Feb 2nd, 2005 - Katie Tepp - Howie's (Richard's) niece sent in this
very touching letter about her uncle.
There
is a lot I could say about Howie Tepp, he was always cracking
some kind of joke, always talking about his family or his band,
always being a great guy...himself, but nothing I can say could
even come close to describe how spectacular this man was and
always will be.
My dad, Peter Tepp (Howie's brother), my sister, Jessica and I would go up
to New York from Texas to visit him, Casey, and Lynn. My dad would always fit
right in but me and my sister would be a little shy but my Uncle Howie would
always be able to break that shyness by one of his hilarious remarks. I would
always be so sad to leave that cute apartment over Lynn's laundry mat in Tannersville.
The last time we visited my uncle, aunt and cousin was in toward the end of
June in the summer of '04. I knew this time was going to be different since
my uncle was diagnosed with leukemia and was in a hospital in Kingston. I remember
walking through the door of that apartment and it felt so weird to not have
my uncle there to welcome me. I was so scared to go to the hospital to see
him because I didn’t know if I could take seeing my uncle who was always
so strong in a hospital bed so defenseless. I didn’t decide...I knew
I had to go see him. As I entered his hospital room he welcomed me just the
way he would have as if he was in his own home. Although he was heavily on
medication and wasn’t acting himself just by looking in his eyes you
could see the man that everyone knew and loved.
When we were in New York, me and my sister thought Father's Day was that upcoming
Sunday. So we told Casey and we went shopping together for out dads. That Sunday
Casey gave his presents to his dad at the hospital. When we got back to the
apartment, Lynn looked at her calendar and realized that Father's Day was the
next Sunday. We all had a good laugh about it thinking it was nothing. We spent
out last couple of days visiting my uncle and getting to know his daughter
and son, Dawn and Josh. That Tuesday Howie got to come home from the hospital.
Wednesday came soon...too soon, me, my dad, and my sister had to start driving
back to Texas. We said our goodbye's to the family, then came our goodbye's
to Howie. He had just taken medicine and had fallen asleep, me and my sister
gave him a kiss on his forehead and said with tears in our eyes, "Goodbye,
Uncle Howie". Then my dad kissed him and said the same. As we drove away
from Tannersville, we were in silence, none of us knew if we would ever see
Howie Tepp again. About an hour after me and my sister got home on
Thursday, June 17th, we got a phone call from our dad saying that our beloved
uncle had died earlier that morning. That weekend when we visited our dad,
he told us that it was weird how we got the wrong day for Father's day because
if we hadn't Casey and his dad wouldn’t have been able to share their
own Father's Day.
Many people have to cope with Howard "Richard" Tepp's passing, everyone
will miss him dearly but we all know that he will be there to open up our door
to heaven.
Katie Tepp
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July 9th, 2004 - Bob Freedman another long-time friend of
Howie/Richard, and early member of RYL sent me this letter.
"Howard “Richard” Tepp
I
will never forget the first time I met Howie. Marc, Norm, Ricky
and I,
then calling ourselves “The Emeralds”,
were playing on stage at the “Y” auditorium in Newark,
NJ. To the best of my estimation, the date was Nov. 25, 1965,
and the event was (are you ready?) the “Soiree’ a-Go-Go.” Near
the side of the stage, I noticed this lanky, leather-jacketed,
kind of “hood-looking” guy, with a cigarette dangling
from his lip, who got Marc’s and Norm’s attention.
Next thing you know, they came to me and said that there’s
a guy they know from the neighborhood who wants to sing a few
tunes with us. I think I asked something like, “Well, can
he sing?” They believed so, and then I said something like, “If
it’s OK with you, it’s OK with me.” Little
did we know how all of our lives would change forever on that
fateful night.
The
ensuing two years were a roller coaster ride of excitement
and emotions.
And although “the business” always
seemed a struggle, Howie’s great sense of humor surely
helped make it easier. He truly loved to laugh, and loved a good
joke. And performing with him on stage was always great, great
fun….. as it should be (well, except for one particular
night in Long Island, but we won’t go into that). The excitement
and energy and joy, both external and internal, that “Richard” generated
on stage could be viscerally felt by all, band and audience alike.
