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Check out 5 great songs from Buffalo Springfield/Poco co-founder Richie Furay

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Richie Furay, the soft-spoken singer, songwriter and guitarist who co-founded the pioneering country/folk/rock band Buffalo Springfield and Poco, celebrated his 80th birthday on May 9, 2024.

Furay made significant vocal and songwriting contributions to both groups, and he later enjoyed success as a member of the supergroup The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and as a solo artist.

(Buy tickets for the Richie Furay concert)

He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Buffalo Springfield in 1997. Furay released his most recent solo effort, a country covers album titled In the countryin 2022. He is also in the process of ending a series of farewell concerts.

In honor of Furay’s milestone birthday and the great songs he helped create over his 50-plus year career, here are five memorable tracks from his various musical endeavors:

“A Child’s Fame” – Buffalo Springfield (1967)

The songwriting for Buffalo Springfield’s 1966 self-titled debut album was mostly shared between Furay’s bandmates Neil Young and Stephen Stills. Furay, meanwhile, shared lead vocal duties with Stills. By the group’s second album, Buffalo Springfield again (1967), Richie had also begun contributing songs to the group.

“A Child’s Claim to Fame” was one of the album’s many standout tracks, a joyfully melodic country rock number highlighted by Furay’s soaring vocals. Elvis Presley’s famous guitarist James Burton added dobro to the song.

(RELATED: Poco Purist Richie Furay Revisits an Archive Album)

“Nice Woman” – Buffalo Springfield (1968)

Furay wrote the sweet, romantic folk ballad “Kind Woman” for his wife, Nancy, to whom he has been married since 1967. He recorded the song shortly before Buffalo Springfield broke up, and the track appears on the latter album of the group, The last time (1968).

“Kind Woman” features bass from Jim Messina, who had replaced founding Buffalo Springfield bassist Bruce Palmer after Palmer was deported to Canada following an arrest for drug possession. The track also included a guest appearance from pedal steel player Rusty Young.

Later in 1968, Furay, Messina and Young formed Poco with bassist Randy Meisner and drummer George Grantham.

“A good feeling of knowing” – Poco (1972)

“A Good Feelin’ to Know” was one of Furay’s most memorable tracks that he contributed to Poco during his tenure in the group. Furay’s melodic and uplifting country-rock tune accompanied by the soaring harmonies of Timothy B. Schmit, who had replaced Meisner on bass in 1969.

“Fallin’ in Love” – Souther-Hillman-Furay Group (1974)

In 1973, Furay left Poco and formed The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with frequent Eagles collaborator JD Souther and former Byrds/Flying Burrito Brothers bassist Chris Hillman. The group achieved major success with their 1974 self-titled debut album.

Furay wrote and sang lead on “Fallin’ in Love”, which reached #27 on the chart. Billboard Hot 100. The tune was another melodic rock song, with a catchy chorus and infectious harmonies.

The Souther-Hillman-Furay group peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200.

Internal conflicts and declining commercial interest led to the band’s breakup after the release of a second album, Trouble in paradisein 1975.

“I Still Have Dreams” – Richie Furay (1979)

Furay released his first solo album, I have a reasonin 1976. Three years later, he had his biggest solo chart success with the title track from his 1979 album I still have dreams.

The soulful folk-rock song peaked at #39 on the Hot 100.

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