An extension of Project X, Vonilla Gorilla vet Richey Lather. RL and the Conditioners is an outlet for Richey's multiple personalities and passions.
Born the 12th of 13 children of sharecropper parents in Tupelo, Mississippi (thats right beneath Onebelo), Richey had a difficult childhood picking cotton. Entertainment in Mississippi in those days usually consisted of swilling corn liquor and sneaking into barn dances to hear Delta bluesmen display their craft.
One bluesman in particular, Blind Mellon Chitlin caught young Richey sneaking a quick pick on his guitar, and after a near-fatal beating, took the lad under his wing and taught him all he knew.
Richey soon after left the cotton fields to find his fame and fortune on the Great White Way, landing a starring role in A Chorus Line and Cats (which oddly enough had nothing to do with guitar playing, but he was FABULOUS!!!)
After 6 Tony awards, Richey left the Broadway stage after a decade-long battle with propane addiction. In his rehabilitation and a 5-year stint in Joliet (for breaking into the Weber Grill factory) he co-formed Richey Lather and the Conditioners with former cellmates and took an active interest in mah-jongg tournaments. This in turn led to his current involvement with PROJECT X.
As often as possible.
Bill Nelson, Ace Frehley, Cliff Gallup, Scotty Moore, Jimmy Page
Fender, Epiphone (gotta love the EVJ head!), Frankenstrat, or whatever I can get my grubby paws on.....
