The Ritchie Family

Female vocal trio, formed in the mid-1970s which records and performs into the 2020s.

Two of the original line up were in Richie Rome who would create the Ritchie Family, lending his name but adding a "T" to the name Richie.

The Ritchie Family's first album Cheryl Mason Jacks as its first official . There would be more hits as The Ritchie Family in years to come but with different line ups.

The original line-up would reform years later. With this line-up they had a top 40 dance hit in 2016. In late 2020, they announced that they were going to record a new song. After some changes in release date, the original line up of Cassandra Wooten, Cheryl Mason-Jacks (now Ice" in 2016.Then In 2021, the group announced the release their new single "Whatcha Got?". The release dates were changed. It was then postponed to June 28, 2021."

--------------------------------------------------------------- GROUP HISTORY ---------------------------------------------------------------

------------------- _ 1970s - 1990s _ -------------------

In 1977 Richie Rome left and producer Jacques Morali took control of The Ritchie Family with his new partners: Casablanca Records.

In 1980 they ed Village People for the movie Can't Stop the Music and appeared on the soundtrack album. Later, Dodie Draher would be replaced in 1982 by Linda James when the group moved to RCA Records.

After deciding to split, when group owner Jacques Morali discovered he had AIDS, the group continued as "The Rich Girls" for one song called "Too Much Too Fast."

------------------------- _ 2000s _ -------------------------

In the 2010s the Ritchie Family was reformed with original Cassandra Wooten and Cheryl Mason-Dorman (formerly Cheryl Mason-Jacks) . An interview in 2019 with Ice". The Ritchie Family Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/orignalritchiefamily/) has pictures of her with Wooten, Mason-Dorman and Guillory-Wearing. One photo shows the four of them on stage suggesting a possibility that Gwen Oliver may have ed them on stage to perform.

Gwen Oliver aka Gwen Wesley was married to trombonist Fred Wesley and they had two sons. In her later years, having left music, she lived life as a committed Christian, she was active in her church, involved in Bible study.
Gwen Wesley died on November 27, 2020 at age 71.

An entry on the Ritchie Family Facebook page dated 17 December 2020, mentioned a new single, “Whatcha Got”, scheduled for release Late January or early February 2021. The release was delayed until May 19, 2021, and then June 28, 2021.

--------------------------------------------------------------- Interviews ---------------------------------------------------------------

* Live it Up with Donna Drake The Ritchie Family now represented by Martha Wash (Aug. 2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ISAAzAjg_E

* The Ritchie Family interviewed by Lenny Fontana for True House Stories # 017 (Nov. 2019)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olDOj-76sJ8

--------------------------------------------------------------- Release ---------------------------------------------------------------

New 2021 single “Whatcha Got” details
https://www.facebook.com/orignalritchiefamily/photos/a.923924864405957/2116113408520424/?type=3&theater