Ritchie Blackmore Wiki/Biography
Ritchie Blackmore is a guitarist and songwriter from England. Ritchie Blackmore is credited with creating the English rock group “Deep Purple.” He also started the hard rock group “Rainbow,” which combined hard rock and baroque music.
Lewis J. Blackmore and Violet gave birth to Ritchie Blackmore on April 14, 1945, in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. His age is 77 years as of 2023. When Blackmore was two years old, his family moved to Heston, Middlesex. His father handed him his first guitar when he was 11 years old.
When he was younger, Tommy Steele, who liked to play and bounce around, was someone he aspired to be like. While in school, he took part in several sports, including javelin throw. Blackmore left school at the age of 15 to work as a radio repairer at Heathrow Airport because he didn’t like his school or the teachers there. He learned how to play the electric guitar from expert musician Big Jim Sullivan.
What is the net worth of Ritchie Blackmore?
As of 2023, Ritchie Blackmore’s net worth is predicted to be greater than $25 million. His multiple commercially successful studio albums for the bands “Deep Purple” and “Rainbow” allowed him to earn considerable wealth. Over 28 million copies of Rainbow’s albums have been sold globally. In 2009, the movie “Telstar,” which was based on his life, came out.
Among the most well-known guitarists in the world is Ritchie Blackmore. He is acknowledged as a key player in the genre of classical/metal fusion. Numerous guitarists, such as Brett Garsed, Craig Goldy, Randy Rhoads, Wolf Hoffmann, and many others, were influenced by him.
Quick facts about Ritchie Blackmore
| Celebrated Name: | Ritchie Blackmore |
|---|---|
| Real Name/Full Name: | Richard Hugh Blackmore |
| Gender: | Male |
| Age: | 77 years old |
| Birth Date: | 14 April 1945 |
| Birth Place: | Allandale Nursing Home |
| Nationality: | British |
| Height: | 5 feet 8 inches |
| Weight: | 75 kg |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Wife/Spouse (Name): | Candice Night (m. 2008), Amy Rothman (m. 1981–1983), Margrit Volkmar (m. 1964–1969) |
| Children: | Yes (Jürgen Blackmore, Rory Dartanyan Blackmore, Autumn Esmerelda Blackmore) |
| Dating/Girlfriend (Name): |
N/A |
| Profession: | English guitarist and songwriter |
| Net Worth in 2023: | $25 million |
| Last Updated: | 2023 |
Career
Ritchie Blackmore started as a session musician for Joe Meek’s record label. He participated in countless live performances as a member of the English instrumental group “The Outlaws.”
He joined the group “Deep Purple” in 1968 at Chris Curtis’ invitation. Fans praised “In Rock,” the band’s debut studio album from the Mark Two lineup, which was released in 1970.
To start the new band “Rainbow,” Blackmore quit the group in 1975. Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, the group’s debut studio album, was released in the same year. Other studio albums by the group include Straight Between the Eyes (1982), Difficult to Cure (1981), Down To Earth (1979), On Stage (1977), Rising (1976), and On Stage (1977).
He joined the newly revived “Deep Purple” Mark Two line in 1984. They recorded two studio albums and one live album before breaking up in 1989. In 1994, he reassembled Rainbow with fresh members and issued the album “Stranger in Us All.”
“Blackmore’s Night,” a traditional folk-rock combo, was founded by Blackmore and his lover Candice Night. They issued Shadow of the Moon, their debut album, in 1997. The duo’s other studio albums include Under a Violet Moon (1999), Fires at Midnight (2001), Beyond the Sunset: The Romantic Collection (2004), and numerous others.
Ritchie Blackmore Awards and Achievements
On Guitar World’s 2004 list of the “100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time,” He came in at number 16. He was named 50th on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” in 2011.
Highway Star and Lazy, two of his guitar solos, were both listed among the “100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time.”
Blackmore was admitted into the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” in 2016 as a member of the band Deep Purple.
His band, Rainbow, was also a 1983 Grammy Award nominee.
Family, Wife, Relationship
In 1964, he wed Margit Volkmar; their son, “Jürgen,” is their only child. He married “Bärbel,” a former German dancer, in 1969 after they divorced. The pair got divorced in 1970. He started dating Candice Night, a fashion model, in 1981, and the two got hitched in 2008 after fifteen years of engagement.
Physical Appearance (Height, Weight)
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 75 kilograms.
