Radio Richard | Richard Niles Podcast

Composer/arranger/producer Richard Niles has contributed to over 40 top Ten  records with 20 Gold and 28 Platinum certifications. In this new Radio Richard series, singer/songwriter Daisy Chute (a hitmaker herself with All Angels) interviews Richard about how some of those massive hits were made. Produced by Trevor Horn & Steve Lipson, “Slave To The Rhythm” (1985) was Grace Jones’ biggest hit, com...

Part 4 of my BBC Radio 2 documentary series “Richard Niles’ HISTORY of POP ARRANGING” takes us to Philadelphia with contributions from TSOP guitarist BOBBY ELI and arranger/producer BOBBY MARTIN examining “the sound of Philadelphia” with Gamble & Huff and Thom Bell (The Delphonics, the Detroit Spinners, the Stylistics). We then descend with our naughty personages to enter the world of MISTER JAMES...

For her work helping artists and composers at the Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts, Paul McCartney said, “Rowena Morgan is my hero!”   The vivacious Welsh dynamo’s incredible career has included work in advertising, technology, sponsorship, radio, journalism, brand ambassador, artist liaison, social media management, event management, songwriting, publishing, music supervision, and busin...

PAUL McCARTNEY, RAY DAVIES and BARRY GIBB love her. Why should you love her too? Because she was in the Platinum, Brit Award nominated group ALL ANGELS. She plays LOTS of instruments and sings better than an angel. She has worked on soundtracks for film (YESTERDAY Danny Boyle & Richard Curtis ) and TV (David Attenborough's A Perfect Planet) She worked with Radiohead. She has written a new musical...

In 2002 I made a series of documentary programs for BBC Radio 2 about the singers who made their names with the big bandleaders. Frank Sinatra got his start with trumpeter Harry James’ band but when he saw the chance to join the much more successful Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, he went after it. In Dorsey he found his biggest musical influence and most powerful foe. This show tells the story of the pow...

MITCH DALTON has been a 1st call studio guitarist since the late 1970s. Credits include Ella Fitzgerald, Wayne Shorter, Nelson Riddle, Henry Mancini, Robbie Williams, Peggy Lee, Elmer Bernstein AND Monty Python. ALWAYS LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, in this MUSICIAN’S FUNNIES interview with my old friend and colleague, he tells the funny side of working with Herbie Hancock, Henry Mancini, Greg Lake (...

Pat Metheny plays LIVE in Richard Niles Exclusive Interview PART 3 In this 3rd and final part of my BBC Radio 2 series “Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life” recorded in 2007, Pat not only explains his concepts, he also demonstrates them on the guitar. This is a unique opportunity to hear how he expresses the infinite optimism, fearless exploration and sensitive humanity of his music. Features comments...

Pat Metheny gets up close and personal with Richard Niles - Video PART 2 A RADIO RICHARD SPECIAL PRESENTATION In this 2nd part of my BBC Radio 2 series “Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life” recorded in 2007, Pat explains his concepts, philosophies and practices. This is invaluable to students, teachers and music lovers, and will enrich the soul of anyone who cares about art and creativity. Having known...

Guitar players and lovers, you’re in for a special treat! In my 2nd session with Grammy winning guitarist & composer LAURENCE JUBER, he plays a guitar piece I wrote for him called… “Guitar Piece” - and explains HOW he played it! This is a unique look into the creative process of one of the most gifted players of the last 50 years. He not only talks about his methodology, Laurence also discusses hi...

A RADIO RICHARD SPECIAL PRESENTATION  “The only listener I know anything about is myself. I have absolutely no sense of how anybody else perceives anything. I just try to play for the listener inside me.” Pat Metheny Pat Metheny is one of the most significant musicians of the last 50 years. In 2007, he invited me into his NYC home studio for my BBC Radio 2 series “Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life”....

ASMAC MASTERCLASS PART 2 JOHN ALTMAN & RICHARD NILES Different Approaches Explained Moderator: Sylvester Rivers   Composer/Arrangers John Altman (James Bond, Rod Stewart, Monty Python) and Richard Niles (Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Pat Metheny) demonstrate their different approaches and arranging techniques. For this special ASMAC event, they have both arranged short versions of a simple nursery...

ASMAC MASTERCLASS JOHN ALTMAN & RICHARD NILES  Different Approaches Explained Moderator: Sylvester Rivers (PART 1)   Composer/Arrangers John Altman (James Bond, Rod Stewart, Monty Python) and Richard Niles (Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Pat Metheny) demonstrate their different approaches and arranging techniques. For this special ASMAC event, they have both arranged short versions of a simple nurse...

