Nashville-bred country-rockers Teddy and The Rough Riders have released “Hey Richard” a loving ode to Little Richard and the stories that surrounded him. The track is the second single from the band’s upcoming Margo Price-produced LP, Teddy and The Rough Riders, due out July 1st on Appalachia Record Co.
“Hey Richard” was actually written years before Little Richard’s death in 2020, but it’s taken on a new life since then. “He was known for riding around in a limousine, stopping and rolling down his window to talk to people and throwing Bibles out of the window while proclaiming religious affirmations. This is juxtaposed with his lewd lifestyle as a rock star when he was younger, including a specific story that involves Buddy Holly with his pants down,” says the band about “Hey Richard.”
“There’s an ode to Hank Williams in the song as well, which is inspired by his similar mythical presence in Nashville and a house where he used to reside in the same neighborhood the band grew up in,” they add, refering to a line in the songs refrain. “Dear Hank, you’re still around / In the stone house / I feel your heartbeat.”
Teddy and The Rough Riders is available for pre-order and pre-save ahead of its July 1st release HERE. Physical pre-orders, including vinyl, can be found HERE.