Groovin' Gary(1958-2009)
- Soundtrack
Richard LeVon Griffiths, a.k.a. Groovin' Gary and the Beaver Kid, was
born on October 29, 1958 in Cedar City, Utah. His parents were Louis
LaVon and Wanda Jane Yardley Griffiths. Richard had three sisters:
Vicki, Nancy and Laurie. He attended Minersville Elementary School
through the 8th grade. Griffiths was active in track, shop and student
government at Beaver High School. Richard graduated from Beaver High
School in 1977. Griffiths achieved local celebrity status for his
incredible impression of Olivia Newton-John singing "Please Don't Keep
Me Waiting" at an amateur talent show. He was also well known for his
equally wicked impressions of Stevie Nicks and Barry Manilow. Richard
was the subject of the segment "The Beaver Kid" in the movie "The
Beaver Trilogy" by director Trent Harris. Moreover, both Sean Penn and
Crispin Clover played characters based on Griffiths in short movies
directed by Harris. Richard worked for Union Pacific Railroad and
Commercial Business Radio in Delta, Utah. He owned his own electronics
business in Beaver, Utah. For the last fourteen years of his life
Griffiths worked as a truck driver for Circle 4 Farms. He married Mary
Jo Sant on October 10, 1992 in Beaver, Utah. Richard died at age 50 at
the Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 2,
2009. Although he's sadly no longer with us, Richard LeVon Griffiths
will continue to keep on groovin' on in the hearts and memories of
everyone who knew and loved him.