JAM Magazine: April/May 1998 Issue: Scrapple From The Apple

by Russ Dantzler

Charles "Red" Richards, Gentleman Jazz Pianist, Leaves Legacy of Charm and Sophistication at the Age of 85
On Thursday, March 12, "Red" Richards -- who last appeared in Kansas City at the 1996 Blues & Jazz Festival -- drove from his Bronx home to play another piano gig, one of several engagements per week on average. He was also about to travel to Europe again the following Sunday, which he did at least a couple of times a year. Although he spent his entire life in New York, including a childhood in Harlem during its glory days, he was better known in Paris, Tokyo, Germany, Ann Arbor, Columbus and Toronto than in New York.

He arrived early that Thursday night to have a relaxed meal at Spiga Ristorante in Scarsdale. He played his first set to an enthusiastic audience with singer Judimarie Canterino and guitarist Joe Cohn. A live audience always was treated to more than just his sublime piano work; Red was six foot three inches of smile and personality. He sang in a way that people often compared to Louis Armstrong.

At the end of the first set, he had a spirited conversation with the guitarist. Joe Cohn, son of the great saxophonist Al Cohn, has studied and plays a variety of instruments. He has always been fascinated with pianist Art Tatum, and had always wanted to speak with someone who had known him personally. Now, the second time he'd worked with Red, he discovered that this man witnessed Art Tatum's first Harlem visit, with "Fats" Waller and other pianists there to find out if this legend was everything the rumors had indicated.

Joe and Red enjoyed these recollections so much that they were reluctant to begin the second set. When they did, the two of them opened with a couple of tunes. Red began with "Tea for Two," adding impossible complications and harmonizations the way Tatum did. He was beaming a smile at Joe that said, "Now here is what Art sounded like." Everyone there said they had never seen Red looking or sounding better.

The singer joined them, and her second tune was the whimsical "The Frim Fram Sauce." During that song, shortly after 10:00 p.m., Red slumped over, gasping for breath. EMS workers tried in vain to revive him, but he was dead on arrival at White Plains Hospital.

He is survived by his wonderful wife of 55 years, Dorothy "Dot" Richards, formerly Dorothy Berry, brother Deighton Richards, 83, four nieces and a nephew. A viewing and funeral were held at Granby's Funeral Services in the Bronx, March 17 and 18. A memorial will be scheduled this spring at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan.

Charles "Red" Richards was born on October 19, 1912 in Brooklyn and later moved to Harlem where he studied classical piano with an Oxford-educated teacher. He once told me that he looked forward to his lessons with Professor Weeks. His mother raised him without knowledge of swing or "hot music."

One night, an older friend took a sixteen-year-old Red to a house-rent party where Willie "The Lion" Smith, James P. Johnson, Donald "The Lamb" Lambert, and "Fats" Waller all performed. That evening changed Red's life. He went on to integrate influences of Teddy Wilson, Herman Chitteson, Bud Powell and Art Tatum into a sophisticated, swinging stride style of his own, with a delicate touch on ballads.

Red performed in the New York area at Monroe's Uptown House, the Savoy Ballroom, all three locations of Eddie Condon's and the Crawdaddy. He also worked in California, Ohio, Toronto and Boston. In the 1960s, he co-led "The Saints and Sinners" with trombonist Vic Dickenson. Red performed with Roy Eldridge, Bobby Hackett, Sidney Bechet, Buck Clayton, and toured with Frank Sinatra. In 1987 he was in the reunion of the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra in which he played and recorded with Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, and Rex Stewart. Red was a featured soloist with Panama Francis' Savoy Sultans for many years.

Richards stayed busy with a rich solo career in New York and with travel to Canada and Europe. His repertoire included standards, his own compositions, and classics by Ellington, Waller and Thelonious Monk. He recorded frequently and his recordings repeatedly won awards in France. Echoes of Spring, his next Sackville album due by this summer, was recorded in Europe with Claude "Fiddler" Williams, Norris Turney, Joe Ascione and Dave Green.

The jazz world will miss the charm and talent of Red Richards. He spoke of the jazz business from time to time, sometimes wondering why people could be so difficult to work with. He'd often repeat the words that he lived by: "It don't cost no more to be nice."

