Eric Richards biography

good and bad (weather)

ERIC RICHARDS : a short biography ....

I was born in Alnwick ,a small market town in Northumberland, England, about thirty miles both from the Scottish border to the north and the city of Newcastle upon Tyne to the south. After leaving school I spent one year at the City of Leeds College of Music and then went onto Durham University where I studied Music (along with Biblical Studies and Indian Civilization - a General B.A.) and finally did a diploma course in Jazz and Light music at the Newcastle College of Arts and Technology . Shortly after ending my studies I moved to London where I found that the experience that I had gathered in the clubs and pubs of the north-east was enough to get my career well and truly started in the capital. Within a short time I was working in recording studios, theaters, dance bands and pubs, doing TV and radio recordings and free-lancing on the London jazz scene. From 1980 to1991 I played many international jazz festivals, radio and TV shows, as well as touring extensively in Europe, but also in Botswana, Swaziland and Mozambique, with Dudu Pukwana's Zila (South Africa / Great Britain - Afro jazz). In 1984 I played a British tour with Gloria Gaynor .

Since 1990 I have been living in Dortmund, Germany and have played various musicals e.g. Oklahoma! (original Broadway version), Starlight Express (Bochum) and Jesus Christ Superstar (New York production). I have also backed numerous German artists e.g. : Ute Lemper and Max Greger. During the winter season 1992 - 1993 I was a member of the Tony Evans Orchestra at Le Cabaret au Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

I have also written an educational book - The Music Factory ( Faber Music, London 1993) and taught at colleges and workshops (e.g. Goldsmith's College, University of London (1980 -1985) Brighton Rock (1988 -1991)). One of my many ex-students being Yolanda Charles ( Robbie Williams band).

Live backing :

Cilla Black, Roberto Blanco, Drafi Deutscher, Irwin Doomes, Jürgen Drews, Katja Ebstein, Euro Cats, Pamela Falcon, Gloria Gaynor, Max Greger, Vicky Leandros, Daliah Lavi, Ute Lemper, Tony Marshall, Matt Monroe, Dudley Moore, Wencke Myhre, Joan Orleans, Chris Roberts, Andy Rühl, Irene Sheer, Tommy Steele, Sylvia Vrethammar, Wall Street Crash, amongst lots of others.

(Gala) Vita :

"Ball des Sports", Rhein-Main-Halle, Wiesbaden (5 times)
"Rundfunk-Bälle", Bayr. Rundfunk, München (5 times)
"Galanacht des Sports", Linz, Austria
"Landespresseball 97", Osnabrück (with Max Greger)

Video :

42.863 KB Blues - live bass solo 23.05.05 in Subrosa

Some of the bands I currently play with :

Blechwerk (Big Band)

Eric Richards : The Piano Man (cocktail Piano - background music)

Inez Timmer (Nichts haut mich um - Cole Porter)

Jan Bierther Trio (jazz)

Jazz Season (latin-swing-jazz)

rocksiechor! (female rock choir)

the hot rockets international (hot guitar rock covers)

The Swing Brothers (swing standards)

Tore Down House (blues, rock, jazz)