This week in the Flamingo Lounge, it’s a family affair with father and son Richard and Richie Derwald. Recorded on February 25, 2024.
Richard “Dixie Dee” Derwald, a musician, composer, vocalist, and recording artist, has been active in the music industry since 1957. His career began amidst the explosion of rock and roll, a genre he passionately pursued. During high school, Richard balanced musical ambitions with aspirations of becoming a professional wrestler. He played upright bass and played on extended gigs at the Knickerbocker Lounge located on the Niagara St. corner of Arthur and then at the Capri Lounge also on Niagara St.
Simultaneously, he trained at the YMCA, befriending wrestler Steve Stanlee (Mr. America), who mentored him both in the gym and on the mat. This chance encounter led to a wrestling opportunity in Rochester, where promoter Pedro Martinez offered Richard regular bookings. This propelled him toward his wrestling goal, leading him to leave the band and dedicate himself to the squared circle.
Richie Derwald, a versatile performer, has consistently reinvented himself throughout his career. Beginning with country music tributes in local clubs, he then explored rock with The Memphis Flames, embracing a glam rock persona. The Nightwing Showband era saw him tackling diverse genres, from Las Vegas tributes to light jazz, culminating in opera training and performances at upscale venues.
After a Las Vegas residency, Richie created his critically acclaimed “Live from Las Vegas” show, touring with Sandy Hackett’s showcase. A subsequent stint with Whitestar Tours showcased his tribute artistry, alongside his wife Debbie.
The pandemic halted his touring, but Richie channeled his energy into “Comfort Through Creativity,” promoting art’s mental health benefits. His original song “Changes” received acclaim, leading to a video series addressing mental fitness. Overcoming a stutter, Richie now speaks publicly about his personal struggles with depression, using performance and humor to inspire hope. Dr. Katherine Ansuini calls him the “Poster Child for Experiential Learning.”
Today, Richie partners with Nels Ross in “The Up Guys,” delivering inspirational presentations blending Ted Talks and “America’s Got Talent” elements.
Below is a digital flip book of Richard “Dixie Dee” Derwald’s story.
Below is a full bio of Richie Derwald:
Rich grew up in a show business family and has been mentored by a diverse group of Vaudeville-style entertainers, actors, singers, pro wrestlers and impersonators.
Richie has been called a professional Chameleon transforming himself mentally and physically to perform a wide range of music. Starting with Country music at the Club Utica, backed up by the incredibly authentic all-star house band TJ Country. Richie took a theatrical over the top approach when he dynamically performed the music of Conway Twitty, George Jones, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.
After forming his new rock band,The Memphis Flames, (a mix of Heavy rock, Psychedelic Country. Richie took a highly dramatic Glitter Rock/ Rock Opera approach while performing the music of Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Karl Perkins and Billy Idol at wild biker clubs like the Frontier bar and Grille.
In the late 80s The Nightwing Showband performed a wide variety of music allowing Richie to perform full costume tributes to Las Vegas stars, easy listening light jazz and his father performing Electric Rockabilly Gone Wrong. (Jerry lee Lewis, Carl Perkins) Starting off at party bars like the Wagon Wheel and Hitching post, and Janik’s steak house and the Canterbury.
Nightwing evolved into a floor show and dance party. combining an interactive piano bar feel by adding light Jazz and ballads with a broadway feel. Richie embraced the music of Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Kenny Rogers and eventually took Opera lessons in order to perform Broadway show Tunes as well as the music of Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. Then off to upscale nightclubs like Bedell’s candle light lounge and ending with a 3-year house gig at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens.
After touring Las Vegas with Sandy Hackett’s Showcase of the future stars Richie combined impersonations, comedy and theatrics to perform his critically acclaimed Live from Las Vegas show. Jamie Shear, an amazing producer who worked for the Legends of Las Vegas franchise, took the act to a whole new professional level. After a 2-year house gig at the Foxhead Hotel in Canada they performed for Disney’s Festival of Lights with over 3 thousand people in attendance.
AN huge transformation took place when he started working for Whitestar tours performing in Wildwood New Jersey with full costume tributes to Elvis, Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Roy Orbison. As the show evolved his wife Debbie took the stage to add full costume tributes to Cher, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Judy Garland and a very popular reenactment of the Phantom of the Opera to the mix.
Then a tour of North America performing full scale concerts at resort areas, conventions and dinner theaters throughout North America. The dream band broke up and Richie once again had to reinvent himself.
When the pandemic hit, every show Rich and Debbie had booked through the end of 2020 was cancelled. He used his time to encourage others by forming Comfort Through Creativity to encourage other artists to keep creating because Art is essential for mental health.
After 3-time Grammy nominee and President of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, Anthony Casuccio heartily endorsed one of Richie’s original “Changes”, the story behind the song was featured on Spectrum TV News and the Twin City Post. Changes – Richie Derwald | Album | AllMusic
WBEN’s host of Senior Radio Buffalo, Linda Pellegrino shared Richie’s song every Saturday from 2020 to 2021. A Changes video series followed with mental fitness advice. Hosted by his Father getting advice from Mark O’Brien, commissioner of Erie County Department of Mental Health.
Richie got over his fear of stuttering to become a public speaker. Richie has an PHD (a Personal History of Depression) and lost a lot of brain cells in the 80s by being addicted to everything that gives him pleasure. Richie utilizes musical performance, comical impressions, and dramatic performance to illustrate how he found Comfort through Creativity. Inspirational stories of Family Faith and Fun he inspires people with examples of how the performing arts pulled him out of his daily battle with the dark pit of depression. Sharing his past to help others gain hope for the future.
Combining his training as a life coach with vulnerable and authentic stories of life experience he has earned the title of “Poster Child for Experiential learning, by his mentor Chancellor’s award-winning professor Dr Katherine Ansuini. www.richiederwald.com
Today Richie has partnered with Nels Ross and Tours across the country as one half of “The Up Guys”. Their presentations have been described as Ted Talks meets America’s Got Talent and have received 5-star reviews around the country. www.theupguys.com