Mikey ‘Boo’ Richards

Michael Richards (born 23 April 1947; died 28 November 2021), Jonestown, Kingston, Jamaica.

Career

Michael Richards, professionally known as Mikey "Boo" Richards, was a reggae session and touring drummer and percussionist. The son of Latin and jazz drummer Leonard Richards, he secured his initial studio work at Studio One, where he performed on John Holt’s "A Love I Can Feel". This was followed by a session at Dynamics for The Slickers’ "Johnny Too Bad", a composition featured on the soundtrack for the 1972 film The Harder They Come. Richards subsequently contributed to a vast number of recording sessions, appearing on prominent tracks including Lorna Bennett’s "Breakfast In Bed", Dennis Brown’s "Silhouettes", and Ernie Smith’s "Life Is Just For Living", alongside numerous productions for Beres Hammond, The Abyssinians, and Ken Boothe.

As a member of groups such as The In Crowd, Now Generation, and 809, Richards’ drumming was central to the development of the reggae sound. His work is featured on several influential albums, including Joe Higgs’ Life Of Contradiction, Max Romeo’s Revelation Time, Ernest Ranglin’s Ranglin Root, and The Congos’ Heart Of The Congos. Furthermore, he performed on Lee "Scratch" Perry’s Super Ape, I Kong’s The Way It Is, The Heptones’ Party Time, and Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Survival, as well as three albums by the group Culture. In 1987, he joined The Wailers following the death of Carlton Barrett and later toured as part of Jimmy Cliff’s Oneness Band.

Personal

Richards was known amongst peers for his technical precision and disciplined approach to his craft. He was the brother of musician Mikey Chung and was survived by four nieces and a nephew. Following a period of illness with dementia, he passed away in Kingston at the age of 74.

At the time of writing, the estate of Michael Richards is currently managed by family representatives. The estate remains active in overseeing his professional legacy, focusing on the management of his recording credits and ensuring his work remains accessible through global licensing opportunities.