Ritchie Blackmore is a renowned British guitarist known for his work with Deep Purple and Rainbow.
Blackmore's musical journey began at age 11 when his father gifted him a guitar, leading him to take classical lessons.
He co-founded Deep Purple, suggesting the band's name based on his grandmother's favorite song.
Biography
Early Life
Richard Hugh Blackmore, known as Ritchie Blackmore, was born on April 15, 1945, in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England. He was the second son of Lewis J. Blackmore and Violet (née Short). At the age of two, his family moved to Heston, Middlesex. Blackmore's musical journey began when his father gifted him a guitar at age 11, with the condition that he learn to play properly. He took classical guitar lessons for a year, inspired by British musician Tommy Steele. However, his disdain for formal education led him to leave school at 15 to work as an apprentice radio mechanic while taking electric guitar lessons from session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan.
Career
Ritchie Blackmore's professional career took off in the 1960s when he became a session player for Joe Meek's music productions. He played in various bands, including the Outlaws, and backed notable artists like Glenda Collins and Screaming Lord Sutch. In late 1967, he joined a band called Roundabout, which later became known as Deep Purple, a name he suggested based on his grandmother's favorite song. Deep Purple's early sound was a blend of psychedelic and progressive rock, and the band produced three studio albums during its initial lineup. Blackmore's innovative guitar work, combining blues and classical influences, helped shape the sound of hard rock and heavy metal.
Artistic Development
Blackmore is recognized for his pioneering role in integrating classical music elements into rock music, particularly through his admiration for Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach. His unique style includes memorable riffs and the use of 4ths, which became a hallmark of hard rock. Notable songs like "Smoke On the Water" and "Highway Star" showcase his innovative approach to guitar playing. Throughout his career, Blackmore has expressed a love for various music genres, including popular music and classical, emphasizing the importance of artistic freedom in his work.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Getaway: Groups & Sessions2006
- 1.Return of the Outlaws2:58
- 2.A Fool in Love2:37
- 3.Jesse James2:17
- 4.Like a Bird Without Feathers1:58
- 5.There’s Something at the Bottom of the Garden2:30
- 6.Out Behind the Barn2:09
- 7.Just Like Eddie2:42
- 8.Crazy Beat2:04
- 9.Catch Me a Rat2:13
- 10.I’ve Been Thinking2:22
- 11.In This Lonesome Old House2:18
- 12.If You’ve Gotta Pick a Baby2:02
- 13.Go On Then1:56
- 14.Boy Trouble2:30
- 15.Tell the Truth1:41
- 16.A Fool Such as I2:29
- 17.Keep A‐Knocking2:36
- 18.Shake With Me2:34
- 19.Everybody’s Got to Fall in Love1:25
- 20.Bike Beat, Part I2:10
- 21.Bike Beat, Part II1:51
- 22.I Get So Lonely2:47
- 23.Only for You2:09
- 24.Bouncing Bass1:52
- 25.Let Me In2:48
- 26.BBC Radio Interview (1983)8:18
- 27.Getaway2:19
- 28.Little Brown Jug2:00
- 29.Satan’s Holiday1:53
- 30.Earthshaker1:45
- 31.Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right2:41
- 32.Big Fat Spider2:07
- 33.It Can Happen to You2:24
- 34.Train Kept A‐Rollin’2:50
- 35.Honey Hush2:48
- 36.I’m Not a Bad Guy2:16
- 37.Goodbye Baby Goodbye2:37
- 38.Satisfy My Soul2:16
- 39.My Only Souvenir2:52
- 40.Girl It’s You2:53
- 41.What Did I Do?2:52
- 42.My Baby Left Me2:42
- 43.Yaketty Yak2:56
- 44.I Shall Be Released2:50
- 45.Down in the Flood2:15
- 46.Standing Still2:40
- 47.So You Want to Be a Rock ’n’ Roll Star2:05
- 48.Five White Horses2:32
- 49.Who Do You Love3:26
- 50.Ain’t Nobody Home4:13
- 51.Louisiana Man4:06
- 52.Bullfrog7:15
Best of Ritchie Blackmore1996
- 1.Child in Time (live)10:18
- 2.Never Before (live)3:48
- 3.Catch the Rainbow (live)14:01
- 4.Hush (live)4:05
- 5.Into the Fire (live)3:59
- 6.Still I’m Sad (live)14:51
- 7.When a Blind Man Cries3:31
- 8.Strange Kind of Woman4:00
- 9.Keep a Knocking2:34
- 10.If You Gotta Pick a Baby2:00
- 11.Thou Shalt Not Steal2:16
- 12.Been Invited to a Party2:44
- 13.In the First Place2:12
- 14.Something at the Bottom2:28
Best Tracks1995
Tracklist not collected yet.
