Richard Hughes got started at the age of seven in classical music with a piano teacher in Newton, Massachusetts. While this approach provided a good foundation in music, interest in Boogie Woogie, Ragtime and Pop music soon began to emerge as he started to make up his own melody lines for the left-hand rhythm patterns. A few years later, Rich discovered Zez Confrey Novelty Piano Pieces, Fats Waller Stride Piano, Andre Previn type ballads, Vince Guaraldi’s (Peanuts Cartoons) West Coast jazz style, Errol Garner and Peter Nero. Later on, Richard studied with Paul Smith in Los Angeles, who accompanied silent movies as part of his regular concert performances.

Over the years, Richard compiled many silent movie scores taken from music that was played during the 1920’s. He researched the Worcester Public library for appropriate classical and popular music that was typically used by arrangers and pianists during that time. This historical music enhanced the movie scenes by making it ‘come alive’ in the third dimension. It also needed to be synchronized with the different moods of the movie. Needless to say, it was absolutely necessary to watch the movie while playing the piano.

He is currently focusing on comedy films starring Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Laurel & Hardy. The often raw, slapstick humor found in these films is a delightful and refreshing change from the polished and glamorous films of today. Both young and mature audiences have fun when they experience these live performances … providing a great fundraiser for your organization.