Keeping Tradition Alive: Get to Know Richard Lynch

Courtesy: Kore PR

-Tara

Richard Lynch's traditional country music embodies the way he was raised as well as his present day, farm-dwelling lifestyle. For almost four decades, Lynch has written, sung, and performed his songs as an independent artist. His latest album, A Better Place, was named the Pure Country Album of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists as well as having recently won a Josie Award for Traditional/Classic Country Album of the Year. Lynch kindly called to speak about the album, what's ahead and more.

Many people might be new to your music, but you have been involved with music for quite some time.
I have a lifelong love of that traditional country music and have been playing and performing for a long time - my first paid gig was in 1978, so I have a few miles behind me (laughing). My Dad was a talented singer and entertainer and I was influenced by him an awful lot. In the morning at the farmhouse, we would have the radio blasting listening to all of the great tunes of those earlier eras. Then when I was eight, Dad brought me on stage to sing a Buck Owens song and I was hit by the country music bug.

Your last album, A Better Place, which was released in 2015, garnered quite a few awards including AWA Traditional Country Album of the Year.
That record has been an amazing success for us. It’s overwhelming to see how much airplay it has had and how many awards the album has earned. In fact, it’s still amazing to see how many different folks around the world have an interest in it and respond to this traditional country sound. Recently, I was told it had been in perpetual rotation for the last fifteen to sixteen months in thirty-two countries. It’s pretty impressive.

It is! And it speaks to the fact that there are many country music fans out there who appreciate that traditional country sound.
I think you touched on something pretty amazing there. I’m not much a fan of today’s country music; I like to keep the traditional sounds going. I know that I’m not the only one out here doing it, but it seems like a lot of other folks are looking for something to connect with too. My music has that familiar country sound with prevalent steel guitar and fiddle and heartfelt lyrics that tell a story. I think that has a lot to do with the success we have had.

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Do you write the songs on the albums?
On this album I did not write any of it; it was mostly written by Bill Yates, who also produced the album, and his co-writers. Bill is an incredible singer, writer, and artist in own right who has written a lot of songs for George Jones (“I Don’t Need You Rocking Chair,” “Choices”) and I was fortunate to hook up with him through mutual friends in Nashville. The stars aligned just right I guess.

I’d say so.
Since that record was released in 2015, are you currently working on new music?
We are in the initial stages of our upcoming album. I am not a prolific writer by any means; I have to have something affect me in order for me to write about it, so maybe there will be one or two of my songs on the album. The hardest part for me is putting together songs that fit me. I spend a lot of time listening to songs by different writers to find the ones that will fit me before I decide on the twelve that will make the album. In the early spring, we’ll go into the studio to record the songs that are absolutely the best we can possibly have. I’m real excited about getting new music out.

Do you play out mainly in Ohio, or all over the country?
We play all over the country - 19 states so far – and Ireland. It’s been a lot of fun having our horizons broadened in the last couple years.

Lynch is very involved with The Love Tattoo Foundation which is a non-profit organization (501-3C) that honors and assists the American Veterans who carry mental or physical scars from serving our country. Its mission is to raise money and awareness to help give these veterans the opportunities they sacrificed, so we could have ours.
The Foundation was born from a devastating event. Law Enforcement Officer, Charles “Chuck” Brisbin, was moved by a story he had heard of a young man who left for Afghanistan as a soldier for his country and came back disfigured. Being involved closely with our country's military, Chuck was compelled to honor this man in any way he could, so he turned to poetry. Chuck wrote a poem titled Love Tattoo. After he finished the poem, he wanted to take it a step further by finding a voice that would be the spirit of his message; not only for this man, but for every man and woman who've sacrificed everything for what we have. He turned to Lynch who has a passion and respect for our military and was humbled and honored to be asked to turn this poem into a song.

Can you talk a little bit about  an organization you're involved with, The Love Tattoo Foundation?
Thank you for asking about that. The Love Tattoo Foundation doesn’t have anything to do with ink. It’s an organization that my wife and I feel strongly about. The unique foundation helps men and woman of our military who carry emotional or physical scars. They can go to a lodge in Michigan, with their spouses or animals, for a week and enjoy some recreational time. They can also take advantage of the doctors there if they need to. We are really proud of the fact that we can help give back and be a part of something like this.

Sounds like a wonderful organization.
Finally, do you have a go-to record that you always enjoy listening to?
Oh my goodness, my favorite record of all time would be one of the great Keith Whitely’s. He has so much great vocal ability and passion in his music. Other artists influenced me immensely but Keith Whitley, whom I got to play a show with before his untimely passing, left an impression on me that will last forever. 

To keep up to date with Richard Lynch visit his official website
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