Kozmic Keyboardist Richard Kermode
October 5, 1949 – January 16, 1996
“Yours Is the Light” from Santana’s Welcome album. Music by Michael Shrieve lyrics by Richard Kermode. Vocal by Flora Purim
In the band v in a band
It seems to me that the more members a band has, the less likely all members are well-known. That may be especially so when the leader is very well known.
Janis Joplin was a member of Big Brother and the Holding Company, though after awhile the band’s name seemed to become Janis Joplin and Big Brother.
When Joplin left Big Brother in 1968 she formed a back up band. And being in a back up band is not quite the same thing as being in the band.
Kozmic Keyboardist Richard Kermode
WY > NY > CA
Richard Kermode was born in Lovell, Wyoming and grew up in Buffalo, NY where he became a well-respected keyboardist. In 1969 he moved to California just in time for Janis Joplin to add him to her new Kozmic Blues Band. He was also just in time to be in the band for the Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
Kozmic Keyboardist Richard Kermode
Post Janis
When Janis Joplin died, Kermode became mainly a sessions musician including three albums for Carlos Santana: Welcome (1973), Lotus (1974), and Dance of the Rainbow Serpent (1995).
He also played with the group Malo. Jorge Santana, Carlos’s brother, was one of that band’s founders. He developed a passion for Latin music while playing with Malo and worked with numerous Latin jazz, salsa and Brazilian bands. He also recorded with Patti LaBelle, Luis Gasca, Pete Escovedo, Airto and Purim.
Kozmic Keyboardist Richard Kermode
Illnesses
In 1990 he suffered severe kidney and liver ailments, but recovered. He was able to resume his musical career and played in bands on USO tours. He toured South Korea and Japan.
In 1994 he moved to Denver to work on salsa music projects.
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Yours Is the Light Yours is the light that will always shine Yours is the light that will always shine |
Kozmic Keyboardist Richard Kermode
Kenmore memories
Kermode died on January 16, 1996. He was 49 There are many touching memories by his high school friends at the Kenmore West High School Class of 1965 site.
Richard was one of the most respected musicians in Buffalo in the 1960’s – wanting to be a jazz player. When Richard left WNY in 1969 to take that immense talent to California as one of Buffalo’s premier jazz keyboardist, he had no way of knowing he would end up on multi platinum and gold albums as keyboardist…
Being ensconced in this Woodstock history is such a pleasure. Baring sorrow is kinda sweet though when we realize the Peace Movement is still alive in our hearts.
Thank you. Keep on keeping on.
I knew Richard around 1977-81 or so in the Oakland East Bay music scene … He was playing with Malo and I was in a small local band with Coke Escovedo … Richard was a far better keyboardist than I but he wasn’t stuck up in the slightest … His wife and my wife got along good and we all just hung around together … Richard was a good natured, friendly guy … Of course we eventually went in different directions and some years later when I looked for him I learned he had died .. I was and am truly saddened … He was gifted, but also a regular guy and a friend and I miss him to this day …
Thank you for your personal memories.