Our greatest musical experience together had to be the ALSAC
Show in Cobo Hall, Detroit, 1966, with 17,000 screaming “teeny
boppers”. What a night!
We
became fast friends. He was very open, seeming almost vulnerable
at
times, sharing and generous to a fault, and he surely did
have that twinkle in his eye. He had a way of giving you “that
Tepp look” that made you feel as if you shared some great
secret with him.
For
all his outward stage presence and bravado, he was, I thought,
actually
a very gentle, and laid back guy. Maybe it’s through
the rosy glasses of time, but in the 38+ years I knew him, I
cannot recall ever having exchanged really harsh words. He did
not like confrontation and it was his gentleness of spirit and
of soul that, in my opinion, clashed at times with his strong
lifelong desire and passion to make music.
I
was fortunate enough to see Howie twice in the days just before
he passed
away. I knew he hadn’t been well for a long while,
but his untimely passing came as a shock. I never imagined we
would lose him this young. Too young. Although conversation was
very difficult on those last two visits, I hope his knowing that
I was there, still a friend who will be forever grateful that
we got to share a part of each other’s lives, gave him
some comfort."
Bob Freedman
Bandmate: Richard and the Young Lions, The Original Kounts
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July
5th, 2004 - Marc Lees, another long-time friend of Howie/Richard,
and early member of RYL sent me this letter remembering
Richard.
"The
crossing of Howard (Richard) Tepp was sad for many reasons.
The first, that it was too soon. He had more to do. Yes, he
finished the CD. But, he really wanted to do one more gig (and
always would).
Although
I visited him at home just days before he passed and was only
lucid for some time, we didn't get to share one last
slice of pizza as we had talked about in previous months. Even
after not seeing each other for 20 years, when we did get together
the decades vanished in minutes - as if we had just talked the "other
day".
I won't remember him as I last saw him, but as his spirit presented
him. Singing smiling, laughing, forever young
He left family and friends, most of whom reluctantly said goodbye
and some who still needed some answers to yet unformed questions,
or at least one more big grin with a twinkle in his eye.
More than just a band member, Tepp was one of the neighborhood
guys. We grew up together. Though a couple of years older, we
hung at the same corners, the Y and the Pizzeria. It was only
natural, that when he decided to try singing on stage, he approached
a band with shared neighborhood history and friendship first.
It just fit him.
His love of Rock 'n' Roll, performing and his personality transformed
us all in some way. Brought us closer together and help sustain
a fresh approach to our music. It was more fun with him.
Even
later, when he wasn't doing so well, in between groups, big
adversities
and small ("business") minds that beleaguered
him he kept his unique sense of humor, wit and loyalty to friends.
He earned and received the same loyalty form those friends throughout
the years..
Thanks
for what you've left. The memories, the music, the laughs,
the
friendship. Most of all, the determination to keep chasing
the dream. "Rock n' Roll never forgets"
He
is the first of the Originals to go to a better place. But
too soon, too soon."
---
Marc Lees
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June
29th, 2004 - Greg McCaig, a good friend of Howie/Richard
sent me this letter of his last meeting with Richard.
"What
a shocking turn of events...
I lost a dear friend and we all lost a pal.
Howie
was such a decent man ... I was able to get up to Kingston
Hosp. about a week before
he died.
He was in pretty grim condition. --Lot of pain .....confused
....
However,
he had his lucid moments... And during those fleeting bits
of conversation, we talked
about the Band.
He
struggled with worry over song placement on the cd and wondered
how the DVD premiere would be.
I tried to tell him over and over, to little avail,
that the guys would handle the small stuff -- That
he'd done his job laying down tracks, etc
....that James had the DVD in the can... That Twig and the guys
would take care of the details on the cd...Just relax
a little bit and stop
worrying...
But he still struggled... Minutes later we would be laughing about
the Honeymooners.
He slipped in and out of reality. He thought he was in Vegas - waiting
to go down to play Blackjack. He needed his shirt...
I told him I would handle his money ......then he shot me one of those
Howie 'looks' and we laughed......"
