The guy whose looks, musicianship, and demeanor made him one of the coolest guys on the local rock scene in the 1970s and 1980s has died after a motorcycle accident on July 22 in Aransas Pass.
Richard “Rich” Mauch was 59.
Mauch was called Rick growing up. But in 1972 he joined Savvy, a newly formed local rock band that already boasted a Rick — founder and drummer Rick Miller.
Mauch wasn’t fazed.
“He said, ‘Ah, just call me Rich.’ On the spot he’s ready to change his name,” Savvy guitarist Steve Jones recalled. “He’d never been Rich before. He reinvented himself at that moment for the good of the band.”
Miller started Savvy in 1971 but went through early roster changes.
“We had a guitar player that just wasn’t cutting it,” he said. “Rich played a couple of songs with us and we knew right away he was our guy. He had that look about him as a guitar player. He had this rock ‘n roll look about him.”
Mauch remained with the band for 14 years. He was an aggressive, attacking guitarist but with a tasteful approach. And he had a soulful, raspy voice that his bandmates compared to Rod Stewart.
“Between his flashy guitar playing, the edge he brought, his rock ‘n roll look — he was a good-looking guy who brought the women in — and, of course, his singing, he was the entire package,” Miller said.
Savvy disbanded in 1986 and Mauch remained in the area for a few more years as an assistant manager at clubs owned by the Miller family. In 1990, he moved to Aransas Pass. He became a master pipefitter and was on his way to work on a Friday morning when his motorcycle collided with a pickup on a highway.
He is survived by his wife, Sandi; sons Christian Mauch of Fort Worth and Christopher Tabor of Seattle; daughters Vandy Cespedes of Fort Worth and Michelle Garza of Nashville; and his mother, brother, sister, and grandchildren.
Savvy was one of Fort Worth’s busiest bands and performed for years at Savvy’s Nightclub on East Lancaster Avenue. The band’s popularity soared after singer and guitarist Ricky Lynn Gregg joined in 1979. The dueling lead guitar attack of Gregg and Mauch provided an exciting sound, and both were considered heartthrobs on stage.
One night, Gregg carried a new guitar on stage, a beautiful B.C. Rich Bich. Not to be outdone, Mauch bought a brand new B.C. Rich Mockingbird a short time later and proudly showed it to his bandmates.
“I grabbed it and lifted it up — and put it right in the ceiling fan,” Jones said. “It put a little nick in the neck. I felt horrible. I said, ‘I’m so sorry.’ He was like, ‘Oh man, don’t worry, they don’t even play right until they get that first scratch.’ He was the nicest, coolest guy. I called him the Fonzie of the 1980s.”
In recent years, Mauch made a habit of telling his former bandmates how happy he was living in Aransas Pass with his wife of 16 years.
“Everytime he would call it was almost a carbon copy of the last conversation, telling us about his house in the country — he had 10 dogs, eight of them lived inside,” Miller said. “It was an indication he’d finally settled into life, he had a good job, a good marriage, a wonderful home, the dogs he adored. Being in the rock ‘n roll business, people have an impression you’re just going to be an old guitar player playing in a smoky bar somewhere, and you’re never going to have the white picket fence. But he had it. He might have even surprised himself. I think that’s why he liked to talk about it so much.”
A memorial was held in Aransas Pass. Mauch’s bandmates are organizing a local one as well. Details to come.
Thanks so much Jeff. The perfect deserving tribute. It means a lot to us all.
RIP Mr. Mauch and thanks for providing great music for a generation of party animals.
Jeff, what a great story. Thank you for sharing Rich’s story with your readers. He was a great man. I will forever remember him.
We all loved Rich, he was guy that never met a stranger. Wonderful man. Prayers to his family, and while we’re in the prayer mode, please Pray for RLG, he needs it. Saw him last night in the hospital.
Wow, what a story!
VERY NICE WRITE UP,IM SO SORRY FOR HIS FAMILY & CLOSE FRIENDS,LOSS. HE WAS A GREAT ROCK N ROLLER,MUSICIAN!MAY HE REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.
Thank you for publishing this story of my Dad. He was a great man and I miss him every second & will for the rest of my life.
Dad, How can I get over this pain when everywhere I go I see your face. When I look in the mirror or when I look at Christian. We are your mirror image. I miss you more than the salads you made me when I was a baby! I love you more than words can express and you know my heart. I love you, You’re my ROCKSTAR!
For those that loved him, this loss is enormously immense ! Yet still, not near as immense as the love he felt for YOU ! Know that ! Christian, Vandy, Christopher, Michelle, Sandi, and five grandchildren. “I KNOW”, how happy YOU made him, “I KNOW”, how much he LOVED YOU ! “YOU” believe it, “YOU”, KNOW IT ! Follow his loving example. “YOU KNOW”, THAT is what he would want ! “I” Love Rich Mauch ! ….. Thank you Jeff Price.
Thank you for publishing the story about THE Rich Mauch that Fort Worth and surrounding areas remember. The man and the music which we all still hold dear in our hearts.
Rich Mauch was the GREATEST friend anyone could ever have! We miss you big guy!!
Thanks so much for putting this together! It means so much that you remembered him and the Savvy guys! He was my dad and I miss him so much. Thanks again.
I don’t know how many mentions I’ve seen about the great times people had at Savvy’s. I so hate to hear about the loss of Rich Mauch. I loved seeing Savvy live when I was in high school. They were a great band and nobody in the DFW area did it better. These guys left and indelible mark on my youth. My prayers go out to Mr. Mauch’s family. I know he will be truly missed.
Many years ago I was an undercover Ft Worth Police Officer. I will have to confess that there were many nights that my partner and I would ease into Savvy’s for bit, not to work, but to listen to Rich and the band. They were great and they always seemed to attract a female crowd that made it extra enjoyable to attend. He was a great entertainer and it’s wonderful to know that he slowed down and enjoyed life. Peace!
An expanded version of this article appears in today’s print edition of the newspaper.
Rich, Though i never knew you personally, I did come down to hear you guys on E. Lancaster many times. You guys rocked FW and I know right now your in a better place RIP
Thanks for this Jeff. Rich lived with my family for many years. We referred to each other as Big Brother and Little Brother. Words can’t describe what he meant to me. Rest in Peace Big Brother. I love you.
Your Little Brother.
Very Sad to hear about Rich. I moved to Florida in 94 and didn’t hear til just recently, when I got on fb. Steve is right, he was so nice, all the band was really, but Rich was very good player and goodlooking, but not arogant at all. I am glad he had done good after the band. Condolences to the fsmily.
I hope the best for your family you won’t remember me but, we were all just people. Now I live in southern California. Savvys and Fort Worth was where I was at 17 years old even though everyone at the club thought I was 21 , I dated Rickey Lynn for a short time and am sad to hear Rich died . i hope he had a lot of happiness. Good Things.