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Russ Dantzler Charles "Red" Richards, Gentleman Jazz Pianist, Leaves Legacy of Charm and Sophistication at the Age of 85 On Thursday, March 12, "Red" Richards -- who last appeared in Kansas City at the 1996 Blues & Jazz Festival -- drove from his Bronx home to play another piano gig, one of several engagements per week on average. He was also about to travel to Europe again the following Sunday, which he did at least a couple of times a year. Although he spent his entire life in New York, including a childhood in Harlem during its glory days, he was better known in Paris, Tokyo, Germany, Ann Arbor, Columbus and Toronto than in New York. He arrived early that Thursday night to have a relaxed meal at Spiga Ristorante in Scarsdale. He played his first set to an enthusiastic audience with singer Judimarie Canterino and guitarist Joe Cohn. A live audience always was treated to more than just his sublime piano work; Red was six foot three inches of smile and personality. He sang in a way that people often compared to Louis Armstrong. At the end of the first set, he had a spirited conversation with the guitarist. Joe Cohn, son of the great saxophonist Al Cohn, has studied and plays a variety of instruments. He has always been fascinated with pianist Art Tatum, and had always wanted to speak with someone who had known him personally. Now, the second time he'd worked with Red, he discovered that this man witnessed Art Tatum's first Harlem visit, with "Fats" Waller and other pianists there to find out if this legend was everything the rumors had indicated. Joe and Red enjoyed these recollections so much that they were reluctant to begin the second set. When they did, the two of them opened with a couple of tunes. Red began with "Tea for Two," adding impossible complications and harmonizations the way Tatum did. He was beaming a smile at Joe that said, "Now here is what Art sounded like." Everyone there said they had never seen Red looking or sounding better. The singer joined them, and her second tune was the whimsical "The Frim Fram Sauce." During that song, shortly after 10:00 p.m., Red slumped over, gasping for breath. EMS workers tried in vain to revive him, but he was dead on arrival at White Plains Hospital. He is survived by his wonderful wife of 55 years, Dorothy "Dot" Richards, formerly Dorothy Berry, brother Deighton Richards, 83, four nieces and a nephew. A viewing and funeral were held at Granby's Funeral Services in the Bronx, March 17 and 18. A memorial will be scheduled this spring at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan. Charles "Red" Richards was born on October 19, 1912 in Brooklyn and later moved to Harlem where he studied classical piano with an Oxford-educated teacher. He once told me that he looked forward to his lessons with Professor Weeks. His mother raised him without knowledge of swing or "hot music." One night, an older friend took a sixteen-year-old Red to a house-rent party where Willie "The Lion" Smith, James P. Johnson, Donald "The Lamb" Lambert, and "Fats" Waller all performed. That evening changed Red's life. He went on to integrate influences of Teddy Wilson, Herman Chitteson, Bud Powell and Art Tatum into a sophisticated, swinging stride style of his own, with a delicate touch on ballads. Red performed in the New York area at Monroe's Uptown House, the Savoy Ballroom, all three locations of Eddie Condon's and the Crawdaddy. He also worked in California, Ohio, Toronto and Boston. In the 1960s, he co-led "The Saints and Sinners" with trombonist Vic Dickenson. Red performed with Roy Eldridge, Bobby Hackett, Sidney Bechet, Buck Clayton, and toured with Frank Sinatra. In 1987 he was in the reunion of the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra in which he played and recorded with Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, and Rex Stewart. Red was a featured soloist with Panama Francis' Savoy Sultans for many years. Richards stayed busy with a rich solo career in New York and with travel to Canada and Europe. His repertoire included standards, his own compositions, and classics by Ellington, Waller and Thelonious Monk. He recorded frequently and his recordings repeatedly won awards in France. Echoes of Spring, his next Sackville album due by this summer, was recorded in Europe with Claude "Fiddler" Williams, Norris Turney, Joe Ascione and Dave Green. The jazz world will miss the charm and talent of Red Richards. He spoke of the jazz business from time to time, sometimes wondering why people could be so difficult to work with. He'd often repeat the words that he lived by: "It don't cost no more to be nice." RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.