowa, then Avoca, plus a Radio Show in Omaha, Nebraska. He has been back five times and while there played a number of other venues.
At the first show, Tony had a remarkable experience, baring in mind that the late Hank Williams was one of his hero's, for on stage the same night ‘The Drifting Cowboys’, Hank William’s backing group performed. It was a dream come true and brought back memories of Radio Luxemburg in the Fifties when Tony used to listen in to Hank.
Although music has played a big part in Tony’s life, his other love is farming. The two different occupations seem to have gone in hand well and much of his inspiration for writing songs has come from experiences on the farm.
In the early nineties Tony got the idea of trying to write his own songs, using the beautiful country side of North Yorkshire as the subject. He came up with twelve songs, enough to make a CD, and called it This Part of the North. Encouraged by its success Tony followed this with a second CD called Spirit of the North.
For a number of years Ann has provided Bed and Breakfast for walkers and tourists and in 2004 Roy and Belinda Harrison from Spalding stayed at the Farm. This turned out to be another high light in Tony's life for Roy, believe it or not, was a professional Video camera man and after hearing Tony's songs suggested he would make a DVD. In 2006 it was completed and its popularity has been amazing, with endless demands for another one. Hopefully this will happen but it will take time.
Over the last five years Tony has helped raise money for the RABI along with Ken Jackson, cattle farmer, Charles Marwood, sheep farmer, Philip Holden, farm medicine provider, Chris Berry, farming correspondent and keyboard player Lloyd Lockwood. Four concerts are performed each March and up to date the sum raised is well over £80,000. March 2009 will hopefully see another four concerts.
Tony has been singing for most of his life and, God willing, intends to carry on as long as possible.