Today is the 80th birthday of my good friend, Bluegrass musician and avid beret wearer Richard Gelardin; congratulations Richard - a new milestone!
In the 1940s Richard listened to country (and bluegrass) and he decided he wanted to be a country singer with a band (and also wanted
to live in the woods and be a subsistence hunter). After running away from boarding school at 13, Richard got caught, jailed over
night,and sent back to his parents in NYC.
However, he got a job at the University Of Alaska
Anchorage Counseling Center (while also having his Bluegrass band).
Richard attended the Bluegrass Program at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas and some
summers he would go to Ireland to learn the traditional Irish fiddle.
Richard is seen here playing a d'Angelico Arc-top guitar at Carters Vintage Guitars in Nashville.
Photo's by Suzanne Marie Carty
Richard, I believe we were at summer camp together in 1948 when you lived at 15 West 75 Street. Will you contact me at andrew.alpern@arkitrny.com?
ReplyDelete-- Andrew Alpern