Richard Newell grew up in Canada listening to the blues. He learned to play the harmonica as a teenager and joined the Barons in 1961, releasing a single called "Bottleneck." In 1966,
Newell left the band (then renamed Son Richard & the Chessmen) to join the Midknights, but then began playing with
Ronnie Hawkins, who nicknamed him
King Biscuit Boy. After playing with
Hawkins for two years, he joined
Crowbar and released
Official Music (as
King Biscuit Boy & Crowbar) in 1970. He recorded solo material sporadically throughout the '70s and '80s (including 1982's Mouth of Steel and Richard Newell A.K.A. King Biscuit Boy in 1988). Poor health due to alcoholism stunted his career throughout the '90s and on January 5, 2003
Newell succumbed to the disease at his home in Hamilton, Ontario. ~ John Bush