Jonathan Richman

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Jonathan Michael Richman (born May 16, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In 1970 he founded The Modern Lovers, an influential proto-punk band. Richman began playing music and writing his own songs in the mid-1960s. He became infatuated with The Velvet Underground, and in 1969 he moved to New York City, lived on the couch of their manager, Steve Sesnick, worked odd jobs and tried to break in as a professional musician. Failing at this, he returned to Boston.
While in Boston, Richman formed The Modern Lovers, a proto-punk garage rock band. Other notable members of the group were keyboard player Jerry Harrison and drummer David Robinson, who later joined Talking Heads and the Cars (2), respectively. In 1972 they recorded a series of demos with producer John Cale (formerly of the Velvet Underground). Among these songs were the seminal "Roadrunner" and "Pablo Picasso" which were eventually released on the group's post-breakup album, The Modern Lovers (August 1976).The album was unique for its time, featuring Velvets-influenced basic three-chord rock ("Roadrunner" — based on just two chords – is a homage to "Sister Ray") at a time when glam and progressive rock were the norm.
In 1975, Richman moved to California to record as a solo singer/songwriter with Beserkley Records. His first released recordings appeared on 1975's Beserkley Chartbusters compilation ... (read more at Wikipedia.)
== Links to Peel ==
Peel enjoyed Jonathan Richman's first single Roadrunner in 1976 and by the end of the year wanted to hear more from the man. Listeners of Peel's show voted the Roadrunner track at number 33 in the 1976 Festive Fifty. By the end of the 70's, when Richman's group The Modern Lovers split, Peel had lost interest in his music.
== Sessions ==
*None
==Festive 50 Entries==
*1976 Festive Fifty: Roadrunner #33
== Shows Played ==
;1975
*08 December 1975: Roadrunner (Compilation LP-Beserkley Chartbusters Vol. 1) Beserkley (JP: "I'd like to hear more of Jonathan Richman. Well worth encouraging, I think.")
;1976
*08 January 1976: Roadrunner
*J P D18: Government Center
*28 January 1976: Roadrunner (v/a album - Beserkley Chartbusters Volume 1) Beserkley
*09 March 1976: The New Teller (v/a LP - Beserkley Chartbusters Volume 1) Beserkley
*16 March 1976: Roadrunner (v/a LP - Beserkley Chartbusters Volume 1) Beserkley
*21 July 1976: Girl Friend (LP - The Modern Lovers) Beserkley
*21 July 1976: Here Come The Martian Martians (LP - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers) Beserkley
*22 July 1976: more from 'Modern Lovers' LP
*28 December 1976: Roadrunner (Beserkley) (1976 Festive Fifty #33) (JP: 'I hope we hear a great deal more of Jonathan Richman in 1977.')
;1977
*PM014: Ice Cream Man (album - Rock 'N' Roll With The Modern Lovers) Beserkley BSERK 9
*PM014: Dodge Veg-O-Matic (album - Rock 'N' Roll With The Modern Lovers) Beserkley BSERK 9
*PM014: The Wheels On The Bus (album - Rock 'N' Roll With The Modern Lovers) Beserkley BSERK 9
*PM014: Roller Coaster By The Sea (LP - Rock 'N' Roll With The Modern Lovers) Beserkley 14 June 1977 or 15 June 1977
*16 June 1977: Fly Into The Mystery (album - Rock 'N' Roll With The Modern Lovers) Beserkley BSERK 9
*23 June 1977: unknown
*27 June 1977: Roadrunner (split 7" with Modern Lovers) Berserkley BZZ1
*29 June 1977: Roadrunner (split 7" with Modern Lovers) Berserkley BZZ1 Well I'd rather that the new Modern Lovers LP was a bit more like that.."
*28 July 1977: Dodge Veg-O-Matic (LP – Rock 'N' Roll With The Modern Lovers) Beserkley
*15 August 1977: Afternoon (LP - Rock 'N' Roll With The Modern Lovers) Beserkley
*15 August 1977: Fly Into The Mystery (LP - Rock 'N' Roll With The Modern Lovers) Beserkley
*15 August 1977: Roller Coaster By The Sea (LP - Rock 'N' Roll With The Modern Lovers) Beserkley
*29 September 1977: Roller Coaster By The Sea (7" - Egyptian Reggae) Beserkley
*29 September 1977: Egyptian Reggae (7") Beserkley
*03 October 1977: The New Teller (v/a LP - Beserkley Chartbusters) Beserkley
*03 October 1977: Government Centre (v/a LP - Beserkley Chartbusters) Beserkley
*03 October 1977: It Will Stand (v/a LP - Beserkley Chartbusters) Beserkley
*04 October 1977: three unknown tracks (Peel promises "three from the Modern Lovers".)
*05 October 1977: Lonely Financial Zone / Abominable Snowman In The Market / Hey Little Insect (album - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers) Beserkley BSERK 2 
*14 December 1977: 5 tracks from LP "Live"
;1978
*03 January 1978: The Morning Of Our Lives (7" - The Morning Of Our Lives / Roadrunner (Thrice)) Beserkley
;1982
*21 January 1982: She Cracked (LP - The Modern Lovers) Home Of The Hits
;1984
*U.K. Buzz: When I Dance
;1985
*28 May 1985 (Andy Kershaw): My Jeans (LP-Rockin'& Romance) Rough Trade
;1993
*26 June 1993: Velvet Underground (CD I, Jonathan) Rounder Records - Rounder CD 9036
== See Also ==
* 1976 Top Ten Albums
*Gigography 1978
*Sounds
==Links==
*Wikipedia
*Teenage Kicks: Coyote Ugly
*Frank Wu's Jonathan Richman Pages
Category:Artists
Category:1975
Category:1985