Ed Richard, a retired music teacher and Sun City resident, began his musical career at the age of four.
Richard said, “I started playing the accordion. In the fourth grade, I started playing the organ, and in fifth grade, I joined the band. In high school, I was the lead percussionist. I played all percussions. I sang in the choir. I have perfect pitch.”
What is perfect pitch?
This refers to a person’s ability to identify any musical note by name after hearing it, without reference to other notes.
Where did Richard go after high school?
“I attended NIU from 1966 to 1970 for my Bachelors in Music Education and received my Masters in 1971,” he said.
Did he start teaching right away?
Richard said, “No, I started playing in the Rockford Symphony in 1971 as the Principal Percussionist. I traveled with the big guys like Carlos Montoya, a classical guitarist. Once I was in the orchestra room and needed help setting up Kettle Drums, that were placed on the high risers. I asked Montoya if he could help me move the drums, not knowing who he was. He responded with shock at my request, ‘My Hands, My Hands.’”
Eventually, Richard changed his career path.
“I didn’t enjoy the traveling and started my career in teaching in Amboy, Illinois. It is one of the largest geographic districts in the state. I had to drive between schools and it was a large area to cover. All that driving wasn’t for me,” he said.
Richard secured a job teaching in Union/Marengo where he remained to teach middle school students for the next 34 years.
What are his biggest moments?
Richard said, “I taught independently and side by side with my first wife, Nancy Richard, in five elementary schools. Nancy taught vocal music in the Marengo schools. She passed away on Labor Day, 2010. I worked with the high school band teacher, Richard Locust, feeding his band with my accomplished students. I enjoyed joining the band as a chaperone on many of their trips. The band was invited to play at a Chicago Bears Game.”
At the annual music competition, Richard’s high school band in Marengo won first place trophies every year in the 1980s and 1990s. Memories of the band include performing themes from “Rocky” and “Jurassic Park” still remain.
Richard has some fond memories of these times as well.
“One of my favorite memories was playing music on Liberace’s famous crystallized Baldwin grand piano at the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas,” he said. “My wife and I were visiting the museum and it was so quiet. There was no music. Liberace’s life was music and there was no music playing in his museum. I found one of the docents and asked why aren’t you playing any of Liberace’s music or someone playing his piano? I asked her could I possibly play the piano. She responded no one has played that piano before. She asked me to wait a minute and she disappeared. She came back with paperwork to sign – a waiver – to protect the piano. I signed it. I just wanted to play. They had no music, but I could play his pieces from memory. I started playing and people started gathering around, the room got crowded, they stayed the whole time I played.”
Since opening its doors in 1979, visitors paid a $3 fee to enter the museum, which contains six custom-made automobiles, dozens of jeweled furs and costumes, scores of miniature candelabras and pianos, and thousands of full-face photographs. Proceeds from the museum provided music scholarships to several colleges until the museum closed in 2010.
Richard has been no stranger to impromptu performances.
“I was on a Princess cruise ship and they were short on entertainment so they had a talent contest for passengers,” he said. “They had a screening process where you auditioned and eliminations were made until they came down to three passengers.
There was a singer, a comedian and myself playing the piano. The venue for our performances was held in the multi-deck piazza-style atrium, where there was a grand piano. The decks overlooking the atrium were filled with passengers. We had a time limit to showcase our talent. I went third. I played my piece and the atrium exploded with applause. I got up to leave, but I was asked if I could continue playing. It was a great feeling.”
Richard is retired, but he’s still playing.
“I played at the Church of United Methodist Church in Marengo on the same organ for 40 years. I now play at the Shepherd of the Prairie, whenever asked. Sometimes I get asked at the last minute, which makes me nervous, but I do it. I enjoy substituting when I can.”
Richard and his second wife, Pam, take the opportunity to attend concerts and symphonies near home and wherever they travel. They especially enjoy the pizza and entertainment at the Organ Stop in Arizona.
