RANDY C. HIEN
1949-2006
Randall C. Hien,
was born in Woonsocket in 1949 and was the son of Jeannine (Bacchiocchi) Hien
and the late Charles A. Hien. He was also the great nephew of
B.A.Dario
who owned
Lincoln Downs Race Track, RKO Albee Theatre,
and the Loew's State Theatre (now
the Providence Performing Arts Center) to name just a few. Randy who lived
most of his life in Lincoln, RI was a devoted family man, club owner ,
Little League Coach and restaurant
proprietor.
1971-1975 - Loew's State / Palace Concert Theatre
Randy started working in the music
business in 1971 for his great uncle who had recently purchased the decaying
Loew’s Theater in downtown Providence. They changed the name to the Palace
Theatre as a venue for rock n roll concerts. Randy managed concessions, band
relationships and venue operations until 1975 when B.A. Dario decided it was not
financially feasible to keep the doors open any longer.
By this point Randy was certain he
wanted to continue promoting music but needed a venue to do it in. He
approached a man named Arnold Hahn who had a small failing club at the corner of
Westminister and Empire St. called The Living Room
just blocks away from the Palace. Randy had no real money but offered Mr. Hahn
his Jaguar XKE for the keys to the club and the liquor license. Mr. Hahn gladly
took the offer to rid himself of this major headache.
1975-1981 - The Living Room (#1) -
380 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903
Finally on his own, Randy's idea was to give local bands a place to call home
and to have fun. He made friends with another bar owner across the street
named Rich Lupo who was also just starting out. Both men had an idea to open a bar
for people to come and hang out and listen to music but it was still not defined
where it was going.
By 1978 Randy and The Living Room with the help of his friend Carl Sugarman was gaining a great reputation as the venue to play.
Better bands applied and by 1980 the local music scene was in full force in
downtown Providence. Then the bad news came in 1981. The owner of
the building as it turned out was his great uncle B.A.Dario who told Randy that his lease would not be renewed and the building was
going to be torn down for a Federal building. It looked like an end to
Randy's dream and the local music scene but instead he decided to find another
location to continue what he started.
1981-1990 - The Living Room (#2 Bubble complex) -
273 Promenade Street,
Providence, RI 02908
Randy set up shop for his Living Room #2 in a warehouse area on Promenade St.
It got the nickname the "Bubble complex" because of this bubble window that
extended out as you walked in. This was a great period for the club
scene with many great local and some national bands coming to play his
establishment. Even Randy's mother got involved by cooking dinner for the many
starving musicians. It was a great time until.....it happened again!
The owner did not renew his lease and Randy and his Living Room #2 came to an end.
1990-1995 - Change of life and other passions
The next five years were spent looking for the right venue that
Randy could buy so he wouldn't have to worry about being at the mercy of some
landlord. Also during this period he spent time with his
family and
became very active and dedicated to the sport of baseball. He coached Cumberland
Farm League for two years, Cumberland Babe Ruth for five years and Lincoln
Little League for twenty-eight years. He also coached the Lincoln Parks and
Recreation basketball league for two years.
1995-2006 - The Living Room (#3) -
23 Rathbone Street, Providence, RI 02908
Finally after searching for the right club he bought
23 Rathbone St. in Providence
and The Living Room #3 was in business. This new incarnation continued in
the same feeling as the other two Living Rooms and local and national bands
would make their stop here to play and to see Randy. In February 2004 Randy was
accidently hit by a motorist which left him confined to a wheelchair.
Randy still continued on coaching baseball but found it harder to manage a club
on a day to day basis. His dear friend Charlie took over the club
management with Randy on the phone every day making sure the bands were taken
care of.
2006 - Sadness strikes everyone's heart
On September 25, 2006 we got the word that our beloved Randy was
accidentally killed by a motorist near his home.
Besides his beloved wife Patti A. (Brown) Hien, Randy leaves his mother Jeannine
(Bacchiocchi) Hien, his two daughters, Elizabeth A. and Catherine M. Hien at
home, three sons, Charles L. Hien and his wife Stacy M. of Lincoln, Randall C.
