Richard Pahigian ~ It's A Hard Life (But A Good Life)

Описание: This is It's A Hard Life (But A Good Life) recorded straight from the AVCO 7" Acetate (Version 2). There are several versions on other acetates and cassettes but this is my favourite version.

Richard Pahigian's musical career is a heartbreaking mix of what-ifs and near misses. Label problems, unpaid gigs, mafia run-ins and a retrospective back catalogue of beautiful songs.

Richard Pahigian was born in 1946, in Worcester, Massachusetts. His earliest years were spent living with his mother and brother in his grandmother's apartment while his father was away in the service. Upon his father's return, the family moved to public housing built for returning veterans. He attended public schooling.

Always creative, Richard began putting lyrics to music and found he was pretty good at it! While continuing to perform at local venues, including joining several Polka bands and playing at weddings and various affairs, he also continued trying to perfect his craft of songwriting.

In 1968, while casually playing the guitar and singing on the beach one day on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Richard was approached by a drummer who was spending the summer working at 'Your Father's Mustache' a popular local venue. After spending time together, he told Richard he had connections in the entertainment industry. He particularly liked 'We'll Find Love' and offered to have Richard travel to Chicago, Illinois to make a recording for Cherry Records, which he would promote.

Richard Pahigian had written 'We'll Find Love' during a quick burst of creativity. He was finishing his fourth year of teacher training college and embarking on 9 weeks of student teaching. On release, Richard gave copies to many of his 9th and 10th-grade students. They were very surprised that their teacher had released a 45 because it was getting a lot of radio airplay.

The Cherry Records producer Richard had been working with had moved to the West Coast and their connection soon faded. The Boston gig took place from the end of 1968 through 1969. During this period, Richard also performed in Hyannis Port, MA.

Through 1968 and 1969 Richard was performing more he performed at venues around Hyannis Port, MA. and got a gig at the 'Improper Bostonian' which had a popular college music scene. Keeping the gig for quite a while he was concerned that he had not been paid. Asking management to look into this they found many cheques mailed to Richard Pass. They had been returned to sender as Richard's postman knew him only as Pahigian.

The same people also owned a busy venue on Cape Cod known as 'Your Father's Mustache' and as summer was rapidly approaching Richard was hired to perform there. It was there that he met a man named John Delorenzo, who was vacationing on the Cape. He approached the young singer told him that he had 'connections' and asked if he could be his agent and manager. The deal was sealed when he said he could get Richard gigs in New York City.

Richard moved to the Big Apple and performed at 'Adam's Rib Pub'. Living in a room in Brooklyn of a family he met through a friend he travelled into Manhattan for gigs. The residency at 'Adams Rib' went very well. The venue was very busy with a very loyal clientele of professionals and young people. The cooks in the kitchen, the busboys and waitresses all danced to the music. They were from all over the world and spoke many languages. His songs had become popular and a group of jingle commercial writers had started to come regularly to hear Richard's music.

He was encouraged to not return to teaching at the end of the summer. They would provide a room for him and promote his songs to the record companies. The jingle writers took Richard under their wing with their shared dream of landing a recording contract and finding success. They said there was enough money in the jingle business to live in New York. Their solidarity was based on the hope that they would all make it big if one were to get lucky. Richard enjoyed the summer of music, but something happened that made him sure he had to leave New York. It is tough on a young boy alone in the Big Apple. There were lessons yet to be learned.

Richard continued teaching, persistently travelling to New York City on school vacation weeks, knocking on the doors of music publishers and A & R people to ask if they would give his songs a listen.

https://www.mixcloud.com/paulhillery/

Recorded from vinyl. An educational channel. For love and not-for-profit