Bor… Read Full Bio ↴Richie Kotzen is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania on February 3, 1970, Richie Kotzen was soon taken by music and first began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of seven he was inspired by New York City band KISS to learn the electric guitar. Relentlessly developing chops and his own unique voice on the guitar, Kotzen was eventually discovered by Shrapnel Records' Mike Varney, and he recorded his first album by the age of 18. During that same year, he also graced the cover of several publications including Guitar World Magazine. He created the video Rock Chops for REH video in 1989, highlighting many of his formative techniques, including using wide-intervals and fluid sweeping.
In 1993, Kotzen made his big break when he joined the rock band Poison at age 20, co-writing and performing on the album Native Tongue. This album produced two top twenty singles which Richie wrote, Stand and Until You Suffer Some. Kotzen was subsequently fired from the band when it was discovered that he had been romantically involved with Deanna Eve, the ex-fiance of Poison drummer Rikki Rockett. Kotzen and Eve later married and divorced. In 1999 Kotzen replaced Paul Gilbert as guitarist in the mainstream rock band Mr. Big. Kotzen maintained the band's enormous success, performing on the Mr. Big record Get Over It, which sold more than 1,975,000 copies in its first two weeks in Japan, eventually reaching platinum status. Kotzen also contributed guitars to Mr. Big's subsequent release Actual Size. The record included the Kotzen song Shine, which debuted at number one on Japanese radio charts. Following the disbanding of Mr. Big, Kotzen released the solo album Change, in 2003. The title track, and the song Get A Life were featured in TV commercials throughout Japan.
In mid 2002 Kotzen established a recording Studio/Production company in Los Angeles, California. He has since been producing acclaimed solo albums and collaborating with various figures in rock, jazz, and fusion. He now has formed a band called Forty Deuce which recently released a new album entitled Nothing to Lose.
Richie has a unique style, which he has described as a mix of rock, jazz fusion, and soul music. Of his albums, he claims he is most proud of Vertu. Kotzen utilizes a heavy amount of legato playing into his solos.
Richie is now living in Los Angeles, California. Besides playing the guitar, his hobbies include exercise and sports, especially basketball. Richie has said that if he had'nt become a professional musician, he would have liked to play professional basketball.
In 2008, Kotzen released his first official live album, "Live In São Paulo", which featured Johnny Griparic on bass and Dan Potruch on Drums.
Discography
* (1989) Richie Kotzen
* (1990) Fever Dream
* (1991) Electric Joy
* (1991) Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey (Soundtrack)
* (1993) Native Tongue (Poison)
* (1994) Mother Head's Family Reunion
* (1995) Inner Galactic Fusion Experience
* (1995) Tilt (with Greg Howe)
* (1996) Wave of Emotion
* (1996) Times Gonna Tell (EP)
* (1997) Kotzen/Howe Project (with Greg Howe)
* (1997) Something to Say
* (1998) What Is
* (1999) Break It All Down
* (1999) BiPolar Blues
* (1999) Vertu (project with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White)
* (1999) Get Over It (Mr. Big)
* (2000) Deep Cuts (Mr. Big)
* (2001) Actual Size (Mr. Big)
* (2001) Slow
* (2002) In Japan (Mr. Big)
* (2003) Change
* (2003) Acoustic Cuts
* (2004) Get Up
* (2004) The Best of Richie Kotzen
* (2005) Nothing to Lose (Forty-Deuce)
* (2006) ZxR Ai Senshi
* (2006) Into the Black
* (2007) ''Return Of The Mother Head's Family Reunion'' (Japan & Europe)
* (2007) ''Go Faster'' (US only)
* (2008) ''Live In São Paulo''
* (2009) ''Peace Sign''
* (2011) ''24 Hours''
* (2013) ''The Winery Dogs'' (The Winery Dogs)
* (2014) ''Unleashed In Japan: The Second Show'' (The Winery Dogs) Released only In Japan (DVD/2CD)
* (2014) ''The Essential''
* (2015) ''Cannibals''
* (2015) ''Hot Streak'' (The Winery Dogs)
* (2017) ''Salting Earth''
Videography
* (1989) Rock Chops
* (1994) Mother Head's family Reunion (Videoclip from the Mother Head's family Reunion Album)
* (1996) Wave of Emotion (Videoclip from the Wave of Emotion Album)
* (2001) Don't Wanna Lie (Videoclip from the Slow Album)
* (2001) Shine (Videoclip from Mr. Big's Actual Size Album)
* (2002) ''Hi-Tech Rock Guitar''
* (2005) ''Live In South America''
* (2008) ''Chase It'' (Videoclip from the R.O.T.M.F.R. Album)
* (2008) ''Bootlegged in Brazil''
* (2014) ''Unleashed In Japan: The Second Show'' (The Winery Dogs) Released only In Japan (DVD/2CD)'
* (2015) ''Live''
Angie
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
who wants to be happy
and there's a place I go
where every one knows her name
Now she got a love for me, and that's why I go
She makes me happy
O' girl I trip on you
She said "what's your fantasy
Black or white, day or night
you make everything alright
So Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sweet sunshine
There's a man I know, who wants to be happy
So happy
And every where he goes, the story
is still the same
Now he got a lover, and feels good
She makes him happy
O' girl I'll sick for you
She said "what's your fantasy
I'll be what you want me to be"
Black or white, day or night
you make everything alright
So Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
I need your sweet sunshine
In Richie Kotzen's song "Angie," the lyrics describe a relationship between two people who are looking for happiness in their lives. The first verse talks about a girl who wants to be happy and a place where everyone knows her name. The singer says that she has a love for him and that makes him happy. He tells her that he "trips" on her and she asks about his fantasy, saying that she will be whatever he wants her to be. The chorus tells Angie not to be afraid to call on the singer because he needs her "sunshine" and "sweet sunshine."