Hien, Jr. at home, and Jason Gagnon of Lincoln, two step-sons, John E. and Kevin
S. Greene both at home, one sister Paula Gautieri and her husband John of
Cranston, two brothers, Brian A. Hien and his wife Vicky of Narragansett, and
Scott W. Hien and his wife Nancy of Barrington, one grandchild Haley S. Hien,
and niece Lauren A. Giusti of Florida.
- above information written by Paul Fernandes
with help from Patti A. Hien. and
Tom
Bousquet WHJY - Thank you Patti! & Tom
Some of the links in honor of
Randy
Back in the early ’80s there was a critic who
seemed to have a visceral dislike for the Schemers in general and me
in particular. I guess you could say he and I had a feud going. One
night at one of the thousands of benefits that the Living Room
hosted, the writer was there and so was I (I was at the Living Room
six out of seven nights anyway). We saw each other and tried really
hard to stay out of each other’s way. Randy took us both aside and
said something like, “Mark, this is Al. Al, this is Mark. I like
both of you guys and I think you should hug each other.” Randy
forced us to hug each other. What could we do? We all laughed and
hugged. Feud dissolved because of Randy Hien. Since then we’ve been
good friends. Randy had a Buddhist thing about him. He had a peace
that most of us only see glimpses of.
_Mark CutlerBACK
IN 1975 OR SO, RANDY AND I were sitting at the bar of the
Living Room. Lupo’s was open for a week and the Living Room was
already open, but not too long, and we looked at each other, and
said, “What the hell are we getting into?” There was the idea that,
even as competitors, we could always talk to each other work
everything out. I realized immediately what a kind soul he was. He
was guided by a different kind of spiritual power than other
businessmen. We were out-and-out competitors for 15 years and of
course we had our tiffs, but we always knew that it was never
personal. Some of the bands sensed that he was very soulful and they
were really drawn to him. Over the years, there were five times that
I said to him, “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” And he
always responded, “It’s in your blood, don’t fight it.” He didn’t
have to say that. He was my competitor. If I stepped aside he would
have made a lot of money. But it wasn’t about the money. He didn’t
want that for himself, the scene or for Providence.
_Rich Lupo
YOU WILL HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN
from so many people that he meant so much to so many and gave all
the bands in Rhode Island their first gig. There aren’t many people
who will be remembered the way that Randy will and that shows the
type of person he was. From helping upcoming bands to coaching
Little League baseball, Randy just cared to help out. Randy meant a
lot to us. I wish I had the chance to see him at least one time
after I came home [from Iraq]. My last image of him is walking on
the Little League baseball field (with his cane) with a big-ass
smile on his face . . . That’s a great memory. The Living Room has
seen kids turn into men, garage bands turn into national acts, and
generations full of great times, all thanks to Randy Hien. As long
as the Living Room is standing, Randy is still alive.
_M1 of Mastamindz
Read more:
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/news/23807-remembering-randy-hien/?page=2#TOPCONTENT#ixzz0njwYdNB7
Back in the early ’80s there was a critic who
seemed to have a visceral dislike for the Schemers in general and me
in particular. I guess you could say he and I had a feud going. One
night at one of the thousands of benefits that the Living Room
hosted, the writer was there and so was I (I was at the Living Room
six out of seven nights anyway). We saw each other and tried really
hard to stay out of each other’s way. Randy took us both aside and
said something like, “Mark, this is Al. Al, this is Mark. I like
both of you guys and I think you should hug each other.” Randy
forced us to hug each other. What could we do? We all laughed and
hugged. Feud dissolved because of Randy Hien. Since then we’ve been
good friends. Randy had a Buddhist thing about him. He had a peace
that most of us only see glimpses of.
_Mark CutlerBACK
IN 1975 OR SO, RANDY AND I were sitting at the bar of the
Living Room. Lupo’s was open for a week and the Living Room was
already open, but not too long, and we looked at each other, and
said, “What the hell are we getting into?” There was the idea that,
even as competitors, we could always talk to each other work
everything out. I realized immediately what a kind soul he was. He
was guided by a different kind of spiritual power than other
businessmen. We were out-and-out competitors for 15 years and of
course we had our tiffs, but we always knew that it was never
personal. Some of the bands sensed that he was very soulful and they
were really drawn to him. Over the years, there were five times that
I said to him, “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” And he
always responded, “It’s in your blood, don’t fight it.” He didn’t
have to say that. He was my competitor. If I stepped aside he would
have made a lot of money. But it wasn’t about the money. He didn’t
want that for himself, the scene or for Providence.
