Wendy Rich
Seminole, Florida, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"Soul chanteuse Wendy Rich com mands the stage with dynamic pres ence and a howling, achingly pretty set of pipes that leaves you with chills before warming your insides. " - Tampa Bay Times
Where have I been? How did I miss Wendy Rich? With a voice that shines somewhere in between Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt, Wendy can belt out the blues in superb style. If you like raw sensual vocals straight from the gut, turn an ear to this lady! - muzique.com
This Saturday night, a poltergeist of legendary rock singer Janis Joplin is likely to emerge, swirling all over the Largo Cultural Center when Big Brother and the Holding Company join Rich on stage for a nostalgic night of 1960s psychedelia-laced rockin' blues. - Creative Loafing
Texas native Wendy Rich, a Tampa resident since 1990, released the first Wendy and the Soulshakers CD, Feels Like I’m Drowning, in 1998. This marks their first appearance at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival and I hope not her last. With guitarist Steve “Red” Lasner, bassist Stevie “Backbone”, and drummer Duane Plikunas, Wendy put the band through it’s paces with a 90 minute set of original tunes just made for getting up and dancing. Wendy’s vocals reminded me of Janis Joplin on some songs and Susan Tedeschi on others and on some like the two combined with Koko Taylor, which was pretty damn good. An outstanding way to start off Saturday festivities.
- Blues Source
Wendy Rich on vocals, played to a monster crowd Saturday night. Die-hard fans were not disappointed: Rich would have done Janis proud. Her voice captured Janis’ sound: gritty but tender, powerful and bluesy…as one fan put it, “I could close my eyes and hear Janis.” This was Big Bro’s second time to play Schwagstock, and as bassist Peter Albin put it, “it’s always been a religious experience for us.” - Nightflying - The entertainment guide
How did you come to discover Wendy Rich who performed with you at The Hard Rock Vault in Orlando, Florida?
Sam: Wendy wrote me an e mail and then sent me a tape. She is a great singer in a lot of different styles. I went down to see her in Saint Petersburg, Florida, and was amazed at her talent. We wrote the most beautiful ballad together. Her singing is just so evocative and musical. She can belt out that distorted nightclub voice and then she can be so lyrical it will just break your heart. So good. Big Brother are famous for picking good vocalists. - metalliville.co.uk
As an amazing vocal front and energetic entertainer, Wendy Rich has pulled off some great performances in her day, working with such favorites as: Delbert McClinton, Dick50, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Jefferson Starship, Iron Butterfly, Vanilla Fudge, James Cotton, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, KoKo Taylor, Robben Ford, Jonny Lang, Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials, Mountain, Credence Clearwater Revival, John Sebastian, Kansas, Edgar Winter, Molly Hatchet, Mavis Staples, Shemeika Copeland, Eric Lindell, Ray Manzarek and Lucky Peterson. Rich seems to have a built in sense of versatility and style.
Rich is returning to the scene after taking two years off to write her newest release, Driver, and to raise her horses and cats in her quaint countryside home located outside of Tampa Bay, Florida. The album is a combination of authentic blues and a twist of southern belle with a soulful ring of passion and heart felt lyrics. Along with her other album releases, Here I Am (1995), Wendy & The Soulshakers - Bloozy Live & Groovy (1996), Feels Like I’m Drowning (1998), Wendy & The Soulshakers - Live At The Ringside (2001), and This Time (2007), Rich proves to have stamina in the industry and continues to grow as a hidden favorite in the Blues and Adult Contemporary community.
Seasoned enough to have toured Europe with Big Brother & the Holding Company as well as her own group, Wendy & The Soulshakers, Rich explains,”I have had the wonderful opportunity to perform in front of 15,000 people a few times, and now I want to sing to 150,000 and just tell them thank you for the beautiful and unique ride I have had and bless my audience for supporting me.” Rich goes on to say, “I have to do this for myself and my fans because I love traveling and all the stuff that comes with being on the road with a band! I love my fans and love to meet with as many of them as I can and just share a handshake or a hug!”
As the year 2010 grows to a close, Rich is setting up her world wide tour and has plans to bring her style to the front of all music enthusiasts in 2011.
Rich is a must see for all people- young and old, and from industry professionals to the home listener.
I would suggest that you look for her to come near you soon and bring this home grown talent into your own backyard.
W. Post 2010 - W.Post 2010
Discography
Wendy Rich - Feels Like I'm Drowning 1998
Wendy & the Soulshakers - Live At The Ringside 2001
Wendy Rich - This Time - 2007
Wendy Rich - Driver - 2010
Photos
Bio
A native Texan, Wendy was born and raised in a suburb of Houston, Texas... and joined her first band at the age of 13. For several years she focused on rock music, playing in clubs in the Houston area and dabbling in recording. She joined her first blues band in 1989 shortly before she relocated to the Tampa Bay area of Florida.
Since her arrival in 1990 to Florida, Wendy established herself quickly with her band Wendy & the Soulshakers, becoming a popular mainstay in the regional club circuit as well as making appearances at most major festivals & events throughout the region.
Over the years she has taken her band on the road up the east coast and to Europe as well as self-producing 4 cds.
In the year 2000 Wendy took some time off from the Soulshakers to tour as front person for the legendary Janis Joplin’s original band Big Brother & the Holding Company...who continue to tour to this day with 3 out of 4 of the original members. She performed with them at various venues all over the US and Europe through 2004 and still occasionally makes appearances with them.
In 2009 Wendy journeyed to Nashville, TN to collaborate with producer Kevin McKendree (Delbert McClinton’s keyboardist/band leader) on her new songs for her soon-to-be-released record entitled DRIVER.
“I’ve always been a Delbert fan,” says Wendy, “so it was natural for me to want to work with his stellar band Dick50! Especially when I heard the recordings coming out of the Rock House (Kevin McKendree’s studio)...and it was the right move! Kevin and I really clicked! I couldn’t be happier!”
Now with the new album DRIVER, Wendy Rich takes a major musical leap forward. “I’ve worked a long time toward this accomplishment,” she states. “I had such a fantastic time making this record and can’t wait to get out on the road and share this music with as many people as possible! The only thing that could be as fun as making this record will be performing it live!!”
Wendy performs with a 4-7 piece band with guitar, bass, drums & keys and brings a horn section whenever possible!
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