
Biography
Richard found a passion for playing the piano at an early age. After winning The Most Promising Musician award in his school, he went on to study a degree in Popular Music and Recording at Salford Music College. Whilst at University Richard was the pianist with the Salford University Big Band for 3 years and performed in concerts with Bobby Shew, Tommy Smith and Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison. It was here that despite his classical training he developed a keen interest in the Hammond organ and discovered his true passion was for Jazz piano. Returning to his home county of Cornwall he began playing full-time with five residencies a week, free lancing and teaching Jazz, Rock and Classical piano in the local colleges.
Richards career has been varied and challenging. He has gained a wealth of experience playing the piano and scoring arrangements in a wide range of styles for many different performers, from soloists and small ensembles to choirs and Big Bands.
Over the years he has supported Larry Carlton, Courtney Pine, Denys Baptiste, Jan Ackerman, Katrina and the Waves and The Snake Davis Band. He's played with The American Four Tops and numerous visiting international Jazz artists such as Alan Barnes, Mark Nightingale, Jim Mullen, Tim Whitehead, Andy Macintosh, Olaf Vas, Sheila Collier, Paul Eshelby, Andy Wood, Martin Shaw, Gordon Campbell, Pete King and Bill Watrous. Richard has played at the Geneva Jazz Festival, St James Palace ( attended by HRH Prince Charles, former Prime Minister John Major and other famous dignitaries ), Edinburgh Festival, Leeds Jazz Festival, Royal Northern College of Music, Daphne Du-Maurier Festival, St. Ives Festival, Band On The Wall and private events for Sir Tim Rice and record producer Andy Morris. Richard has played for comedy duo Cannon & Ball and was also a judge for BBC Radio Cornwalls Singing Sensation!
Alongside Jazz, Richard has a great love for Gospel music. He's accompanied Nicky Brown and Scott Stroman in Gospel clinics at the Hall for Cornwall and Karen Gibson for a workshop. He has been featured on BBC Radio 4 to talk about Gospel Music and is currently the co-Musical Director of the Falmouth Community Gospel Choir who have performed at the Hall For Cornwall, BBC Children In Need, Truro Cathedral, Tunes In The Dunes festival, Falmouth Oyster Festival and various local events. He has also been the musical director for other choirs who have supported the London Community Gospel Choir and performed at the Truro Cathedral with guest speaker J John to a sell out audience of 1000 people.
Richard has been part of many local bands including the The Grace Notes, Big Wonder, The Al Hodge Band, the award winning Rachel and Common Ground, BBC Radio Cornwalls David White Band and has been the pianist for the house trio/quartet of numerous jazz residencies.
Richard has considerable studio experience, recording in Cornwall and London with both Pop and Jazz artists and recording the piano track for a small film. He's equally at home in the studio as on the stage and is often found as much behind the mixing desk as behind the keys. As an engineer Richard has worked with top UK classical vocal group The Queens Six ( based at Windsor Castle ) and UK award winning gospel vocalist Ley Adewole along with various local artistes.
Richard is a beta tester for a number of the industries leading pro audio software companies. Richard also has extensive experience as a live sound engineer and has provided sound the international singer/multi instrumentalists Awna Teixeira ( Po Girl ) and Bart De Win ( The Simple Life, Fairport Convention ) aswell as numerious local bands and artistes.
Richard now continues to write, arrange and record music from his home town of Porthleven (a small fishing village in Cornwall) for choirs and ensembles and has a busy schedule performing regularly throughout the southwest of the UK. He also enjoys teaching piano from his home and the local college.
