Many country music fans have wondered if John Rich, the singer-songwriter and one half of the duo Big & Rich, is related to Charlie Rich, the late singer-songwriter and pianist who was known as the Silver Fox. The answer is no, they are not related. Here are some facts about both John Rich and Charlie Rich that show how different they are.
John Rich: A Modern Country Star
John Rich was born in Amarillo, Texas, in 1974. He grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, where he developed a passion for music. He started his music career in the early 1990s as a member of the band Lonestar. He left the band in 1998 and pursued a solo career. He released his debut solo album, Unleashed, in 1998, which featured the singles “She’s Got It All” and “Lost in the Fire”.
In 2000, he formed Big & Rich with Big Kenny. The duo released their debut album, Horse of a Different Color, in 2004, which was a huge commercial success. The album spawned the singles “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)”, “Comin’ to Your City”, and “Wild West Show”. Big & Rich have released five studio albums and have had numerous chart-topping singles. They have also won several awards, including the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Vocal Duo or Group in 2005.
In addition to his work with Big & Rich, John Rich has also pursued a solo career. He has released three solo albums and has had several solo singles on the charts. He has also written songs for other artists, such as Faith Hill, Gretchen Wilson, Jason Aldean, and Taylor Swift. He has also appeared on television shows, such as Nashville Star, Gone Country, The Celebrity Apprentice, and The Real Country.
John Rich is a Christian and has spoken about his faith in interviews. He has also written songs about his faith, such as “God Bless the USA” and “Earth to God”. He is married to Joan Bush and has two sons.
Charlie Rich: A Classic Country Legend
Charlie Rich was born in Colt, Arkansas, in 1932. He grew up in Forrest City, Arkansas, where he learned to play piano and saxophone. He was influenced by various genres of music, such as gospel, blues, jazz, and rockabilly. He joined the United States Air Force in 1953 and formed a band called The Velvetones. He married Margaret Ann Greene in 1952 and had four children.
He began his music career in 1958 as a session musician for Sun Records. He played on records by artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Mann. He also wrote songs for them. His third single as a solo artist was “Lonely Weekends”, which reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1960.
He moved to RCA Records in 1963 and then to Smash Records in 1965. He had some moderate success with singles such as “Mohair Sam” and “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water”. He then signed with Epic Records in 1967 and worked with producer Billy Sherrill. He developed a smooth style of country music that was dubbed “countrypolitan”. He had several hit singles in the late 1960s and early 1970s, such as “Who Will the Next Fool Be?”, “Set Me Free”, and “I Take It on Home”.
He achieved his biggest success in 1973 with the album Behind Closed Doors, which featured the title track and “The Most Beautiful Girl”. Both songs topped the country and pop charts and earned him two Grammy Awards. He followed up with another successful album, There Won’t Be Anymore, which featured the title track and “A Very Special Love Song”. He won two more Grammy Awards for these songs.
He continued to record and perform throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He had some more hits, such as “Rollin’ With the Flow”, “On My Knees”, and “Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)”. He also had some controversies, such as refusing to announce John Denver as the winner of the Entertainer of the Year award at the Country Music Association Awards in 1975. He died of a blood clot in his lung in 1995 at age 62.
Charlie Rich was an eclectic and influential artist who blended various genres of music into his own unique style. He was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him at number 120 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Conclusion
John Rich and Charlie Rich are both country music stars, but they are not related. They have different backgrounds, styles, and careers. They have both made their mark on the country music scene and have earned the respect and admiration of fans and peers alike. They are both part of the rich history and legacy of country music..
