Jonathon Richman is one of those rare musicians who has transcended the music world into something much bigger than that.
Unlike most musicians, Jonathon is a true renaissance man, having not only played in some of the biggest rock bands of the 80s but also having a successful career as a screenwriter, director, and producer. He’s been on a mission to prove that the 80s were not just a time of hair metal but a time when music had its unique style and vibe. And he’s done just that.
He has an almost uncanny ability to get a massive audience on his side and make them believe in what he is doing. He is one of those artists who have been around for a while but still manage to make themselves relevant to this day.
In his first solo album, Jonathon has composed a fantastic collection of songs that span from the new wave of the 80's, through the grunge movement, to the power ballads of the 90's.
Early Life
Richman was born in the suburbs of Boston. He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. After college, Richman moved to New York City. He also started writing and recording songs. He started playing guitar at the age of 14.
In the late 1970s, Jonathon Richman was a struggling musician living in New York City. He worked at a record store, played guitar, and wrote songs. Certainly not the most stable of jobs, but it was the start of something big.
In 1979, Richman played guitar at the record store when he met John Mellencamp. The two became fast friends and started playing music together.
The Modern Love Band
The 80's was a very important decade for music. It was the decade where we saw the birth of the new wave movement, which gave way to the grunge movement, and the power ballad. While there were a lot of great musicians in the 80's, Jonathon Richman is considered by many to be the king of the 80s.
Richman formed a band called the Modern Love Band. They were a three-piece, consisting of Jonathon Richman on vocals and guitar, Michael Hausman on drums, and Tom Gorman on bass. The band released their debut album in 1982, entitled “Modern Love.” Conversely, the album was not a commercial success. The Modern Love Band continued to tour and record throughout the 80s.
The band was a big hit in the 80s, with a string of hits such as “Roadrunner” and “Slow Motion." Richman left the band in 1982 to pursue a solo career.
Solo Career
After the Modern Love Band broke up, Richman’s solo career began in 1983 with the release of his first solo album, “Longing for You”. The album was a critical and commercial success. The album featured several well-known musicians, including Mike Watt, Bob Mould, and even former Modern Love Band member Tom Gorman.
In 1984, Richman released his second solo album, “Goodbye Blue Sky.” The album featured the song “I Want to Know What Love Is,” which became a huge hit for Bonnie Tyler.
Richman’s third album, “Another Time, Another Place,” was released in 1986. One of the main reasons the album was so successful was because it featured the hit single “I Can See Now.”
In 1987, Richman released his fourth solo album, “Modern Lovers 88.” The album featured the hit single “What Are We Doing In This World?”, which was written by Bono and The Edge.
Richman’s fifth solo album, “Live From New York,” was released in 1988. It was a live album recorded in New York City. The album featured a number of well-known musicians.
In the 1990s, Richman continued to have success with his solo career. He released his sixth solo album, “Between the Bars,” in 1991. The album featured the hit singles “All the Way” and “Nobody’s Fool.” The first single, “All the Way,” was a top 10 hit.