Richie Hayward

Richard "Richie" Hayward (February 6, 1946 – August 12, 2010) is an American drummer best known as a founding member and drummer in the band Little Feat. In the late 1960s, he played with original Little Feat frontman Lowell George in the band’s precursor The Factory. George and Hayward co-founded Little Feat in 1969 along with Bill Payne and Roy Estrada. They established a distinctive style of improvisational southern rock that mixed elements of blues, rock boogie and funk. Little Feat went on hiatus in 1978 and officially parted ways a year later after George died of an accidental overdose. Hayward helped reform the band in 1987 and continued to play with the group until last year when health concerns prevented him touring. Hayward lived in British Columbia. Hayward was also an accomplished sideman and played on recordings by such diverse artists as Eric Clapton, Warren Zevon, Travis Tritt, Robert Palmer, Tom Waits, Taj Mahal, Barbra Streisand, John Cale, Buddy Guy, Arlo Guthrie, Carly Simon, Bob Seger and many others. Hayward and Little Feat also collaborated with a new generation of jambands in the ’90s and ’00s, including Jimmy Herring, Bela Fleck, String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon and Warren Haynes. The band’s association with Phil Lesh & Friends and cover of Phish’s “Sample in a Jar” also brought an element of improvisation back into the group’s live sound. In addition, he played in the jamband all-star band Justice League with Herring, T. Lavitz and and Adam Nitty. Richie's last public performance was a sit in with Little Feat at the Vancouver Island MusicFest on July 11, 2010.

Richie Hayward Drum Solo Westhampton Performing Arts Center - from "Fat Man In The Bathtub" March 1, 2009

© Ron Gerber

Fool Yourself Little Feat Dixie Chicken Little Feat Let It Roll Little Feat That's How Strong My Love Is Taj Mahal

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