   richard george manuel (april 3, 1943 â march 4, 1986) was a canadian composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the pianist, regular lead singer, and occasional drummer of the band. manuel took part in both the original incarnation of the group from 1967 to 1976, and the second incarnation from 1983 until his death. ==biography== ===early life and career=== richard manuel was born in stratford, ontario, canada. his father, ed, was a mechanic employed at a chrysler dealership, and his mother was a schoolteacher. he was raised with his three brothers, and the four sang in the church choir. manuel took piano lessons beginning when he was nine, and enjoyed playing piano and rehearsing with friends at his home. some of his childhood influences were ray charles, bobby bland, jimmy reed and otis rush. thumb|200px|left|manuel, top-left, with the revols in 1958. he and three friends started a band when he was fifteen, originally named the rebels but later changed to the revols, in deference to duane eddy and the rebels. the group also included ken kalmusky, a founding member of great speckled bird, and john till, a founding member of the full tilt boogie band. although primarily known as a naturally talented vocalist with a soulful rhythm and blues style and rich timbre (often compared to that of ray charles), manuel nonetheless developed an intensely rhythmic style of piano unique in its usage of inverted chord structures. these talents were showcased in the revols. manuel first became acquainted with ronnie hawkins and the hawks when the revols opened for them in port dover, ontario. according to levon helm, hawkins remarked to him about manuel: "see that kid playing piano? he's got more talent than van cliburn." the two bands once again connected at the stratford coliseum in 1961 when the revols ended a show featuring the haw
1943_births 1986_deaths Alcohol-related_deaths_in_Florida Canadian_country_rock_musicians Canadian_folk_rock_musicians Canadian_male_singers Canadian_rock_keyboardists Canadian_rock_singers Drug-related_deaths_in_Florida Musicians_from_Ontario Musicians_who_committed_suicide People_from_Stratford,_Ontario Suicides_by_hanging_in_Florida The_Band_members