Richard Ray Farrell is an American electric blues guitarist, harmonicist, singer and songwriter. Farrell has released ten albums in his own name to date, and has toured widely over a career that started in the mid-1970s.
Life and career
Farrell was born in Niagara Falls, New York, United States, but left home after his graduation, backpacking his way across Europe. He found 'work' as a busker on the Paris Métro. In 1976, Farrell met Sugar Blue whilst they were both busking in the Métro. Farrell's first instrument was the harmonica, graduating then to the guitar to accompany his singing. In 1978, he briefly fronted a Spanish blues-rock band in Spain, and lived with a gypsy family for six months. After becoming a father in 1985, he relocated to Stuttgart, Germany, and played with a local blues band. In 1987, Richard opened for Joe Cocker at the Backnang Open Air Festival. Two years later he led his own Richard Ray Farrell Band, and started touring across Europe. Through connections he toured with Lazy Lester, Big Jack Johnson, Big Boy Henry, Louisiana Red, Frank Frost and R. L. Burnside between 1990 and 1993, during which time Farrell released his debut album, Live in Germany. In 1993, he formed an outfit known as Street Talk, but the members lived across the Northern Hemisphere, making commitment impossible. Farrell returned to both solo acoustic performances and playing with his electric blues trio. In 1995, Farrell and Jimmy Carl Black formed the Farrell and Black Band, who recorded two albums for Stormy Monday Records, Cataract Jump and Black Limousine. He honed his songwriting skills on these albums and then released Street Songs, Jazzy Tunes and Down Home Blues. Farrell returned to the Statesin 2001, and two years later issued his first album for Blue Beet Music, Bohemian Life. Featuring sixteen original songs, it included a guest appearance by the harmonica player, Jerry Portnoy. Bohemian Life reached number 18 on the Living Blues radio chart. Acoustic Roots followed, which peaked at number 20 on the Living Blues chart. In 2006, Farrell teamed up with Steve Guyger to produce the traditional blues-orientated, Down Home Old School Country Blues. Stuck On The Blues was another largely acoustic joint affair, this time with the Italian harmonicist, Marco Pandolfi. Camino de Sanlucar was recorded in Seville, Spain. I Sing The Blues Eclectic contained twelve original tracks, and was his most commercially profitable to date. In 2013, Farrell issued At Cambayá Club, a live album with Farrell providing guitar, harmonica and vocals throughout. Shoe Shoppin’ Woman is his most recent offering, and contained cover versions of Elmore James' "Wild About You", and Snooks Eaglin's "If I Could". Farrell's favorite statement is "The blues will never die because it's not a fad, it's more a way of life."
