*“If you listen to the album’s cut….you can hear the words ‘very delicious’ at the end,” said Grammy-nominated saxophonist Richard Elliot about the name of his new single “Very Delicious” (Shanachie Entertainment) when I asked where ‘very delicious’ came from because the single is a jam (dance song). “It’s Lenny Castro. We put him on (the single) later, he was putting on the percussions when he ended by saying ‘very delicious.’ We didn’t have a final title for it…it came later.”
“Very Delicious” is off his new album “Straight Up Down” (Shanachie), his 21st recording project. Aside from Lenny on percussions and Richard on sax, the single also features Jeff Carruthers on guitar; Tracy Carter on keys; Cornelius Mims on bass; Dan Needham on drums, and Ricky Peterson on organ. The single was arranged by Jeff and produced and mixed by Steven Eugene Groove.
Richard was born in Scotland, raised in Los Angeles, and is currently based in San Diego, California. He grew up with the sounds of Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson. He was influenced heavily by the Motown sound.
“90% (of the featured musicians) I’ve worked with before,” Elliot said when I asked. “A couple are new as far as collaborating with. They are people I feel are gratified to work with me. Paul Brown… I’ve worked with him for ages. He creates a comfortable environment, but he knows how to kick me in the butt to do something new. I met him when I left Tower of Power…for my first song. I reconnected with him…when he asked me to play on his last release.”
I asked about his time with Tower of Power, because I interviewed them several times – back in the day – and he said, “My time with Tower of Power was like graduate school. I learned so much, how to play – how to tell a story with my sax.”
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Richard played the sax for Tower of Power for five years. He went on to work with Natalie Cole and The Pointer Sisters. Though noted as a Jazz saxophonist Richard Elliot is proficient in Blues, Pop, R&B, and Rock.
“If you’re lucky enough a career last for many years,” he said when I mentioned what a legend he is in the Jazz world. “I don’t take it for granted. The tricky part with longevity is consistency…but push yourself. I surround myself with people like Paul Brown….Rick Braun…you let them push you.”
Elliot, who has 20 Top 10 Billboard singles, is also a pilot and is building his own plane! Always on tour, you can hear Richard Elliot play his new single “Very Delicious” and cuts from the new album “Straight Up Down” at the following venues: Catalina Casino on October 12, 2024, in Avalon, California; Spaghettini’s December 1, 2024, in Seal Beach, Cali, and at Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park Oct. 19th in Pensacola, Florida. www.RichardElliot.com
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENTS: “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is in its 25th year. The next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom on Saturday, April 20, 2024, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase, and a National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance, and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $19,000 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com and RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email [email protected].
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