Thaddeus Richard

About

From discogs.com:

American multi-instrumentalist (horns, bass, guitar, piano) from New Orleans, Louisiana. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1974, where he met Paul McCartney and played with him for five years. In the early 1980s he returned to New Orleans.In addition, Richard has played with Al Green, Joe Tex, Z.Z. Hill, and Candi Staton, among others.

From Club Sandwich, No 17, 1980:

Thaddeus Richard, who plays soprano saxophone, flute and clarinet, was born in New Orleans in 1950. A self-taught musician, he dropped out of college after a year and a half to play music.

In 1970 he played sax and bass for a group called the Hip-Huggers, and in ’71 went out on the road with Johnny Taylor. He also played with Al Green and Tony Dorsey, before moving to Dallas where he played with a group called Reality.

Thaddeus worked with Paul Kelly in the Sound Shop Studio in Nashville, cutting an album with him called “Hooked, Hogtied and Collar’d”. He also formed a group with Tony Dorsey called Magic, which included Tony’s wife Mary. Thaddeus met Paul McCartney at Nashville, and has been a member of the horn section since then.

After leaving Wings he concentrated on studio work in 1977, while trying his hand at producing, both for himself and some local people such as Gary Clement.

He moved to working on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, playing traditional Dixieland and also working with Clarence “Frogman” Henry. By mid-’78 Thad was working with George Porter in a group called “Joy Ride”, subsequently recording an album which will be released in the New Year.

In 1979 he formed his own group, “Quiet Fire”, and worked in a jazz-funk format, although he still is doing spot gigs with various groups: A.Z.A. (sax); Nite Life (sax, piano); Nite Line (bass). Thaddeus has also been active in recording circles as well.

Last updated on February 9, 2020