Richie Ramone

Reinhardt was born into a middle-class family in Passaic, New Jersey, on August 11, 1956. Reinhardt is the third child of homemaker Mary Ann (née Kublaek) and landscaper Leonard Reinhardt. His mother was originally from Wisconsin and was of Slavic descent. His father was the son of Dutch immigrants from Den Bommel, a village in South Holland. Reinhardt grew up Catholic and described his family as "hardcore" Republicans. Reinhardt's first experience with music was singing hymns in the church choir. Though, Reinhardt's first experience playing drums would not occur until he was eight, due to his parents wanting each of their children to play a musical instrument. Reinhardt would occasionally play drums in his brothers band The Exceptions. Reinhardt would not join his first band until 1972, where he had played in Tapestry. Reinhardt would later leave the band in 1974 and start playing in Windfall, which was an eight-piece horn band. Reinhardt would use the pseudonym Richie Rainbow during this time. He would later change it to Beau following the formation of Ritchie Blackmore's band, Rainbow. In 1976, Reinhardt would leave Windfall. During this time, Reinhardt would answer a classified ad in the Aquarian for the funk band Madison. Reinhardt would subsequently leave New Jersey and take up a residency in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The band would additionally play tours in Canada.