Keith Richards

For the basketball coach, see Keith Richard.

Keith Richards
Richards in 2022
Born (1943-12-18) 18 December 1943 (age 80)
Dartford, Kent, England
Other namesKeith Richard
EducationDartford Technical School
Sidcup Art College
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • singer
  • record producer
  • actor
Years active1960–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1983)​
PartnerAnita Pallenberg (1967–1980)
Children5, including Theodora and Alexandra
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Labels
Member of
Formerly of
Websitekeithrichards.com

Keith Richards[nb 1] (born 18 December 1943) is an English musician, songwriter, singer and record producer who is an original member, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-principal songwriter of the Rolling Stones. His songwriting partnership with the band's lead vocalist Mick Jagger is one of the most successful in history. His career spans over six decades, and his guitar playing style has been a trademark of the Rolling Stones throughout the band's career. Richards gained press notoriety for his romantic involvements and illicit drug use, and he was often portrayed as a countercultural figure. First professionally known as Keith Richard, by the early 1970s he had fully asserted his family name.

Richards was born in and grew up in Dartford, Kent. He studied at the Dartford Technical School and Sidcup Art College. After graduating, Richards befriended Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Ian Stewart and Brian Jones and joined the Rolling Stones. As a member of the Rolling Stones, Richards also sings lead on some Stones songs. Richards typically sings lead on at least one song a concert, including "Happy", "Before They Make Me Run", and "Connection". Outside of his career with the Rolling Stones, Richards has also played with his own side-project, The X-Pensive Winos. He also appeared in two Pirates of the Caribbean films as Captain Teague, father of Jack Sparrow, whose look and characterisation was inspired by Richards himself.

In 1989, Richards was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2004 into the UK Music Hall of Fame with the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him fourth on its list of 100 best guitarists in 2011. In 2023, Rolling Stone's ranking was 15th.[5] The magazine lists fourteen songs that Richards wrote with Jagger on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.

  1. ^ Bockris 2003, p. 44.
  2. ^ Salewicz 2001, p. 58.
  3. ^ Bockris 2003, pp. 44, 223.
  4. ^ Bockris 2003, p. 223.
  5. ^ "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.


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