_Rich Lupo
YOU WILL HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN
from so many people that he meant so much to so many and gave all
the bands in Rhode Island their first gig. There aren’t many people
who will be remembered the way that Randy will and that shows the
type of person he was. From helping upcoming bands to coaching
Little League baseball, Randy just cared to help out. Randy meant a
lot to us. I wish I had the chance to see him at least one time
after I came home [from Iraq]. My last image of him is walking on
the Little League baseball field (with his cane) with a big-ass
smile on his face . . . That’s a great memory. The Living Room has
seen kids turn into men, garage bands turn into national acts, and
generations full of great times, all thanks to Randy Hien. As long
as the Living Room is standing, Randy is still alive.
_M1 of Mastamindz
Read more:
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/news/23807-remembering-randy-hien/?page=2#TOPCONTENT#ixzz0njwYdNB7
Back in the early ’80s there was a critic who
seemed to have a visceral dislike for the Schemers in general and me
in particular. I guess you could say he and I had a feud going. One
night at one of the thousands of benefits that the Living Room
hosted, the writer was there and so was I (I was at the Living Room
six out of seven nights anyway). We saw each other and tried really
hard to stay out of each other’s way. Randy took us both aside and
said something like, “Mark, this is Al. Al, this is Mark. I like
both of you guys and I think you should hug each other.” Randy
forced us to hug each other. What could we do? We all laughed and
hugged. Feud dissolved because of Randy Hien. Since then we’ve been
good friends. Randy had a Buddhist thing about him. He had a peace
that most of us only see glimpses of.
_Mark CutlerBACK
IN 1975 OR SO, RANDY AND I were sitting at the bar of the
Living Room. Lupo’s was open for a week and the Living Room was
already open, but not too long, and we looked at each other, and
said, “What the hell are we getting into?” There was the idea that,
even as competitors, we could always talk to each other work
everything out. I realized immediately what a kind soul he was. He
was guided by a different kind of spiritual power than other
businessmen. We were out-and-out competitors for 15 years and of
course we had our tiffs, but we always knew that it was never
personal. Some of the bands sensed that he was very soulful and they
were really drawn to him. Over the years, there were five times that
I said to him, “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” And he
always responded, “It’s in your blood, don’t fight it.” He didn’t
have to say that. He was my competitor. If I stepped aside he would
have made a lot of money. But it wasn’t about the money. He didn’t
want that for himself, the scene or for Providence.
_Rich Lupo
YOU WILL HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN
from so many people that he meant so much to so many and gave all
the bands in Rhode Island their first gig. There aren’t many people
who will be remembered the way that Randy will and that shows the
type of person he was. From helping upcoming bands to coaching
Little League baseball, Randy just cared to help out. Randy meant a
lot to us. I wish I had the chance to see him at least one time
after I came home [from Iraq]. My last image of him is walking on
the Little League baseball field (with his cane) with a big-ass
smile on his face . . . That’s a great memory. The Living Room has
seen kids turn into men, garage bands turn into national acts, and
generations full of great times, all thanks to Randy Hien. As long
as the Living Room is standing, Randy is still alive.
_M1 of Mastamindz
Read more:
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/news/23807-remembering-randy-hien/?page=2#TOPCONTENT#ixzz0njwYdNB7
Back in the early ’80s there was a critic who
seemed to have a visceral dislike for the Schemers in general and me
in particular. I guess you could say he and I had a feud going. One
night at one of the thousands of benefits that the Living Room
hosted, the writer was there and so was I (I was at the Living Room
six out of seven nights anyway). We saw each other and tried really
hard to stay out of each other’s way. Randy took us both aside and
said something like, “Mark, this is Al. Al, this is Mark. I like
both of you guys and I think you should hug each other.” Randy
forced us to hug each other. What could we do? We all laughed and
hugged. Feud dissolved because of Randy Hien. Since then we’ve been
good friends. Randy had a Buddhist thing about him. He had a peace
that most of us only see glimpses of.
