Joe Richards, the Singing Flowerman
(1928-2011)

Joe Richards, who entertained shoppers at the Century City Mall in Los Angeles for many years performing songs from his retail flower cart.

Born as Joseph Smith Pfohl in 1928, Joe grew up in the Buffalo, New York, area. In his early adulthood, Joe followed his dreams of being an entertainer and moved to Los Angeles.

Joe Richards appeared in the television series Switch in 1977 (season 2, episode 18, “The Four Horseman,” aired 13 February 1977) as the Singing Flowerman, and had an uncredited role as one of the captive scientists in The Wild, Wild West (1999).

In 1984, Joe Richards and Lester Wilson completed a musical play entitled The Singing Flowerman, based on Richards’ experiences. The music was compsed by Wilson, with lyrics by Joe Richards and Les Wilson, and book by Richards.

Joe and his sister, Mary Jane Pfohl, lived for decades in Los Angeles but they returned to their hometown of Buffalo, New York, around 2003.

In their later years, Joe and Mary Jane endured declining health. Joe Richards died on 12 March 2011 at 10:30 PM in Buffalo, New York.

Circa 1980, Joe Richards recorded and released an LP record album comprised of his renditions of well-known show tunes and readings of three of his childrens’ stories. Produced by Joseph Richards and entitled The Singing Flowerman, the album contained the following tracks:

1. Evergreen (from A Star is Born) (3:25)
2. Tomorrow (from Annie) (1:56)
3. What I Did For Love (from A Chorus Line) (3:20)
4. The Singing Flowerman and the Rose Who Wouldn’t Shave Her Legs (4:04)
5. The Singing Flowerman and the Honeybee (6:02)
6. The Singing Flowerman and the $135 Rose (2:53)
Sing Along with The Flowerman’s Sound
7. Evergreen [intrumental] (3:25)
8. Tomorrow [intrumental] (1:56)
9. What I Did For Love [intrumental] (3:20)

Printed on the album cover, Joe wrote this message to his fans:

“AN OPEN LETTER TO MY FRIENDS:

“From the time I was one year old and lisped out the words to ‘Tiptoe Through the Tulips,’ I have loved to sing. As a child, often alone, I spent many happy days on the Island running through the fields and woods, my boyish soprano trying to compete with the birds. I often imagined what it would be like to sing with an orchestra of violins, cellos, horns and drums welling behind me. As the years passed, my voice creaked and cracked its way to manhood, but somehow I never felt quite fulfilled. Something was missing . . . someone to listen. Then one day I became The Singing Flowerman with thousands of people passing my way, pausing just long enough to enjoy the music and flowers. I never dreamed I could be so happy! And now at last, with this album, I have my violins and drums.

“As for the children’s books I have written, three of which stories appear on this album, they began to develop in my mind as the Flowerman’s experiences grew from truth and fantasy alike. However, they seemed unable to find their way to paper until I returned to the home of my youth on my beloved Island. Finding myself alone one frosty winter day, I sat in the dining room and remembered . . . hot summer mornings fishing . . . swimming in the fast flowing river . . . playing Tarzan in the woods . . . eating wild strawberries from the fields . . . and I was compelled to write. In twenty minutes I had completed ‘The Singing Flowerman and the Rose Who Wouldn’t Shave Her Legs.’ Immediately afterward, my mind flashed back to the moment when I was seven years old and I had made the first money of my life . . . selling flowers by the roadside. A complete circle from happiness to happiness.

“All of which brings me to you, my friends and the source of much of that happiness, sharing with me your smiles and appreciation of my music and flowers, and most importantly, touching my life, however briefly, with your caring and your love.

“I hope you like my souvenir.

THE FLOWERMAN”