NEAL HEFTI was one of the most original and influential composers and arrangers of the 20th Century. Beginning as arranger for Woody Herman he went on to composing and arranging for Count Basie and Frank Sinatra. He wrote for film (The Odd Couple, Barefoot In The Park, Harlow, Sex & The Single Girl) and for TV (the phenomenal success of his “Batman” theme). I wrote and hosted this show for my BBC...

American studio ace Matt, is the first call “rock bitch” of London. His exhausting credits include Rumer, ABC, Julian Lennon, Wu Tang Killer Bs, Go West, Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker, Aimee Mann, The Beautiful South, Marcella Detroit, Sinead O'Connor, Swing Out Sister, Elton John, Steve Coogan, Shirley Bassey, Suzanne Rhatigan, Mica Paris, David McAlmont, Alan Partridge, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Alice Co...

SHEL TALMY is one of the most innovative and influential record producers in popular music. It could be said, with a great deal of justification, that he created the SOUND of the 1960s. I’m talking about the power, the glory, the in-your-face gut punching power of rock. One thing you notice about Shel immediately is that you’re talking to a very clever man with a brain the size of Jupiter that got...

Is radio important? Tony Currie thinks so. This golden voiced Scottish radio legend started broadcasting in 1972 at KPFK in Los Angeles started Radio Clyde, Scotland's first independent local radio station, became an announcer on Scottish Television, became Controller of Programmes for the Cable Authority, and the ITC, Director for BBC Scotland's television channels BBC ONE Scotland and BBC TWO Sc...

A vocal master-class from Kim Chandler, perhaps the UK’s top vocal coach. ALL singers should LISTEN and LEARN from this interview. The legendary Australian runs a busy private vocal studio where she teaches an elite team of professional singers, artists and other vocal coaches. Kim is a regular presenter at national & international voice conferences and is a past President of the prestigious Briti...

Bass player Phil Spalding tells amusing (and frightening) stories of his crazy journey through the world of ROCK playing for Mick Jagger, Elton John, Robbie Williams, Toyah, Joe Cocker, Marcella Detroit and Seal. Together we wrote 4 songs recorded for Ray Charles on his Strong Love Affair album. Maybe not exactly a “laff riot” – but certainly a RIOT! This is killer stuff and you only get this with...

From tea-boy to Producer, from assistant to Studio Manager. Producer/engineer and all ‘round nice guy  STUART EPPS talks about working with Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Oasis, Robbie Williams, George Harrison, Twisted Sister, Bill Wyman, Gus Dudgeon and many more. If you’re interested in how some classic hits were made, settle back for a laid back chat about the 1960s – Today! And a bonus couple of M...

Wanna go racing with James Dean? Wanna make out with Sandra Dee? Wanna hit the beach with Natalie Wood? Wanna make the scene with Ed ‘Kookie’ Burns and Marlon Brando? In Part 2 of my interview with actor, hit recording artist & record producer STEVE ROWLAND he talks about coming from ‘50s Hollywood to Swingin’ London in the 60s. (WARNING: There are a couple of swear words that are perhaps inapprop...

Bassist/composer/author Mo Foster has credits any other musician would find tiring! Jeff Beck, Phil Collins, Brian May, Ringo Starr, Gil Evans, Van Morrison, Cliff Richard… I could go on but then I’d be too shagged out to continue this intro. Mo’s book British Rock Guitar is so much more than the unimaginative title suggests. Filled with fascinating facts and hysterical stories, this is the book t...

Richard Niles is re-releasing WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HOLLYWOOD? by his stepfather, screenwriter Jesse Lasky Jr. He has written an informative Foreword and added almost 400 rare photographs. The book tells the story of growing up in the dusty streets of Hollywood when his father produced the first feature film, and started a company that became Paramount. A compelling personal memoir written by a mas...

When musicians get together, they tell funny stories about all the ridiculous, amusing, surprising, crazy, psycho things that happen to them – while they’re trying to make a living. So here is a new series of interviews, MUSICIAN’S FUNNIES  on Radio Richard where you get to listen in and giggle along to those conversations. Film composer (James Bond, Monty Python), arranger (Tina Turner, Bjork) an...

Thanks to all my Radio Richard listeners and today I have a special treat for you, my 2010 interview with Gary Sinise. star of stage and screen, well-loved for his many film roles such as Apollo 13, Forest Gump, and of course as the rugged Detective Mac Taylor in CSI: New York!!!” It’s easy to put people in convenient little boxes, but some people have more than one talent. Not only is Gary Sinise...

Actor, singer and record producer Steve Rowland has had an incredible career by any standards. As a teenager he qualified for the Olympics as a diver.  When an accident ended that, he burst into 1950s as an actor and singer with a family full of Hollywood royalty. His father was Roy Rowland, a successful director and his mother Ruth a respected writer. Her uncle was feared mogul Louis B. Mayer. St...