Bill Richards (musician)
Encyclopedia
Bill Richards was a Canadian violin
ist, composer
, arranger
, and editor
. His compositional output includes several film score
s, a Flute Quartet (1964), and a number of fiddle
tunes. He recored two of his own fiddle compositions for Spiral Records in 1957 and another of his fiddle compositions was featured in the movie The Pyx
. He also was active as a musician and concertmaster on a number of studio recordings from the 1950s through the 1990s, and can be heard on recordings by artists like Moe Koffman
, Catherine McKinnon
, Anne Murray
, and Gordon Lightfoot
among others. In 1962 he and a quartet featuring the organist Lou Snider recorded two LP album
s for the Canadian Talent Library Trust.
in his native city with Jack Cavill (violin) and Herbert Sanders
(piano). He started his performance career at the age of eight working as a violin soloist on radio programs in Ottawa and Hull. He continued with violin studies in Ottawa with David Shuttleworth and then in Toronto with Broadus Farmer in 1939. In 1942 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy
; notably serving as a featured soloist and orchestra member for the musical revue Meet the Navy
from 1943-1945. After World War II he pursued further violin studies in Toronto with Elie Spivak in 1946 and Albert Pratz
in the mid-1950s. He married his first wife, actress Billie Mae Richards
(née Dinsmore), in the mid 1940s and their daughter Judi Richards
, a successful pop singer and songwriter, was born in 1949.
From the 1950s through the 1990s, Richards spent most of his career working in Toronto recording studios as a contractor and/or concertmaster for radio and television programs and various orchestras. For the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
he worked for a number of radio programs, serving as host and arranger for Guest Time (1954-1959), conductor and arranger for Trans-Canada Talent Show (1958-1959), and music director for Swing Easy (1959). He also composed scores for several CBC productions, including Sleeping Beauty (1957), I Knock on the Door (1968), and So Great a Sweetness (1969). In 1958 he was elected executive of the Toronto Musicians' Association (TMA) and served on the board of the organization for 25 years. He was the TMA's assistant secretary in 1960 and editor of the union's publication Crescendo from 1965-1977.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, and editor
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
. His compositional output includes several film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s, a Flute Quartet (1964), and a number of fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
tunes. He recored two of his own fiddle compositions for Spiral Records in 1957 and another of his fiddle compositions was featured in the movie The Pyx
The Pyx
The Pyx is a 1973 Canadian supernatural thriller film starring Karen Black and Christopher Plummer...
. He also was active as a musician and concertmaster on a number of studio recordings from the 1950s through the 1990s, and can be heard on recordings by artists like Moe Koffman
Moe Koffman
Moe Koffman, OC was a Canadian jazz musician and composer. He played the flute, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone and clarinet...
, Catherine McKinnon
Catherine McKinnon
Catherine McKinnon is a Canadian actress and folk/pop singer.McKinnon began as a child performer, making her first radio appearance at age eight and her television debut at age 12. She subsequently studied music at Mount St...
, Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
, and Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...
among others. In 1962 he and a quartet featuring the organist Lou Snider recorded two LP album
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s for the Canadian Talent Library Trust.
Life and career
Born William Francis Caven Richards in Ottawa, Richards began his musical training as a child at the Canadian Conservatory of MusicCanadian Conservatory of Music
The Canadian Conservatory of Music was a music conservatory in Ottawa, Canada that was actively providing higher education in music during the first half of the 20th century. Founded by Harry Puddicombe in 1902, the school was located on Bay Street...
in his native city with Jack Cavill (violin) and Herbert Sanders
Herbert Sanders
Herbert Sanders was a Canadian organist, pianist, conductor, composer, writer on music, and music educator of English birth. His compositional outpust includes numerous sacred songs, anthems, and works for organ. He won the American Guild of Organists's Clemson Gold Medal for composition twice...
(piano). He started his performance career at the age of eight working as a violin soloist on radio programs in Ottawa and Hull. He continued with violin studies in Ottawa with David Shuttleworth and then in Toronto with Broadus Farmer in 1939. In 1942 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
; notably serving as a featured soloist and orchestra member for the musical revue Meet the Navy
Meet the Navy
Meet the Navy was a musical revue produced by the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. Directed by Hollywood producer Louis Silver and Broadway choreographer Larry Ceballos, the production premiered in a private performance for servicemen on 2 September 1943 at Toronto's Victoria Theatre. The...
from 1943-1945. After World War II he pursued further violin studies in Toronto with Elie Spivak in 1946 and Albert Pratz
Albert Pratz
Albert Pratz was a Canadian violinist, conductor, composer, and music educator. He was awarded the Canadian Centennial Medal in 1967. His compositional output was modest and consists of only instrumental works...
in the mid-1950s. He married his first wife, actress Billie Mae Richards
Billie Mae Richards
Billie Mae Richards was a Canadian voice actress, who also appeared onstage and on television.-Career:...
(née Dinsmore), in the mid 1940s and their daughter Judi Richards
Judi Richards
Judi Richards is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter.Born in Toronto, Richards is the daughter of musician Bill Richards and actress Billie Mae Richards . She has sung numerous jingles for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Montreal and has performed in concert and on record with a variety...
, a successful pop singer and songwriter, was born in 1949.
From the 1950s through the 1990s, Richards spent most of his career working in Toronto recording studios as a contractor and/or concertmaster for radio and television programs and various orchestras. For the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
he worked for a number of radio programs, serving as host and arranger for Guest Time (1954-1959), conductor and arranger for Trans-Canada Talent Show (1958-1959), and music director for Swing Easy (1959). He also composed scores for several CBC productions, including Sleeping Beauty (1957), I Knock on the Door (1968), and So Great a Sweetness (1969). In 1958 he was elected executive of the Toronto Musicians' Association (TMA) and served on the board of the organization for 25 years. He was the TMA's assistant secretary in 1960 and editor of the union's publication Crescendo from 1965-1977.