The second verse describes a man who also wants to be happy and has found a lover who makes him happy. He "sicks" for her and she asks about his fantasy, saying that she will be whatever he wants her to be. The chorus repeats the message of not being afraid to call on the singer for help.
Overall, the song is about finding happiness through a relationship with someone who supports and loves you. The lyrics also suggest a willingness to fulfill each other's desires and fantasies, creating a strong connection between the two people.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a girl I know,
who wants to be happy
The song talks about a girl who desires happiness.
and there's a place I go
where every one knows her name
The songwriter sings about a place where everyone knows the girl in question.
Now she got a love for me, and that's why I go
She makes me happy
The singer receives love from the girl mentioned earlier, and it makes him happy.
O' girl I trip on you
The songwriter reveals his deep feelings of attraction towards the girl.
She said "what's your fantasy
I'll be what you want me to be"
The girl offers to fulfill the artist's desires and urges him to share them with her.
Black or white, day or night
you make everything alright
The songwriter sings that no matter what the circumstance or time of day, the girl makes everything right for him.
So Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
The singer urges Angie to reach out to him whenever she needs him, and that he needs her bright spirit.
Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sweet sunshine
The artist emphasizes his need for Angie's happiness and affection.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD DALE KOTZEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bogdan Buhoi
There's a girl I know,
who wants to be happy
and there's a place I go
where every one knows her name
Now she got a love for me, and that's why I go
She makes me happy
O' girl I trip on you
She said "what's your fantasy
I'll be what you want me to be"
Black or white, day or night
you make everything alright
So Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sweet sunshine
There's a man I know, who wants to be happy
So happy
And every where he goes, the story
is still the same
Now he got a lover, and feels good
She makes him happy
O' girl I'll sick for you
She said "what's your fantasy
I'll be what you want me to be"
Black or white, day or night
you make everything alright
So Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
I need your sweet sunshine
Melissa Evans
I just can't seem to get enough of Richie's voice, along with his guitar, and all the other instruments he rules. He is a genius, writing songs that people feel and relate to. I hope he never stops producing songs. My absolute favorite artist in the world... You ARE all that Mr. Kotzen.
hUGIS ROCK Guitar
Lisa Evans hes true talent, musician! But first of all -hes genuine, which music lacks! No pretending to be a rockstar, humble guy that is pinnacle of what he does! And does it so tasty
ecastag
Totally! The amount of colors that he makes with his voice, in addition to the nuances that he achieves, makes him unique. I did not hear that from anyone else. Well, if we even mention the musicality of his songs, his versatility and that almost all the instruments, except occasionally, are recorded by him, it makes it an out of league, incomprehensible. I've listened to him for 15 years and I can't get enough. With other artists, I listened to them and I knew all their discographies and after a few years, I passed on to others and they were forgotten or inside my mind, but Richie completely took over me.
Sorry my english, but i think that Richie is very underrated.
Rashika Tasnim
richie is everything. this is called music. so underrated but he creates pure art <3
Bogdan Buhoi
There's a girl I know,
who wants to be happy
and there's a place I go
where every one knows her name
Now she got a love for me, and that's why I go
She makes me happy
O' girl I trip on you
She said "what's your fantasy
I'll be what you want me to be"
Black or white, day or night
you make everything alright
So Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sweet sunshine
There's a man I know, who wants to be happy
So happy
And every where he goes, the story
is still the same
Now he got a lover, and feels good
She makes him happy
O' girl I'll sick for you
She said "what's your fantasy
I'll be what you want me to be"
Black or white, day or night
you make everything alright
So Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
Angie, don't be afraid to call on me
I need your sunshine
I need your sweet sunshine
Rafael Luiz
Melhor voz
Clayton139
Richie Kotzen can do anything musically !!
NightFlower
Richie's voice gives me life, omg. HANDS DOWN!
sanda wushu
Hay muchos grupos en el Mundo con buena música, pero creo que Richie a superado a todos!!! es un gran Músico, excelente guitarrista y muy talentoso, no llego a escuchar a otro como el es grande!!!!
eagfreek65 Mills
In April I fell in love with a wonderful, beautiful woman named Angie... And being a fan of Richie's for so long, now I know why I love this song so much, it is about she and I, and she does have love for me, and she makes me so very happy❤️💕