“I searched far and wide for my forever piano and finally found it: the Shigeru SK-3. The moment I played the first couple of notes, I realized this musical wonder would instantly transport my compositional and technical skills to a level, higher than I ever imagined. This unparalleled instrument is far more than an inanimate object; in fact, I see it living and hear it breathe, whether my fingers are on the keys or not. My forever piano has definitively found its forever home.”
RICHARD ATKINS
Richard started playing the piano formally at age 4, taking to it naturally. Years later, he studied with renowned concert pianist, Thomas Schumacher. From savings banks to department stores, cabarets to high end hotels, Richard has played every venue imaginable and now, at the pinnacle of his career, is preparing for his Carnegie Hall debut. His music is a subtle combination of Debussy, Mancini and Legrand with a touch of John Williams for cinematic resonance.
Richard Atkins
SOLO PIANO ARTIST/COMPOSER
Richard started playing the piano at the tender age of 4, having been discovered by his parents dropping Coca-Cola bottle caps onto the floor, creating interesting melodies. Thinking Richard had natural talent (which he obvious did), his parents began his formal lessons. Years went by and Richard continued honing his skills, majoring in piano performance at the University of Maryland where he was taught by Thomas Schumacher, an internationally renowned concert pianist.
In addition to studying performance piano, Richard also minored in theatre and acting. It was there he was introduced to Broadway show music as well as the genius of George Gershwin, Scott Joplin and other non-classical composers he gravitated towards and started experimenting with his own, compositional skills. His composing led to lyric writing as well as playwriting to where he was writing full length plays and musicals.
After college, he was hired as musical director at Busch Gardens in Virginia. That led to a stint as Guy Lombardo’s pianist for a year and performing at the Waldorf Astoria for the CBS New Year’s Eve broadcast. After Lombardo, Richard’s permanent home was New York City where, over the years he played every imaginable venue a piano could be played; banks, department stores, restaurants and cabarets to eventually, longstanding union gigs at the Ambassador Lounge at the U.N. Plaza hotel to the Hotel Intercontinental New York. Some of his many private clients included the New York Yankees, Edgar Bronfman Sr. at Seagrams beverage company, the NBC Broadcaster’s Foundation and even played Howard Stern’s daughters’ Bas Mitzvah party back in the day.
After the attacks on 9/11, many music jobs in Manhattan seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye as tourism to New York City halted drastically. Consequently, Richard, his wife Cheryl and young daughter Rebecca moved to a quieter, more peaceful environment in New Mexico. It was there in the Land of Enchantment, Richard found his current piano voice and compositional style. He states, “My music exhibits the grace of Debussy, the melodic reverence of Mancini and the strong, cinematic flair of John Williams.” In other words, you can become visually lost in one of Atkins’ melodies.
Richard’s current release, Pianistically Speaking is a spellbinding collection of fifteen original compositions that seamlessly blend elements of New Age, classical crossover, and light jazz to create a serene and immersive aura. Critics hail it as a transformative auditory adventure, calling it a “start-to-finish journey of gorgeous melodies and sensitive playing, highlighted by superb phrasing as well as a soothing blend of melody, harmony and divine technique that stirs the imagination and touches the soul.” The album is universally praised for its emotional depth, said to transport listeners through intimate, reflective, and vivid soundscapes, prompting feelings of peace, serenity, and rejuvenation. Overall, Pianistically Speaking is considered a rare achievement and a work of “magically brilliant” artistry that offers a deeply calming and inspiring listening experience.
Today, Richard’s music can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Whisperings radio and YouTube to name but a few. In the meantime, Richard is busy with house concerts, a concert at Keller Hall at the University of New Mexico and preparing for his Carnegie Hall debut in the coming year. Look for his next album, “Autumnal” soon to be released.
“Richard started playing the piano formally at age 4, taking to it naturally. Years later, he studied with renowned concert pianist, Thomas Schumacher. His music is a subtle combination of Debussy, Mancini and Legrand with a touch of John Williams for cinematic resonance. ”
Richard Atkins
Shigeru Kawai