Richard McGhee Star Vocalist

Nov 20

Richard gave Mark Harvey and I back stage passes to this show at the Warfield Oct 18, 1993. I remember meeting Billy Corgan back stage, he offered us some food since there was tons. I thought he was just some kid back stage. I remember after Richard’s set realizing we had just ate supper with the Smashing Pumpkins. I didn’t know what they looked like, and this early in their career, they all looked 12 years old to me. I couldn’t imagine such heavy music coming out of those sweet cute kids!

Richard gave Mark Harvey and I back stage passes to this show at the Warfield Oct 18, 1993. I remember meeting Billy Corgan back stage, he offered us some food since there was tons. I thought he was just some kid back stage. I remember after Richard’s set realizing we had just ate supper with the Smashing Pumpkins. I didn’t know what they looked like, and this early in their career, they all looked 12 years old to me. I couldn’t imagine such heavy music coming out of those sweet cute kids!

At Long Last, Swell music video with Richard McGhee -

Richard appears in Swell’s MTV video.

Nov 19

[video]

Richard McGhee died Sept 9, 1995. He had only been diagnosed with cancer a few weeks earlier. It all happened so fast, and Richard is missed by all that knew him. Richard brought a message with him where ever he performed, it was, Live your life fully, live your dreams. He had wanted to be a singer his whole life, but didn’t set out until he was 56 years old to begin his dream. I found a lot of inspiration from that. He didn’t think it was too late. He just went out there and did it. An amazing man.

Richard McGhee died Sept 9, 1995. He had only been diagnosed with cancer a few weeks earlier. It all happened so fast, and Richard is missed by all that knew him. Richard brought a message with him where ever he performed, it was, Live your life fully, live your dreams. He had wanted to be a singer his whole life, but didn’t set out until he was 56 years old to begin his dream. I found a lot of inspiration from that. He didn’t think it was too late. He just went out there and did it. An amazing man.

Dedication

This web site is dedicated to the memory of Richard McGhee Star Vocalist. I met Richard at Cabaret DuNord in San Francisco’s Castro district. I was there to see Justin Bond perform, and Richard was an opening act. Richard was 60 years old, and had so much hutspah and zeal I asked him after his performance if I could do a video documentary on him. He agreed and told me the next couple venues he was appearing at so I could show up and record him on video. I had my good friend Mark Harvey interview Richard, and edited the songs and interview together. I dropped the video off at San Francisco’s public access channel, and they played the tape often. The footage helped bring Richard to cult status in the bay area getting gigs with Swell, Smashing Pumpkins, The Cramps… he got some really great opening act shows, and then The Fillmore hired him to sing in their upstairs lounge between acts. It was a perfect match, and Richard had a full time gig at a great venue. This site is for the friends and family of Richard McGhee Star Vocalist. Please tell us a story about Richard, share a photo, MP3, or YouTube video: click here.