| I first heard Richard Souther's music looking through the music library of KFUO Radio in St. Louis when I worked there in 1988. In the last couple of years, I've been privileged and honored to count Richard as my friend. Click on the cd you'd like to purchase. Check out Richard's homepage by clicking here. |
ABOUT RICHARD SOUTHER...
Grammy nominated artist Richard Souther is a composer, producer, arranger, sound
designer and multi-keyboardist who has built a strong reputation as a top
contemporary solo instrumentalist for over twenty years. He has created numerous
best-selling albums in the New Age, Smooth Jazz and the Classical/Crossover markets
as well as acclaimed recordings for the CCM music scene.
Richard was a child prodigy who began studying classical piano at three with then
retired Professor Thomas Giles (Dean Of The Music Department/University Of Utah)
until he was twelve. He went on to study with the legendary Russian piano teacher
Max Willerson and concert pianist Reid Nibley. "During that time, I realized I didn't
really enjoy playing other people's music exactly as written and wanted to explore the
world of jazz improvisation... and Surf Music!"
While attending middle school during the Sixties in Los Angeles, Souther began
playing keyboards in LA Rock bands on the Sunset Strip and developed a love for a
wide variety of different types of music. By the early Seventies he was becoming an
in-demand session musician who played with numerous artists like Geronimo Black,
Feather, Barry McGuire, Richie Furay, Pat and Debbie Boone, and Denice Williams.
Souther also began developing his talents as a touring performer playing
multi-keyboards with the now legendary vocal group, 2nd Chapter of Acts and
renowned guitarist Phil Keaggy.
In 1981, a near fatal bout with botulism abruptly sidetracked Richard's musical career.
During the four years it took him to recover, to the point where he could resume a
somewhat normal life again, he acquired and mastered a new technology for that time
period, using electronic music synthesizers and early computers linked together to
create an electronic orchestral palette to compose with. Playing into the computer one
note at a time and in spite of the chronic pain, Souther began creating his original and
unique blend of instrumental music.
During the mid Eighties a new instrumental label, Meadowlark Records, signed him for
his first solo albums, the electronic HEIRBORNE and INNERMISSION. The label also
wanted to release his solo, acoustic piano recordings. To reduce confusion about
dissimilar projects in the marketplace, the albums...SONGS UNSPOKEN and SECOND
STORY, were issued under his middle names- Douglas Trowbridge. Souther left the
Meadowlark label and signed with MCA's Narada Label, releasing two mainstream New
Age and World Music projects for them. CROSS CURRENTS, a light jazz ensemble
project, featuring the talents of Alex Acuna, Abraham Laboriel, Chester Thompson
and Kirk Whalum, released in 1989. Following up Richard co-produced TWELVE
TRIBES, an exploration of African and Brazilian music, with renowned sound designer
Eric Persing in 1990. Both albums received considerable airplay on the New Adult
Contemporary (NAC) radio stations in the U.S. and continue to world-wide. Richard
returned to the CCM market when he produced VISION OF THE VALLEY for Don
Francisco and won a Dove Award for producing the Twila Paris "SANCTUARY" album.
In 1994 Richard received world wide recognition for is groundbreaking album "VISION:
The Music Of Hildegard von Bingen", which won the Billboard Classical/Crossover
album of the year award. He then followed it up with ILLUMINATION: The Music Of
Hildegard von Bingen "The Fire Of The Spirit" for Sony Classical.
In 2000 Richard began exploring the world of Electronica Music with the release of "A
BLIP ON THE SCREEN" followed up by "RADIO FLYER" written using the pseudonym
"UNDER THE RADAR".
His music has been used in numerous films, TV and commercials around the world by
companies like Mercedes Benz, CBS Winter Olympics, PBS (Sesame Street) A&E, CNN,
NBC Dateline: Secrets behind 'The Da Vinci Code', Renault, Fuji Film, Delta Airlines,
Ford Motor Company, VH-1, MTV, The Bose Corporation, The Jim Henson Company
and most recently in the 2004 HBO Golden Globe winning film "Iron Jawed Angels". He
has recently finished the score to a new independent film documentary: "VISUAL
FUTURIST: THE ART AND LIFE OF SYD MEAD" chronicling the life of the famed
artist/designer. Also just released is his first solo piano album since 1998 entitled
"MEMORIES OF TWILIGHT".
