Biography
Who is Jonathan Richman?
Early life and career beginnings
Jonathan Richman was born in Boston on May 16, 1951, and raised in Natick, Massachusetts. He attended Natick High School and began writing his own songs and playing music during the mid-1960s. He developed a strong interest in the Velvet Underground and moved to New York City in 1969. While living in New York, he stayed on the couch of manager Steve Sesnick and tried to establish himself as a professional musician through odd jobs.
After failing to break through in New York, Jonathan returned to Boston and formed the proto-punk garage rock band the Modern Lovers. The initial lineup featured keyboard player Jerry Harrison and drummer David Robinson. In 1972, the group recorded demos with producer John Cale, including the tracks Roadrunner and Pablo Picasso. These sessions formed the core of the band's self-titled LP, which was released years later after the group had disbanded.
The Modern Lovers and punk influence
Following the initial demos, the band recorded further material with producer Kim Fowley. Jonathan later wanted to shift toward a mellower sound after experiencing laid-back local music during a residency in Bermuda. These artistic differences led to the breakup of the original group in February 1974. Jonathan then moved to California to record as a solo artist with Beserkley Records.
In January 1976, Jonathan assembled a new version of the Modern Lovers with drummer David Robinson, bassist Greg Keranen, and guitarist Leroy Radcliffe. This new iteration embraced a gentler sound that mixed pop with fifties rock and roll and harmony vocals. Their eponymous album was released in May 1976. In the United Kingdom, Jonathan was recognized as a progenitor of the punk rock scene, with singles like Roadrunner reaching number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and Egyptian Reggae reaching number 5.
Solo work and later albums
Jonathan continued releasing music through the decades under various configurations and as a solo act. He signed with Rounder Records in 1987 to record Modern Lovers 88 before retiring the Modern Lovers moniker. During the late eighties and early nineties, he released albums such as Jonathan Richman, Jonathan Goes Country, and Having a Party with Jonathan Richman.
Around 1992, Jonathan formed a performance duo with drummer Tommy Larkins, a collaboration that continued for decades. His exposure grew in the nineties through appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and his musical chorus role in the film There's Something About Mary. His later work includes albums released through Blue Arrow Records, such as Ishkode! Ishkode!, SA, Want to Visit My Inner House?, and Only Frozen Sky Anyway.
Personal life and family
Jonathan married Gail Clook of Vermont in 1982. Together they had a daughter named Jenny Rae and a stepson named Jason. The marriage ended in divorce before the release of his album Surrender to Jonathan! In 1996. In 2003, Jonathan married Nicole Montalbano of Chico, California.
Birthday and age
Jonathan Richman was born on May 16, 1951, which makes Jonathan 75 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Jonathan shares the date with 73 other famous people.
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