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Wednesday, 4 January 2017

SHERRY RICH


Sherry Rich was born in Lismore, NSW and raised on Bribie Island, situated off the coast of Queensland. Her mother was country music performer Noelene Rich who in the early 1960s appeared on radio and television and toured with Australian country music legend Reg Lindsay. Whilst still in high school, Rich played bass guitar in the band Obscure Alternatives - their name taken after an album by UK pop outfit Japan. Obscure Alternatives also featured her brother Rusty and Keith Urban. They performed at the Bribie Island Festival and also at the Caboolture High School Social. During her college years Sherry (with brother Rusty), formed the Brisbane-based country/rockabilly outfit Cactus Fever (1986-7). They proved popular on the Brisbane live circuit and one time undertook a Sydney tour with The Johnnys.

She relocated to Melbourne in 1988, where, as 'Sherry Valier', she formed the all-girl garage rock band Girl Monstar which also featured Anne McCue. Girl Monstar (1988–93) had a strong presence on the Australian Indie music scene, released two vinyl singles that topped the independent charts and the album 'Monstereo Delicio' before splitting in early 1993 when Sherry traded the Valier moniker for Rich and focused on a solo career. Her backing band The Grievous Angels included some well-known Australian country roots musicians like Steve Connolly (ex-Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls/Messengers), Matt Heydon on keyboards (ex-Nick Barker and the Reptiles), Steve Morrison on drums and Douglas Robertson on bass guitar (ex-Ice Cream Hands). They released an EP, 'Sherry Rich and the Grievous Angels' in January 1995 via Rubber Records with Charlie Owen on guitar (ex-New Christs, Tex, Don and Charlie) and Jen Anderson on violin (ex-the Black Sorrows) joining. 'Trying to Write a Love Song', their second EP, followed in January 1996. She gained a considerable following in the mid-90s - as the 'new country' genre reached a wider audience, touring much of East Coast Australia (including a coveted spot at Tamworth - the country music capitol of Australia).

Her debut album from 1998 'Sherry Rich & Courtesy Move' was recorded in the U.S. with members of Wilco and produced by Jay Bennett. She teamed up with Ashley Naylor from Melbourne band Even to form psych folk pop duo The Grapes, and they released a self-titled album in 1999. In 2000 she released a family album of classic country covers with husband Rick Plant mother Noelene and brother Rusty Berther of Scared Weird Little Guys under the name 'The Rich Family'.

Rich was living and working as a singer/songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee from 1998 to 2008. Songwriting collaborators include Paul Kelly, Michael Thomas, Walt Wilkins, Gwil Owen, Bob DiPiero, Jay Bennett, Dan Brodie, Ashley Naylor, Tim Carroll, Tammy Rogers, Amy Rigby, Will Kimbrough, Jim Lauderdale and Garth Porter.

Working together as The Mudcakes since 2004 Rich and husband Rick Plant have released three CD's for children. In 2012, Rich released the album 'Dakota Avenue' composed of material recorded in 1999-2001 in Chicago, once again with Jay Bennett. The album was selected as Radio Australia's Album of the Week in August 2012. 'Dakota Avenue' was also nominated for 'Best Album' in the 2012 EG Music Awards, which are the largest reader-voted music awards in Australia. Rich was also nominated under the 'Best Female Artists' category. In July 2013, Rich appeared as the Guest Artist on the Australian TV program Rockwiz. In 2017, Rich completed a Creative Arts Industries Degree at Victoria University.




SINGLES
''Polite Kisses / Little Miss Cool / Funny How Things Change'' 1997 Rubber Records
''Pandora Mink / Puzzle Heart'' 2012 Pandora Pink

EPs
'Sherry Rich & The Grievous Angels' 1995 Rubber Records
'Trying to Write a Love Song' 1996 Rubber Records
'Is That All You Wanted' 1997 Rubber Records

ALBUMS
'Sherry Rich & Courtesy Move' 1997 Rubber Records
'Dakota Avenue' 2012 Pandora Mink 
'The Divine Crimson V' 2021 Sherry Rich




References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherry_Rich


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