American singer, composer, and musician Charles Allan Rich was born on December 14th, 1932. In Colt, Arkansas, Rich was born to rural cotton farmers. He participated in the band and played the saxophone while attending Forrest City Consolidated High School, where he graduated. He was greatly influenced by his parents, who were members of the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church.
While his mother Helen Rich played the church piano, his father performed in gospel quartets. C. J. Allen, a black sharecropper who worked on the family’s plantation, taught Rich how to play the blues piano.
It was often difficult to classify his eclectic musical style, which combined elements of gospel, rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and other genres. When Rich recorded four demo tracks for Sam Phillips at Sun Albums, Phillips rejected them as “too jazzy” and “insufficiently mainstream,” and instead gave Rich a stack of Jerry Lee Lewis records with the instructions, “Come back when you get that terrible.” Rich himself remembers Bill Justis making these remarks to Rich’s wife in a 1992 interview with Fresh Air host Terry Gross.
Charlie Rich children: Meet Jack Rich, Laurie Rich, Rene Rich, Allan Rich
Charles Allan Rich’s four children are named Jack Rich, Laurie Rich, Rene Rich, and Allan Rich.
Jack Rich
On April 28, 1967, Jack Michael Rich was born. He died in 2008. Michael Jack Rich In Van Nuys, California, he graduated from high school and then enrolled at the California Institute of the Arts. He was a musician, composer, and member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. He also worked with the blind.
Laurie Rich
Renee Annette Rich was born on November 21, 1953, and she passed away on December 25, 2006, at the age of 53. She joined the Charlie Rich Band to sing after beginning her career as a licensed nurse. She is survived by her son Wes Karber of Little Rock, Arkansas, and her two children Maggie & Brooks Karber-Yelverton.
Rene Rich
In West Memphis, Arkansas, Laurie Rich Lee was born on September 5, 1956. After graduating from Benton High School, she was awarded a voice scholarship at the University of Arkansas. Arleen introduced Laurie and Arleen Risley to Steve’s brother Keith while they were in college sorority sisters.
Allan Rich
Charles Allan Rich Jr., an American singer-songwriter, was born in Forrest City, Arizona. Son of Charles Rich; Margaret Ann Rich is the father.
