Riccardo and the 4 Most made one single, the great ballad “There’s a Reason” backed with a good version of “Barefootin'”, released in 1967 on Foremost Records.

The band is listed on the label: Riccardo Wright (guitar), Ralph Marotta (bass), George Leary (drums), and Douglas Jacobs (organ). Bill White wrote and sung lead on “There’s a Reason”.

“Bare Footin'” features Ricardo Wright on lead vocals. Someone is playing trumpet on both songs, uncredited.

Later members included Joe Lattanzio (trumpet) and Tommy Watson (bass). In 1969, with an expanded horn section including Ron Rucker on trombone and Gene Hilstro on sax, the group became a nonet called the Blues Busters.

If any of the members of the band are out there, I’d like to hear from them.

The single was recorded at Kennett Sound Studio in Kinderhook. I found an acetate lacquer of both sides among a stack of Kennett demos. The Foremost Records release code U4KM-0937 indicates a 1967 RCA pressing.

It’s a little difficult to search for the band, as listings for the group in newspapers include variations such as Riccardo & the Fourmost, Ricardo and the 4 Most, Ricardo and the Foremosts, etc. The sign behind the band on stage in two photos reads “The Fabulous 4 Most”.

The earliest ad I can find for the group is from the Troy Record on February 11, 1967, noting that Ricardo and the 4 Most would be playing the Excelsior House on Snyders Lake in North Greenbush “every Friday, Saturday and Sunday”. Another ad on August 19, 1967 noted the group would play the Excelsior “every Thurs. thru Sun.

The Times Record of Troy mentioned the group playing Shaker High School in Latham twice, once on January 15, 1968, then again on May 29, 1968 in a benefit for a Shaker school in Vadawal, India. The group also played the University Twist Palace in Albany.

Another ad lists Ricardo and the Foremosts at Corkey’s on 18 Clifton St. in Waterford, April 5-7, 1968.

A clipping from January 25, 1969 (I don’t know the paper) describes their transformation into Ricardo and his Blues Busters:

Riccardo and The Fourmosts, as you younger people know, has enlarged from four to nine. The new nonet is called the Blues Busters and features rhythm & blues and soul music, much of it original words and music by Riccardo, the leader, and some arrangements by Al Friedman.

The Blues Busters are a living example of interracial harmony, personally and musically. They play to an enthusiastic gathering at The Royal Mousetrap from 9:30 to 3 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Mousetrap is on New Karner Road (Route 155) just off Central Avenue [in Colonie].

The Troy Record noted a Youth On Unity (Y.O.U.) benefit dance on May 29 at St. Joseph’s Church Hall in Rensselaer with the Blues Busters (“formerly known as ‘Riccardo and the foremost’ from Albany” with the Souls from Pittsfield and the Multi-colored Projections. The Youth On Unity group chairman was Ronald Rucker, trombone player in the Blues Busters.

Bill Rezey wrote in his Celebrity Spotlite page in the June 2-16 issue of Where the Action Is, Capital District :

… the Albany area has been supporting a nine piece soul band for over a year and by today’s standards, that’s a big band and a long time.

RICCARDO AND THE BLUES BUSTERS, evolved from a well-known group called the 4 Mosts, when Riccardo discovered that many of the musical things he wanted to do just couldn’t be done with four men. He added piece by piece until he found the perfect combination: nine musicians plus a lovely and talented vocalist, Linda Wilson.

Featured players include:
George Leary, drums
Ralph Maurotta, bass
Al Valente, guitar
Ron Rucker, trombone
Joe Latancio [sic], trumpet
Fred Antico, organ
Gene Samaca, tenor and alto saxophone

… a major portion of the group’s book of tunes is in the soul idiom, however, their catalogue of material includes much of the Young Rascals, 5th Dimension and Glen Campbell. When Linda and Riccardo get together on “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the audience immediately becomes aware of the group’s ability to expand beyond the pure soul movement.

Look for the refreshing sounds of RICCARDO AND THE BLUES BUSTERS when they return from their extended [intended] engagement at the Tropical Inn, Kingston.

The two photos and some of the info came from the Albany Group Archive. Thank you to Al Quaglieri and Joe Lattanzio for their help with this article. Thank you to Chas for sending in the Where the Action Is issue photos.