Anthology, Vol.21995
- 1.Shake With Me2:32
- 2.The Bike Beat, Pt 11:51
- 3.The Bike Beat, Pt 22:08
- 4.Go On Then1:55
- 5.I’ve Been Thinking2:19
- 6.Living Alone3:53
- 7.Galway Bay2:37
- 8.Dance the Bap (live)2:21
- 9.Catch Me a Rat (live)2:10
- 10.As Long as I Live2:07
- 11.Only for You2:07
- 12.I Get Up in the Morning2:12
- 13.A Fool Such as I2:27
- 14.It Can Happen to You2:22
- 15.Like a Bird Without Feathers1:58
- 16.The Birds & the Bees2:03
- 17.Something at the Bottom of the Garden2:28
- 18.Getaway2:16
- 19.Little Brown Jug1:54
- 20.Satan’s Holiday1:51
- 21.Earthshaker1:43
- 22.Let Me In2:46
- 23.Satisfy My Soul2:15
- 24.Down in the Flood2:15
Anthology, Vol. 11995
- 1.Intro: Over the Rainbow / Kill the King (live)5:29
- 2.Man on the Silver Mountain (live)13:09
- 3.Burn (live)6:37
- 4.Highway Star (live)6:43
- 5.Speed King (live)5:19
- 6.Been Invited to a Party1:57
- 7.Summertime Blues2:41
- 8.Just Like Eddie2:41
- 9.That Set the Wild West2:26
- 10.Law and Order1:56
- 11.Keep a Knocking2:34
- 12.If You Gotta Pick a Baby2:00
- 13.Thou Shalt Not Steal2:15
- 14.Been Invited to a Party2:45
- 15.In the First Place2:14
- 16.I’m Not a Bad Guy2:14
- 17.Texan Spiritual2:27
- 18.Doo Dah Day1:53
- 19.Return to the Outlaws2:57
Take It!1994
- 1.Shake With Me2:35
- 2.Bike Beat, Part 21:52
- 3.Bike Beat, Part 12:10
- 4.Go On Then1:57
- 5.I’ve Been Thinking2:21
- 6.Livin’ Alone3:55
- 7.Galway Bay2:40
- 8.Dance to the Bop (live)2:24
- 9.Catch Me a Rat (live)2:12
- 10.As Long as I Live (live)2:09
- 11.Only for You2:09
- 12.I Get Up in the Morning2:14
- 13.A Fool Such as I2:29
- 14.It Can Happen to You2:24
- 15.Like a Bird Without Feathers2:00
- 16.The Birds & The Bees2:04
- 17.Something at the Bottom of the Garden2:31
- 18.Getaway2:19
- 19.Little Brown Jug1:57
- 20.Satan’s Holiday1:54
- 21.Earthshaker1:46
- 22.Let Me In2:48
- 23.Satisfy My Soul2:18
- 24.Down in the Flood2:17
Rock Profile, Volume Two1991
- 1.Getaway2:21
- 2.Little Brown Jug2:00
- 3.Honey Hush2:48
- 4.The Train Kept a Rollin'2:48
- 5.Gemini Suite: Guitar Movement8:09
- 6.Bullfrog7:16
- 7.Good Golly Miss Molly4:17
- 8.Great Balls of Fire4:24
- 9.Hurry to the City3:19
- 10.Still I’m Sad3:53
- 11.Man on the Silver Mountain (live)12:26
- 12.Lady of the Lake3:42
- 13.Sixteenth Century Greensleeves (live)7:49
- 14.I Call, No Answer3:32
- 15.Son of Alerik9:59
Rock Profile, Volume One1989
- 1.Return of the Outlaws3:02
- 2.Texan Spiritual2:29
- 3.If You've Gotta Pick a Baby2:01
- 4.Big Fat Spider2:07
- 5.Doo Dah Day1:55
- 6.Thou Shalt Not Steal2:17
- 7.I’m Not a Bad Guy2:16
- 8.Been Invited to a Party2:44
- 9.Shake With Me2:35
- 10.Movin’ In2:29
- 11.Keep a Knocking2:35
- 12.I Shall Be Released2:49
- 13.Playground5:24
- 14.Wring That Neck5:13
- 15.Why Didn’t Rosemary?4:59
- 16.Living Wreck4:30
- 17.Guitar Job5:02
- 18.No No No6:12
- 19.Highway Star4:49
- 20.“A” 2004:04
- 21.Gypsy4:01
- 22.Hold On5:04
The Thrill Is Gone2020
Tracklist not collected yet.
Blackmore's Kingdom1997
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Groups
- Blackmore’s Nightguitar, originalcurrent
- Green Bullfrogguitarcurrent
- Heinz and the Wild Boyscurrent
- Lord Sutch & Heavy Friendscurrent
- Ritchie Blackmore Orchestraguitarcurrent
- The Lancastersguitarcurrent
- The Outlawsguitarcurrent
- The Rally Roundersguitarcurrent
- The Sessionscurrent
- Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savagesguitar · 1962–1962
- Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savagesguitar · 1965–1965
- Deep Purpleguitar, original · 1968–1975
- Rainboworiginal · 1975–1984
- Deep Purpleguitar, original · 1984–1993
- The Trip1966
Played together with
Bob DaisleyRainbow · 1977–1978- Bob NouveauRainbow · 2015 · bass guitar
- Bob RondinelliRainbow · 1980–1984
Candice NightBlackmore’s Night · lead vocals
Cozy PowellRainbow · 1975–1980 · drums (drum set)- Craig GruberRainbow · 1975–1975
- David KeithRainbow · 2015 · drums (drum set)
- David RosenthalRainbow · 1981–1984
- David StoneRainbow
Don AireyRainbow · 1979–1981- Doogie WhiteRainbow · 1994
- Gary DriscollRainbow · 1975–1975
Similar artists
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Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Richard Blackmore, Richard Hugh Blackmore, Richie Blackmore, リッチー・ブラックモア
Richard Hugh Blackmore is an English guitarist, who was a co-founding member of Deep Purple, Rainbow and Blackmore's Night. In the 1960s, he began his professional career in bands such as the Outlaws and Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages, and worked as a session guitarist for singers such as Glenda Collins, Heinz, Neil Christian and others.
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Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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