_Mark CutlerBACK
IN 1975 OR SO, RANDY AND I were sitting at the bar of the
Living Room. Lupo’s was open for a week and the Living Room was
already open, but not too long, and we looked at each other, and
said, “What the hell are we getting into?” There was the idea that,
even as competitors, we could always talk to each other work
everything out. I realized immediately what a kind soul he was. He
was guided by a different kind of spiritual power than other
businessmen. We were out-and-out competitors for 15 years and of
course we had our tiffs, but we always knew that it was never
personal. Some of the bands sensed that he was very soulful and they
were really drawn to him. Over the years, there were five times that
I said to him, “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” And he
always responded, “It’s in your blood, don’t fight it.” He didn’t
have to say that. He was my competitor. If I stepped aside he would
have made a lot of money. But it wasn’t about the money. He didn’t
want that for himself, the scene or for Providence.
_Rich Lupo
YOU WILL HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN
from so many people that he meant so much to so many and gave all
the bands in Rhode Island their first gig. There aren’t many people
who will be remembered the way that Randy will and that shows the
type of person he was. From helping upcoming bands to coaching
Little League baseball, Randy just cared to help out. Randy meant a
lot to us. I wish I had the chance to see him at least one time
after I came home [from Iraq]. My last image of him is walking on
the Little League baseball field (with his cane) with a big-ass
smile on his face . . . That’s a great memory. The Living Room has
seen kids turn into men, garage bands turn into national acts, and
generations full of great times, all thanks to Randy Hien. As long
as the Living Room is standing, Randy is still alive.
_M1 of Mastamindz
Read more:
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/news/23807-remembering-randy-hien/?page=2#TOPCONTENT#ixzz0njwYdNB7
I REMEMBER GOING TO THE FOUNDRY
Living Room before I even started to play guitar. All I know is time
flies and now I look back on well over 50 shows that I played under his
roof. I could list a million memories and experiences that I had with
Randy. I will always remember his sense of humor, love for baseball (the
Sox, of course), his Little League, and how excited he was to be
married. We used to bust each other about that and his new kids. I used
to look forward to him, during the winter shows, throwing snowballs at
me on stage. He always tried to help bands out. He couldn’t pay us much
but he gave us the chance to put together some of the best shows I can
remember in that cool, dark club. I know we’ll all be talking about him
for years to come when we see each other around town. This is a big deal
for practically every local musician who ever came through Providence.
Randy is more than a local legend. Now, it’s a big empty feeling, but we
can all fill the void by sharing stories and helping his family out
through great benefits that will only bring us closer and allow us to
continue the very thing that brought us to him in the first place. Rock!
_Satyr of Slugworth
Read more:
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/news/23807-remembering-randy-hien/?page=4#TOPCONTENT#ixzz0njxAp7VX
|
The
7th Annual Randy Hien Tournament information is now available for 2013.
Click
here to
view the rosters and game schedule.
Click
here
to
view some wonderful pictures of Randy, taken in the summer of 2006 by
Dave Pickering.
Click
here
to view Randy Hien's Obituary.
Summary of Fundraising Efforts to
Benefit the Hien Family:
--Contributions to the Randy Hien Memorial Fund can be made at
any Citizens Bank branch.
--Contributions in the memory to Randy Hien can be made
at any branch of The Bank of America
c/o Randall C. Hien, Jr.
--Coastway Credit Union's Lincoln
branch is collecting donations to support the Hien Family. To make a
contribution, please visit the branch at 210 Front Street.
Article on the life and death of Randy Hien:
From
9/29/06
Click
here
to view the excellent Providence Phoenix article (many comments from the
musician community)
The above information was borrowed with kindness from the Little League
Network
http://www.eteamz.com/lincolnlittleleague/news/index.cfm?cat=271993
|
Article
on the Randy Hien Field:
From 7/20/12
Click
here to read an article called "It's
your time to shine" from the Pawtucket Times
