Having embarked upon one of instrumental music's most dynamic and multi-faceted careers, Richard Elliot's sound has played a huge part in pioneering the genre and radio format that has become today's contemporary urban jazz.
Born in the Scottish Highlands and transplanted to Los Angeles at the age of three, he primarily grooved to R&B and was smitten with the Motown sound. As a teenager, he was taken by the tenor sax and found himself capable of expressing his own musical voice through it.
His early career included touring with Natalie Cole and Yellowjackets, and recording sessions with Motown soul heavyweights like Smokey Robinson and The Temptations.
While touring with Tower of Power, he released his solo album Trolltown, and the success of that album encouraged him to go solo. His subsequent career has been nothing short of phenomenal.
His numerous #1 albums include On The Town, Soul Embrace, After Dark and Jumpin' Off, and he has held a consistent presence at the top of the Billboard and NAC charts. Elliot has also enjoyed the distinction of having two releases chart simultaneously - Chill Factor remained on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart for over 94 weeks, 26 weeks simultaneously with the greatest-hits collection, The Best of Richard Elliot.
His recording Lip Service marked his thirty-year anniversary since the release of his debut album Initial Approach. With this album, he proved he's "not a young man" by dropping the most overtly sensual, romantic and intimate album of his career.
"The wonderful thing is, so many years after I began performing professionally, I still feel that excitement. I love to play live more than anything. What matters most are my personal and artistic growth and the opportunities that reveal themselves as I evolve."
