Richard is a Los Angeles composer, arranger, and performer. He began as a classical pianist, then studied composition and jazz at the California Institute of the Arts and film composition at UCLA.
He started professionally writing jingles for radio and as music director of American Celebration Restaurant, then traveled as music director for Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Back on land he played with the Louis Bellson Big Band, the Buddy Rich Big Band, and Bobby Vinton.
He spent ten years at Disneyland with the Disneyland Big Band and the Golden Horseshoe Jamboree, and he helped create and perform in the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show. He was music director for the Disney Legend Bill Justice 90th Birthday Gala and for ABC’s pilot of The Mike and Maty Show.
As an arranger he has orchestrated music for John Williams, the Boston Pops, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kodak Theatre, Disneyland, and cruise lines. His originals have been heard on television, radio, and film. Theater scores include Poe, The Water Hole, Frankenstein, Snow Maiden, Nightingale & The Rose, and the children’s piece Opossum Tails.
Recordings include Music Magic, royalty-free music for magicians, and That 80’s Music, original player-piano arrangements. Most recently he conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios for a project of Sherman Brothers music.
He has conducted more than a hundred musicals, including several West Coast premieres, and was resident music director for the San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre and the Shakespeare League of Pasadena. He composes for Pumpkin Pictures. His music is heard at the Magic Castle, and he composed for Milt Larsen’s It’s Magic.
He conducted the Los Angeles Police Department Concert Band — the city’s band for more than a century — at graduations and civic ceremonies.
Richard lives in Simi Valley with his wife, Elvira, an ICU nurse. He has two children. Katelyn is studying to be a veterinarian. Max is a percussionist, following his father.