Richie became interested in music at a very young age. His first interest was the Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass then turning to a stronger interest in polkas with the early New England bands. After attending the Pillar Polkabration in its first years, the variety of bands featured opened a whole new world of different polka styles.
Richie formed the Polka Country Musicians as a honky style band in the fall of 1977. Two years later, turning to the push style with the acquisition of a sixth player. The early PCM years were within the eastern states with their first mid-west road trips starting in 1991. Since then the band has performed in 19 states, two provinces of Canada, Cozumel, Mexico, Nassau, Bahamas, St. Martin, and on seven different cruise ships.
When not playing polkas, Richie is a military history collector of historical artifacts from WWII, WWI and the Civil War. In real life, Richie is an Electrical Supervisor for a large paper mill complex as an Electrical Engineer and licensed CT electrician.