My Family in 2019. (Left to Right: Marilyn, Meg, Amy, and Richard
Music is not what I do but who I am.
I was born in 1956 and have spent my entire life to date in Christchurch. Although I happen to be totally blind I’ve never let this stand in my way. I lead a full life as a professional musician.
I began learning the piano at age 8. Music was my constant source of joy in our home and even as a very small child it was always available by dint of the radio, our record collection and my mother’s dexterity at the piano. At 14 my parents bought my first electronic organ. I continued with piano lessons till age 17 but the organ was rapidly taking over as my preferred instrument. My professional career began at 17 when directly on leaving school I was employed in the Guardsman Restaurant at which I worked for several months. The greatest highlight of that period was employment in the public restaurant at the Q.E.2 Park during the 1974 Commonwealth Games. I’ve worked in several notable restaurants and hotel dining areas both as organ soloist and band keyboardist/vocalist. My most recent seat of employment as both organist and pianist was the Octagon Restaurant, a venue firstly badly affected then permanently closed by the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
I’ve also been fortunate to travel extensively within and beyond New Zealand. I’ve performed in concert on electronic and theatre pipe organs, have been a product demonstrator for various brands of organs, portable keyboards and digital pianos over the years and have visited and played in several revered Australian organ venues. The highlight of my career to date was an appearance by invitation at the 34th annual Convention of the American Theatre Organ Society in 1989 in which I played a full length concert at the organ of Detroit’s Redford Theatre. Not far behind that in memorability is a fortnight long stint in cabaret at Nadi’s Hotel Tanoa in 1976, the result of first placing in the previous year’s inaugural series of Television Two’s “Opportunity Knocks”.
From the mid 1980’s to the present I have frequently entertained in various areas of the seniors industry, most recently and prolifically in many local retirement homes.
Between 1972 and 2012 inclusive I recorded 11 solo organ albums and 2 digital piano CDs. In 1991 I gained a Licentiate Diploma in Popular Organ with the Australian Guild of Music, thus justifying my position as a teacher of organ, portable keyboard and piano. As well as being an Honorary Member of several electronic organ societies around the country, I became a Life Member and latterly a Co-Patron of the former Christchurch Electronic Organ Society as well as being made Co-Patron of the Manawatu Organ and Keyboard Club. From 2007-2022 I was deeply and happily involved in the Drury Theatre Organ Charitable Trust. This was small but very keen team stages regular variety concerts with a large and comprehensive digital theatre organ as the centrepiece, proceeds going to designated charitable bodies within Canterbury.
In 1997 my efforts as a small time composer were recognised by a Royal N.Z. blind Foundation/N. Z. Post Blind Achiever’s Award.
I am privileged to have been awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List, for services to music in New Zealand.
In spare time I listen to nostalgic music from my growing years around the mid 50’s to the early 80’s, read Braille and Talking Books, wax creative at my talking computer and enjoy walking for pleasure’s sake whenever possible. Since 1989 I’ve been a member of the Lions’ Club of Riccarton/Waimari, holding Presidential status in the 1996-97 Lions’ Year. After this club closed in June 2021. I am now a member of the Lions' Club of Wigram.
I’ve been happily and thankfully married to Marilyn for 35 years to date and we raised two thoroughly delightful daughters: Amy currently aged 29 and Megan, who sadly taken from us at age 19 in October 2019 after a two year battle against cancer. My chief mobility aid is my fourth Guide Dog, a black labrador named Grace.
I began learning the piano at age 8. Music was my constant source of joy in our home and even as a very small child it was always available by dint of the radio, our record collection and my mother’s dexterity at the piano. At 14 my parents bought my first electronic organ. I continued with piano lessons till age 17 but the organ was rapidly taking over as my preferred instrument. My professional career began at 17 when directly on leaving school I was employed in the Guardsman Restaurant at which I worked for several months. The greatest highlight of that period was employment in the public restaurant at the Q.E.2 Park during the 1974 Commonwealth Games. I’ve worked in several notable restaurants and hotel dining areas both as organ soloist and band keyboardist/vocalist. My most recent seat of employment as both organist and pianist was the Octagon Restaurant, a venue firstly badly affected then permanently closed by the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
I’ve also been fortunate to travel extensively within and beyond New Zealand. I’ve performed in concert on electronic and theatre pipe organs, have been a product demonstrator for various brands of organs, portable keyboards and digital pianos over the years and have visited and played in several revered Australian organ venues. The highlight of my career to date was an appearance by invitation at the 34th annual Convention of the American Theatre Organ Society in 1989 in which I played a full length concert at the organ of Detroit’s Redford Theatre. Not far behind that in memorability is a fortnight long stint in cabaret at Nadi’s Hotel Tanoa in 1976, the result of first placing in the previous year’s inaugural series of Television Two’s “Opportunity Knocks”.
From the mid 1980’s to the present I have frequently entertained in various areas of the seniors industry, most recently and prolifically in many local retirement homes.
Between 1972 and 2012 inclusive I recorded 11 solo organ albums and 2 digital piano CDs. In 1991 I gained a Licentiate Diploma in Popular Organ with the Australian Guild of Music, thus justifying my position as a teacher of organ, portable keyboard and piano. As well as being an Honorary Member of several electronic organ societies around the country, I became a Life Member and latterly a Co-Patron of the former Christchurch Electronic Organ Society as well as being made Co-Patron of the Manawatu Organ and Keyboard Club. From 2007-2022 I was deeply and happily involved in the Drury Theatre Organ Charitable Trust. This was small but very keen team stages regular variety concerts with a large and comprehensive digital theatre organ as the centrepiece, proceeds going to designated charitable bodies within Canterbury.
In 1997 my efforts as a small time composer were recognised by a Royal N.Z. blind Foundation/N. Z. Post Blind Achiever’s Award.
I am privileged to have been awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List, for services to music in New Zealand.
In spare time I listen to nostalgic music from my growing years around the mid 50’s to the early 80’s, read Braille and Talking Books, wax creative at my talking computer and enjoy walking for pleasure’s sake whenever possible. Since 1989 I’ve been a member of the Lions’ Club of Riccarton/Waimari, holding Presidential status in the 1996-97 Lions’ Year. After this club closed in June 2021. I am now a member of the Lions' Club of Wigram.
I’ve been happily and thankfully married to Marilyn for 35 years to date and we raised two thoroughly delightful daughters: Amy currently aged 29 and Megan, who sadly taken from us at age 19 in October 2019 after a two year battle against cancer. My chief mobility aid is my fourth Guide Dog, a black labrador named Grace.