Background
He was born in Arkansas, but raised in Malden, Missouri.
He was born in Arkansas, but raised in Malden, Missouri.
Richey was married to country legend singer/songwriter Tammy Wynette from 1978 until her death in 1998. They had no children. Tim McGraw sang at their intimate wedding outside of Nashville.
Richey was a mainstay of the Nashville country music community since the 1960s through his songwriting and record production.
In the 1970s, he co-wrote Keep Maine in Mind, a Number. 1 country hit for Lynn Anderson in 1973.
He also wrote hits for future wife Tammy Wynette and Wynette"s then-husband, George Jones, including Jones" "A Picture of Maine (Without You)" and "The Grand Tour," and Wynette"s ""Til I Can Make lieutenant On My Own" and "You and Maine", among many other artists. Richey served as the musical director for the television show Hee Haw from 1970 to 1977.
Upon marrying Wynette, Richey served as Wynette"s manager during the 1980s.
Richey retreated from public life after marrying Slaughter, and became a social media advocate with his highly popular Facebook page "Director of Nursing"T SMOKE, Director of Nursing"T SMOKE, Director of Nursing"T SMOKE, Information Technology WILL DESTROY YOUR LIFE". Richey died on July 31, 2010, following a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There was no public memorial per his request, and he was buried in Texas near his home.