“We have just learned that Jerry Ritchie, original Gold City lead singer, passed away just after midnight this morning, following a lengthy battle with cancer.  Ritchie is survived by his wife, Cheryl; son, Greg and wife Charlotte; son, Jason and wife Autumn; one grandson, Landon; four granddaughters, Jayna, Isabella, Gabriella and Elliana, as well as two sisters and one brother.

The Ritchie family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 2, beginning at 12:00 noon at the Tutor Memorial Funeral Home in Pontotoc, MS.  A Memorial Honor Guard Service will be held Thursday, July 3, at 2:00 PM at Cook Memorial Baptist Church in Houlka, MS.

In lieu of flowers, the Ritchie family has requested that donations be made to the Tutor Memorial Funeral Home, 270 Coffee Street, Pontotoc, MS.  Cards and notes of encouragement may also be sent to the Ritchie family in care of Tutor Memorial Funeral Home.

Please remember to keep the Ritchie family in your prayers during this difficult time”. 

The above statement came from the official Gold City web site.

Bob Oliver

His family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers.  I don’t know much about Mr. Ritchie, my only rememberance of him is from the recording Gold City Live.  I assume he left soon after.  Did he sing professionally elsewhere?

The original group was a lot of fun and we have kept up with Jerry through Greg in recent years.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Jerry was with the group for a few more years after the live album and recorded several other albums with Tim, Ivan and Brian, as well as a few very scarce recordings on cassette with Benny Blackburn singing tenor, when Brian left the group the first time.

Bob Oliver

Thanks Dee Ann!
We had a lot of fun in the early days!

Bob

If memory serves me correctly, isn’t Greg Ritchie, formely of Jeff and Sheri Easter his son? I recall Jeff Ester on Gold City’s DVD, saying that. Am I correct?

Yes, Greg is Jerry’s son.

Bob Oliver

I sang with a local group out of Jasper, al. years ago(27) and Gold City was on the program and Jerry was singing then. I really was impressed with them.  Bob, I think you were with them still. It was at a cattle sale auction site(in doors) around Heflin, Al or Fruithurst, Al. That was great memories. Everyone in the quartet was very nice.  Funny! I sang bass and I was asking Tim for pointers. 

We will be praying for the Ritchie family.

I remember that concert!
We had a lot of fun and some great singing.

Do you have any pictures from some of those old days?

Bob O.

You can see Jerry singing with Gold City here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR7CJtYUgxY&feature=related

No Bob I dont. Sure do wish I did though.  I was 18 years old then.  Remember it well though. You are a very good tenor. Of course Tim got his big start out of my home town of Jasper, Al. with Bill Carter and th Carter family. I spun records on a radio program in the early eighties and would pull out Gold City and then play the Carter family with Tim on it. He was good then too. That was a long time ago.

Landon Dreher
http://www.Steelcityqt.com