For more information on Richard be sure to visit his website: www.richardsouther.com
Grammy nominated artist Richard Souther is a composer, producer, arranger, sound
designer and multi-keyboardist who has built a strong reputation as a top
contemporary solo instrumentalist for over twenty years. He has created numerous
best-selling albums in the New Age, Smooth Jazz and the Classical/Crossover markets
as well as acclaimed recordings for the CCM music scene.
Richard was a child prodigy who began studying classical piano at three with then
retired Professor Thomas Giles (Dean Of The Music Department/University Of Utah)
until he was twelve. He went on to study with the legendary Russian piano teacher
Max Willerson and concert pianist Reid Nibley. "During that time, I realized I didn't
really enjoy playing other people's music exactly as written and wanted to explore the
world of jazz improvisation... and Surf Music!"
While attending middle school during the Sixties in Los Angeles, Souther began
playing keyboards in LA Rock bands on the Sunset Strip and developed a love for a
wide variety of different types of music. By the early Seventies he was becoming an
in-demand session musician who played with numerous artists like Geronimo Black,
Feather, Barry McGuire, Richie Furay, Pat and Debbie Boone, and Denice Williams.
Souther also began developing his talents as a touring performer playing
multi-keyboards with the now legendary vocal group, 2nd Chapter of Acts and
renowned guitarist Phil Keaggy.
In 1981, a near fatal bout with botulism abruptly sidetracked Richard's musical career.
During the four years it took him to recover, to the point where he could resume a
somewhat normal life again, he acquired and mastered a new technology for that time
period, using electronic music synthesizers and early computers linked together to
create an electronic orchestral palette to compose with. Playing into the computer one
note at a time and in spite of the chronic pain, Souther began creating his original and
unique blend of instrumental music.
During the mid Eighties a new instrumental label, Meadowlark Records, signed him for
his first solo albums, the electronic HEIRBORNE and INNERMISSION. The label also
wanted to release his solo, acoustic piano recordings. To reduce confusion about
dissimilar projects in the marketplace, the albums...SONGS UNSPOKEN and SECOND
STORY, were issued under his middle names- Douglas Trowbridge. Souther left the
Meadowlark label and signed with MCA's Narada Label, releasing two mainstream New
Age and World Music projects for them. CROSS CURRENTS, a light jazz ensemble
project, featuring the talents of Alex Acuna, Abraham Laboriel, Chester Thompson
and Kirk Whalum, released in 1989. Following up Richard co-produced TWELVE
TRIBES, an exploration of African and Brazilian music, with renowned sound designer
Eric Persing in 1990. Both albums received considerable airplay on the New Adult
Contemporary (NAC) radio stations in the U.S. and continue to world-wide. Richard
returned to the CCM market when he produced VISION OF THE VALLEY for Don
Francisco and won a Dove Award for producing the Twila Paris "SANCTUARY" album.
In 1994 Richard received world wide recognition for is groundbreaking album "VISION:
The Music Of Hildegard von Bingen", which won the Billboard Classical/Crossover
album of the year award. He then followed it up with ILLUMINATION: The Music Of
Hildegard von Bingen "The Fire Of The Spirit" for Sony Classical.
In 2000 Richard began exploring the world of Electronica Music with the release of "A
BLIP ON THE SCREEN" followed up by "RADIO FLYER" written using the pseudonym
"UNDER THE RADAR".
His music has been used in numerous films, TV and commercials around the world by
companies like Mercedes Benz, CBS Winter Olympics, PBS (Sesame Street) A&E, CNN,
NBC Dateline: Secrets behind 'The Da Vinci Code', Renault, Fuji Film, Delta Airlines,
Ford Motor Company, VH-1, MTV, The Bose Corporation, The Jim Henson Company
and most recently in the 2004 HBO Golden Globe winning film "Iron Jawed Angels". He
has recently finished the score to a new independent film documentary: "VISUAL
FUTURIST: THE ART AND LIFE OF SYD MEAD" chronicling the life of the famed
artist/designer. Also just released is his first solo piano album since 1998 entitled
"MEMORIES OF TWILIGHT".
For more information on Richard be sure to visit his website: www.richardsouther.com
The Music of Richard Souther
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