Donald Eugene Ulrich (August 15, 1941 – July 17, 1974), best known by the stage name Don Rich, was an American country musician who helped develop the Bakersfield sound in the early 1960s.
He was a noted guitarist and fiddler, and a member of The Buckaroos, the backing band of Don's best friend, country singer Buck Owens.
His parents began teaching Don the fiddle as early as age three, his father building a small scale violin for him to play.
While attending Olympia High School (from which he graduated in 1959), Rich played in various local venues, as well as in the high-school orchestra.
He also formed an early rock-and-roll band called the Blue Comets with his friends, drummer Greg Hawkins and pianist Steve Anderson.
After a year of college, Rich decided to drop out and join Owens in Bakersfield, signing on for $75 a week in December 1960.
[3] Up to that point, Owens had stuck to the Texas Shuffle style, with Rich playing the role of the "lonesome fiddler".
Alumni included Ken Presley (who died in a car accident while a member), Jay McDonald, Mel King, Wayne Stone, and Merle Haggard.
[4] Owens and Rich followed "Act Naturally" with another 'freight train' rhythm song, "Love's Gonna Live Here", which spent 16 weeks at number one.
Rich hired Willie Cantu, a young Texan, to play drums for The Buckaroos in January 1964.
Willie Cantu received a sparkle drum kit from Rodgers, and Tom Brumley got an 11-string pedal steel from ZB Guitars (This allowed Brumley to play Rich's licks during the choruses of songs, leaving Rich free to harmonize with Buck).
On January 3, 1966, "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line" (written by Owens, Rich, and Nat Stuckey)[5] was released, and went to number one.
[3] In late 1966, bassist Doyle Holly left for a 9-month period, and his vacant spot was filled by Wayne Wilson.
", "Sam's Place", and "Your Tender Loving Care"[3] – and recorded another live album, this time in Japan, which also went on to great success.
Buck Owens and The Buckaroos continued playing, recording, and filming episodes of Hee Haw.
Tragedy struck the music world, though, and the success of this turnaround was cut short in an instant on July 17, 1974.
After finishing work at Owens' Bakersfield studio on July 17, 1974, Rich was killed in a motorcycle accident.
For unknown reasons, his motorcycle hit a center divider on northbound Highway 1 at Yerba Buena Street in Morro Bay.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo at 10:55 pm,[6] 50 minutes after the incident was reported.
California Highway Patrol officials stated that no skid marks and no apparent mechanical problems were found.
She continues to stay involved in Don's legacy and endeavors to keep the love for his music alive.
Owens and Rich received new guitars in 1966, a pair of Silver Flake Telecasters that were double bound in plain black.
Fender also gave Rich a Gold Sparkle Telecaster in the late 1960s that was bound in plain black.