THE RITCHIE FAMILY
(The Best Disco In Town)

        “You Keep Us Hanging On”

“Not Fade Away” is the title of an early Rolling Stones song, but it is just as appropriate in describing the Ritchie Family’s career.  The reigning queens of the disco generation, the Ritchies—Dodie, Jacqui and Vera—are back, and they’re making bigger noise than ever.  “Actually, we never went away” laughs Dodie, a member since 1978.  “Like most entertainers, we rode the crest of what’s “in” and “out”.  When Punk, New Wave and Rap made news in the clubs, we toured Europe and developed our following abroad.  Now that dance music is back, we’re here to make our mark, this time with an audience around the world”!

 A few years back the Ritchie Family helped pack a house of 17,000 in Antwerp, Belgium.  “It gives us goose bumps to watch the audience doing the choreography and singing along with us…they really remember”.  For now the Ritchie Family is set to win new fans.  The lovely trio has played two sold out nights at the famous Paramount at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  “The audience age range was from teens to teens plus, it was fantastic”, Vera said. We just recently did a short tour in Italy, one of our favorite places to perform, the houses were packed, the audience is beautiful and we all had a ball!!

 No idle threat here, these ladies have talent and training to burn.  “While the resurgence of dance sounds definitely helps us get the proverbial foot in the door, audiences are very pleasantly surprised by our diversity and range”, Vera notes.  They wouldn’t be if they knew about these performers experience in the show business world.  All three ladies have played in Broadway and Off Broadway shows, been featured in major motion pictures, and had successful club acts on their own. 

            “Now Voyager”

 As the Ritchie Family, the group has performed in every continent except Antarctica.  And not for mere mortals…royalty has reveled in their talent, too.

 “Several years ago, we played at a birthday party for the Prince of Morocco”, the ladies recall.  “Out of the blue, his brother, King Hassan 11 walked in, and really got into the act.  He offered us glasses of Dom Perignon, then proceeded to jam with the band on drums”.  The result?  “Just call it Moroccan R&B”, Dodie remembers with a smile.

 Jacqui tells of having performed at Princess Caroline of Monaco’s pre-engagement party.  “When we arrived, we saw this very staid looking group of people, and thought, ‘Oh this is really going to be a drag’!  What we didn’t realize is that royalty likes to boogie too, and that event turned out to be really wild”.  “I remember that Princess Grace was utterly charming.  Prince Rainier, of course, wasn’t in attendance, as he didn’t approve of the marriage at all…in hindsight, with good reason”!  Jacqui chuckles.

             “A Sign of the Times”

 For now, the Ritchie Family is set to win new fans.  Their act is visual, hot and very now.

“Sophistication is the name of the game”, Vera maintains.  “The days of leather and whips are gone.  We continue our reputation as trend setters; and what’s trendy now is class and style”. (Maybe a little leather every now and then).

 “After years of those wild outfits, it feels real good to do our show in top designer clothes.  And it’s not just the exterior image that’s new either”, she believes.  “We draw on our theatrical experience to present a show with the most sophisticated choreography, best costuming and lighting, and, of course, hottest music in club land”! Dodie advises. 

We Are Here To Stay!

D

Dodie                          Vera                          Jacqui