Jonathan Richman

Jonathan Richman

Jonathan Richman is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist from Natick, Massachusetts. Born in 1951, he begins playing music and writing songs in the mid-1960s. He later moves to New York City in 1969, where he stays on the couch of The Velvet Underground’s manager and works odd jobs while trying to establish himself as a professional musician before returning to Boston.

The Modern Lovers

In 1970, Richman founds The Modern Lovers, a proto-punk band that becomes highly influential. The early line-up includes keyboard player Jerry Harrison and drummer David Robinson, who later join Talking Heads and The Cars respectively. In 1972 the group records a set of songs with John Cale producing, including “Roadrunner”. These recordings are eventually released on the band’s only album, Modern Lovers, in 1975. Richman then breaks up the band and continues his career in other forms.

Solo work and Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers

From the mid-1970s, Richman works either solo or with low-key, usually acoustic backing. He records for a period under the name Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers, with changing personnel acting as his backing band rather than the original group. This phase has a more acoustic sound than the earlier electric material. The releases from this period include Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers and Rock and Roll with the Modern Lovers in 1977, followed by Modern Lovers Live in 1978. Back in Your Life appears in 1979 under the same name, although much of it is solo work and it uses instruments such as string bass and glockenspiel.

Later albums and styles

After a break, Richman returns with Jonathan Sings! in 1983. He then जारीs a series of pop-oriented records: Rockin' and Romance, It’s Time for Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, and Modern Lovers 88. He later moves into country music with Jonathan Goes Country in 1990 and records Spanish-language material, including translations of earlier songs and traditional Spanish songs, on Jonathan, Te Vas a Emocionar! in 1993. Other albums mentioned in this period include You Must Ask the Heart, Surrender to Jonathan, I’m So Confused, Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow, and Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love.

Performance, collaborations and wider recognition

Richman is known for a wide-eyed, unaffected, childlike outlook and for songs rooted in rock and roll but shaped by influences from around the world. In live solo performance he often tours with drummer Tommy Larkins. Richman and Larkins also produce Vic Chesnutt’s final album, Skitter on Take-Off, released on Vapor Records. Richman appears in There’s Something About Mary as part of a two-man Greek chorus performing within the film. He also appears several times on Conan O’Brien’s show, which helps widen his profile.

Legacy

Richman’s work with the first Modern Lovers line-up is a major influence on punk rock, and one critic calls him the “Godfather of Punk”. “Roadrunner” is covered by artists including the Sex Pistols and Joan Jett, and the song appears on the soundtrack to School of Rock. Other Richman songs are also widely covered: “New England” by Big D and the Kids Table, “Pablo Picasso” by Burning Sensations, David Bowie, John Cale and Iggy Pop, and “She Cracked” by Echo and the Bunnymen and Siouxsie and the Banshees. His music also influences bands and artists including Violent Femmes, Galaxie 500, They Might Be Giants, Weezer, Tullycraft, Jens Lekman, Frank Black, Brandon Flowers, Art Brut, Craig Finn and Nerf Herder. Tribute recordings and songs are issued in his honour, including If I Were a Richman and British country rock band The Rockingbirds’ single “Jonathan, Jonathan”.