Anyone who plays or enjoys Surf owes a debt of gratitude to Rich Fifield. Let the family know you are thinking of them. The Astronauts recorded a dozen or so albums for RCA back in the 60's. I was a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder when The Astronauts we're . PITTSFIELD - Richard "Dick" Harold Fifield, 92, died Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, at the Veterans Hospital in White River Junction. SALEM -- Washington County, Richard J. Fifield, 59, of Smith Road in Salem, died unexpectedly on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 at Glens Falls Hospital. I dont have a professional reputation to protect, so its really of no concern in my case. She has resided in Atlanta since 1998. These early Surf bands were pioneers. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. He served his country proudly in the United States Navy. Privacy Policy Mark Gilbert of the Pitcairn Wesleyan Church officiating. Just looking at the album's cover was enough to hook any aspiring guitarist. Military honors will be observed by the Licking County Veterans Alliance. Anyone who plays or enjoys Surf owes a debt of gratitude to Rich Fifield. A very nice write-up for Jim Gallagher. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? So sorry for your loss. At that point in time, no sets configured like that were commercially available. Dick was a fine man and his laughter was easily recognized in the workplace when he was nearby. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. He passed away at his residence on March 2, 2019. As I've written here before, one of my high school classmates, who's dad was a records rep for RCA, introduced me to the A-nauts in the fall of '63 when he gave me a promotional copy of their brand new "Everything is A-OK" album. The bands music was more popular in Japan, where, in 64 they outsold The Beach Boys (Five albums and here singles eventually made the Top 10, with Over the Sun going #1) and toured with The Ventures. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing and was an avid Ohio State Buckeye and Cleveland Browns fan. Burial will be in the Schaller Cemetery. You may express your condolences to the family at lemonbayfh.com. They have been described as being, "along with(the) Trashmen, the premier landlocked Midwestern surf group of the '60s. Thanks to all the surf bands, past and present. Had more than a few beers with him also. R.I.P. Worked with Dick at Owen's. Military honors will be observed by the Licking County Veterans Alliance.Family and friends may call at the funeral home, 179 Granville Street, Newark, one hour prior to the funeral service on Wednesday, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.Richard was born in Newark, Ohio on January 10, 1949 to the late Kersey Fifield and Grace (Webb) Vermillion. My next scheduled gig is mostly C&W, but I have some influence in the setlist, so the tunes are good. When anyone else would have broken, she stayed strong. [16] He died of cardiac arrest on December 18, 2010, at the age of 71. In 1961, they became The Astronauts after adding Richard Otis "Rich" Fifield (vocals, guitar) and Dick Sellars (guitar), the change of band name recognising the fascist connotations of the previous name (despite the different spelling) and to pay tribute to local hero, astronaut Scott Carpenter. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Suncoast Humane Society, 6781 San Casa Dr., Englewood, Florida 34224. According to reviewer Richie Unterberger, "the group shone brightest on their instrumentals, which used mounds of Fender reverb and two rhythm guitars; when they sang, the results were much less successful. Somewhere along the line I realized that even a national caliber Jazz guitarist would probably not make much money and revised my goals. Richard E. Spiller June 4, 2022 (91 years old) View obituary. March 2, 1933 - February 5, 2021, Elisabeth R. "Libby" Fifield passed away on February 5, 2021 in Danvers, Massachusetts. [9], A four-CD box set of the group's recordings, The Complete Astronauts Collection, was issued on the Collectables label in 1997. He was predeceased by his wife of over 40 years, Joyce Rooker Fifield who died Oct. 9, 2013; a daughter, Sue Brul; a stepson, Donald Belden; a step-grandson, Neil Belden Jr.; a sister, Agnes Bradley and a brother, Kimball Fifield. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. In 1961, they became The Astronauts after adding Richard Otis "Rich" Fifield (vocals, guitar) and Dick Sellars (guitar), the change of band name . To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. Additionally, throughout the mid-sixties we would grab the latest Astronauts album and try to learn everything on them, adding those songs to our band's ever expanding song lists. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website, Lemon Bay Funeral Home She was born in Fifield Wisconsin July 10, 1941. She was the fifth child of Adeline and Al Myers. . Prior to retirement, he was a fork lift operator for many years. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home is in charge of the. Both were age 78. always liked them, and as a then 8 year old, lover of surf music, pre british invasion, pre hendrix, pre psychedelia. Kirkersville, Richard Fifield passed away 2008-02-27 in GLENBURN, This is the full obituary story where you can express condolences and share memories. Visit www.HoskinsonFuneral.com to share a special memory about Richard or to sign an online guest book. The Astronauts was an American rock and roll band, which had a minor hit in 1963 with "Baja" and remained successful for several years, especially in Japan. Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral and Cremation Service is honored to care for Richard and the Fifield family. Rich was born in Gillett, Wisconsin December 27th 1950 to Ora (deceased) and Louise Fifield. Please visit our friends in the surf music community: Contact Us Rest in peace my friend and brother. We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at French Funeral Home Inc, Look inside to read what others have shared. She married Bennie L. Bolser in that same house on August 28, 1948 and together the couple celebrated 74 years of marriage before her passing. Sincere condolences to the Fifield family. Sorry to report the passings of Rich Fifield (lead guitarist) and Jim Gallagher (drummer) of The Astronauts. Janice Ocker April 16, 2022 (79 . In 1963 he entered into the United States Army and served until his honorable discharge in 1964. Site dude - S3 Agent #202 No polls at this time. She was born in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan on January 30, 1938 to the Mrs. Shirley Ann McNier, 75 of Atlanta, Michigan died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on February 3, 2023. Joan spent 30+ years living in California and while living there she taught at the Listening Center for Children. Elwyn Putney officiating. She was welcomed into Heaven On January 23, 2023, Regina Gail Ulrich passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at her Florida home in Ruskin, FL at the age of 62. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. Joan taught there for 16 years. Richard was born on July 2, 1941 in Potsdam, NY to the late Leon and Olive (Bradley) Fifield, but he was raised by his aunt and uncle. Gladys Considine remembers the smell as smoke plumed over the small hill before her mom's sheep ranch in Southeastern Montana. . Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Richard proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, where he was awarded a Purple Heart. When I was in my early twenties, I fancied myself a Jazz guitarist and was committed to seeking my fortune as a Jazz guitarist. Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been", Here's a video of a bunch of differently sourced Astronauts video /docs strung together. Richard B. FifieldNEWARK - A funeral service celebrating the life of Richard B. Fifield, 70, of Newark, will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral and Crem "[1] Patterson and Fifield shared lead vocals,[8] and the band recorded songs by Roger Christian, Gary Usher, Dick Dale and Henry Mancini, among others. Sympathy Ideas. Two more guitarists, Dick Sellars and Nebraska-born Rich Fifield, were added mid-1961, and Stormy took up bass. He retired from D . Vanish, 90, of Mosinee died on Friday, January 20, 2017, at her home. Kristi Jean and the Ne'er Do Wells and Facebook Rich was a good friend and a fantastic lead guitarist. Elmer Jacobson, age 89, of Schaller Iowa, died Friday, June 10, 2005 at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake, Iowa. Richard was born on July 2 . After I related my Astronauts experiences to him, he offered to check with Bob to see if it would be OK for me to give him a phone call. [4][8] However, they released a succession of further singles on RCA, in an attempt by the record company to emulate the success of the Beach Boys and other surf music-related groups in the charts at the time. No services are scheduled at this time. Rich, Jim and Company were way more influential on me and my 60's era bandmates than just their brilliant surf guitar recordings. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. During our conversation that day Rich turned me onto the concept using super light strings. Grief Support. Margaret A. She was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on September 29, 1937. Fifield, Richard J. SALEM Richard J. Fifield, age 59, of Smith Road in Salem, died unexpectedly on Sunday, November 29, 2009 at Glens Falls Hospital. But the Astronauts caught the sun, sand and summer fun from Boulder, Colorado1,000 miles away from the nearest ocean. 3 days ago. Lemon Bay Funeral Home Date: January 20, 2008 Obit For: Richard T. Fifield Charlotte County Richard Tyler Fifield, 81, of Englewood and Gloucester, Massachusetts, died January 19, 2008. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Rich and the Astronauts rule. The Astronauts were definitely magic/lightning in a bottle. The wedding band played out about once a month or maybe a bit less but raked in the cash when we played. I did about a year in a "country" band playing 60's and earlier country and about 10 years hiding from sight and discovery in a wedding band. He married his wife, Karen (Hall) Curtis on May 7, 1960 and together the Mr. Keith Duncan Curtis, 85 of Grayling, Michigan died peacefully surrounded by his loving family at Kings Nursing Center on January 28, 2023 after a brief battle with cancer. That point in time, no sets configured like that were commercially available criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Cremation! 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