Meet Rich Spina | Musician/singer/songwriter/producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rich Spina and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rich, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Being that I’m a musician/singer/songwriter/producer I realized from the beginning that I would be self-employed & understood that though music was a passion, it was also a business and, from the beginning, I ran my career like a business. I was always putting money away so I could re-invest in my career while also investing in my eventual retirement since I knew that I would have to create my own retirement funds.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started out in 1973 in the bar band “Stairway” which we eventually changed our name to “Love Affair”, we worked hard to become the most successful band on the bar circuit and then eventually starting adding songs that I either wrote or co-wrote to our performances which eventually led our first record deal which then led to our first hit single, “Mama Sez” in 1980. The band released 3 albums before we folded in 1984. After that, I formed the band “Richard & The Heartbeats”, recorded a new album and released the single “Somebody Loves You” which became a regional hit in 1986.
In 1987 I became the keyboardist/musical director for “Gary Lewis & The Playboys” where I also backed up other 60s stars regularly like Mitch Ryder”, Mark Lindsay, Lou Christie, Tommy Roe, etc. That’s what I did for the next 18 years.
It’s at that time when I also built my own recording studio and started producing other artists like Sonny Geraci, Gary Lewis, Billy Hufsey, etc.
In 2006 I became the keyboardist/production coordinator for “Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone” which I’m still doing to this day.
I also released 2 solo albums, one in 2002 and the other in 2015 and I’m currently working on a new album.
I can’t say that it was hard or easy to accomplish these things…I just worked hard, said yes more than I said no & made sure I was prepared for when opportunities arose.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d probably take them to the Cleveland Zoo or the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame and have dinner in Little Italy at any one of the great restaurants there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First off, the people most responsible to my success is my parents. They prepared me well for how hard the music business would be, to always work hard and give my best at ALL times. And instilled in me the importance of saving money. Next would be my first manager, the late Otto Neuber. He managed me from when I was 18 years old until I was 28. He continued the lessons I’d learned from my parents about hard work, along with educating me on the music business. After that, it would probably be every artist I’ve worked with through the years, always learning something new.

Website: www.RichSpina.com

Twitter: @RichSpina

Facebook: Rich Spina

Youtube: @richspina8581