---
Greg McCaig
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June
28th, 2004 - We received an e-mail from L. Russell Brown
who first discovered Richard at the Indian Pizzaria in
Newark.. Read that story here
"I
have been in contact with Lou and Twig since Richards passing.
I found out about {Richard's passing} just yesterday. From the moment
I first heard his voice and shook his hand in that pizza parlor in
Newark NJ on Lyons Avenue, I was instantly inspired to the point of
telling him I thought he was amazing on the spot.
History
proves that I told the truth that day.
His
talents along with the Lions will continue to delight and
inspire music lovers - young and old, for as long as there
is Rock n Roll.
Richard
and the Young Lions may not have received their due during
{Richard's} lifetime, but from his spiritual eternal listening
post, he will see the love of his fans for many years to
come, and as I pray for his soul, I also pray that his last
collaboration with the band is given the lofty place in musical
history that all of you so truly deserve.
Your
original writer,producer and everlasting fan.
--- L. Russell Brown, June 27 2004 "
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June
19th, 2004 - Fred Randall - bass player of RYL sent this:
Rock and roll is fueled by the dream and in a way the dream is what
makes it rock and roll.
Tepp
(as I called him) was our lead singer. He was our front
man "The Richard" from 1966 until the day he
died. He was the heart and soul of RYL. We spent many hours
playing, practicing and performing. Tepp always lived the
dream. It wasn't about the money or fame (for both of which
he had none). It was about the dream. To get the CD finished,
to put down the new tracks, to get to play the next great
gig! The one that would launch the group.
Tepp
was the official custodian of the RYL dream; you could
see it burning in his eyes whenever he performed. And nowhere
was Tepp more real than when he was on stage. He lived
for those all too rare and fleeting moments. He was honest,
naturally funny, sincere and loving. We were proud of him
as "The Richard" of the Young Lions.
Tepp
was a good man. He truly believed in peace, love and harmony.
He would stand up (in a "kind and loving way")
if he was being handled unfairly and would not give in
to being bullied when he knew he was right. He had good
qualities; he was a good human being.
Tepp
was not dealt the best hand in life. He had a host of physical
ailments that seemed to plague him from day one. In spite
of his condition he would make a two and one half hour
trek each way from his home to Montclair for every practice.
Week in and week out he was the first to arrive. He sacrificed
more than anyone for RYL and was the inspiration and reason
I continued and why the studio was built. I wanted him
to have that CD. He deserved it, he worked for it and yet
he will not see it … it seems so unfair.
We
will do our best to finish the CD and release it. I know
that's what he would want. I hope it will gain him some
recognition and peace for he deserves it.
The
last time I saw Tepp was in the hospital just a few days
before he died. He was so weak and frail and in pain. As
I shook his hand to say goodbye he grabbed my hand and
looked me in the eyes. He smiled at me and held onto my
hand for what seemed like a long time. He did not want
to let go. He just smiled and looked right at me. His grip
was strong and in his eyes he was a young lion.
Rock
and roll is fueled by the dream and in a way the dream
is what makes it rock and roll. Howie "Richard" Tepp
lived the dream. He was a true rock and roller, a classic,
one-of-a-kind. He will be missed and remembered with love
and affection by all that were privileged to know him.
The
dream lives on in Howie "Richard" Tepp.
---Fred
Randall, RYL bandmember
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June
19th, 2004 - Rick Robinson - keyboardist of RYL
sent this:
He
was a gentle soul, possessed
of a charismatic
spark
that no disease or disfigurement could dim;
in fact, they only made it amazingly clear.
There's your immortality.
I
realize that I can't imagine anyone having
disliked him - even those he himself plainly
disliked.
His
spirit has come into uncannily strong
focus for me now - I'm sure I'm not alone in
feeling this, especially as I read the fine
sentiments the other guys have expressed
tonight.
No
one knows what goes on. But the thoughts
and feelings this swell guy has left behind
can only speak very, very well of him clear
across any universe or reality with a bright center of
truth and goodness. We can only hope that such is
the case. For then all will surely be well
with our friend at last.
-
Rick Robinson, RYL band member
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