Richard Allen Podolor

A richard allen podolor for Richard will be held Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Groman Eden Mortuary & Eden Memorial Park, 11500 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills Estates, ca 91345.

RIP Richie… from family and friends

Legendary Record Producer Richie Podolor passed in his sleep, March 9, 2022. Richard was born in Los Angeles to the late Mike and Ethel Podolor on January 7, 1936. He is survived by his older brother Don and his family – his wife Lou and their 3 children, Sherri, James, and Robert. He is also survived by his business and life partner Bill Cooper. In the 50’s, Mike and Ethel owned one of the most successful used car lots in town. After Richie was discovered as a guitarist at seventeen, and subsequently played on two number one records, in 1958 the family started one of the first independent recording studios in Hollywood – American Recording Co. In 1962 they moved the studio to Studio City where Richie and Bill recorded a whole string of hits throughout the sixties and seventies. Then in 1984, Richie and Bill built a new state of the art studio to include accommodating outside clients such as Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Heart, Steve Perry, Tom Petty and many others. Richie was not only a true masterclass musician and recording artist in his own right, he was a pioneer in the Los Angeles music scene, producing the classic hits for Three Dog Night, Steppenwolf, Blues Image, Iron Butterfly, Black Oak Arkansas, The Dillards, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and so many, many more iconic bands. In his early years he studied classical guitar with Vicente Gomez, also recording his own music under the name Richie Allen. While in the Army Special Services, Richard gave classical guitar concerts all throughout Europe. A brilliant guitarist, Richie was one of the founders of the surf guitar sound. This “Melody Man” was a surf guitar icon. He is simply legendary in all of his fields. Richie was proud of his years producing records and had immense joy and pride working with Danny Hutton and the rest of Three Dog Night… which was the highlight of all their careers. Richie loved motorcycles, classic cars, his private plane, his boat and most of all… music and musicians. He was a pilot, a groundbreaker and an innovator. A love for nature and life let Richie be the perfect home for his dogs, cats, raccoons, musicians - and whatever was put on his doorstep.

PSALM 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;

He leadeth me besides the still waters.

He restoreth my soul;

He guideth me in straight paths for His name sake.

Yea, through the valley of death, I will fear no evil,

For Thou art with me;

Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gromanedenmortuary.com for the Podolor family.