My Show Biz Story
Having grown up in L.A., show business has always been a part of my life. My father, a local musician, gave me my first violin at age seven. A year later my folks took me to see Jack Benny, where I learned that combining music, entertainment, and laughter was a good thing.
Along with studying classical violin, the acting bug hit me when I turned thirteen. Living in West Los Angeles, it was considered normal for Rita Hayworth, Vincent Price, or Judy Garland to drop by my acting class.
But my main goal was to play in the Los Angeles Philharmonic—I was a total square. Then my life changed. I discovered girls and rock & roll. My classical career was over. After college I moved to Berkeley to play in my first original rock band, Little Roger and the Goosebumps. Our novelty hit “Gilligan’s Island/Stairway To Heaven” was an instant Dr. Demento hit.
By the early eighties, the acting bug took over, and it was back to L.A. One year later, out of the blue, the prestigious Venetian Room Supper Club in the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel asked me to take over as musical director. For seven years I worked with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, B.B. King, and James Brown.
It’s been an incredible ride. As musical director of the first twelve BAMMIES (Bay Area Music Awards), I worked with some of rock’s biggest names—Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, etc. I was able to continue my acting career in the Bay Area and landing roles in national commercials and hit films such as Mrs. Doubtfire and Metro.
In 1990 I started SRO, a seventeen-piece corporate r & b/pop show band. My combined theatrical and musical knowledge helped me put together one of the most successful corporate party bands of all time.
Now as a consultant I’m sharing my wealth of show business knowledge and experience with musicians and entertainers everywhere.
All the best,
Dick
