Minto Country Music Wall of Fame

Eric was born in Minto in 1939, the youngest child of Fred and Rosalie Richard. Along with his five brothers and two sisters, Eric was exposed to music at an early age because his mother played both the mouth organ and accordion. At the age of 12, he began playing guitar and was playing at local dances at the Casa Loma by the age of 16. He became a regular player at the Parish Hall and Minto Legion on Saturday nights and Sunday Jamborees. He was a guest performer on “Bud Brown’s Jamboree” in Fredericton for two years and also performed throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia with well known blind musician Freddie McKenna. He played at the Genosh Hotel in Oshawa, Ontario with a band called “Ambers” in 1958.

There is an endless list of musicians that Eric has played with over the years, some of them include: Fritzy Myers, Jimmy Chapman, Max Richard, Pop Lunney, Lyla Surette, Donnie Langille, Frank Robichaud, Merton Bailey, Celime Richard, Eric (Sneak) Richard, Donnie Gould, Earl LeBlanc, Eddie LeBlanc, Freddie Fulton, Eldon Barton, Fred Melanson, Gerry Robichaud, Ronnie Vautour, Frankie Maston and even his own son Danny, who is a drummer.

Eric is also known for playing at variety shows, fundraisers, country shows and with family members and friends. He has also played a house party or two. His favorite instrument is guitar but Eric also taught himself to play piano and violin. Eric lives in Minto with his wife of 42 years, Doreen, where they have raised one son, Danny, and daughters, Brenda and Diane.