1943-1993
Richard Tee was classically trained for 12 years of his early life, studying at the High School of Music and Art. After graduation, he was very fortunate to obtain a position at Motown Records as a 'house pianist'.
Here, his first recordings included a session with Marvin Gaye. As time progressed Richard became a staff arranger at Motown. He then moved onto the Hammond Organ. When he returned to New York he continued to work in the studio.
Richard was asked by Grover Washington Jnr and Hank Crawford if he would move to CTI Records. It was here where he met Bob James, who took him to Tappan Zee Records where he recorded 'Strokin' in 1979. Richard played on various records with musicians as diverse as Roland Kirk, Carly Simon, Joe Cocker and Herbie Mann.
In 1976 he played in the funk band Stuff along with other session musicians including Eric Gale, Tony Levin and Steve Gadd. Richard had first met Eric Gale whilst working with Aretha Franklin during the Seventies.
He was a regular keyboard player with Paul Simon ('50 Ways To Leave Your Lover' and 'Slip Slidin' Away') and toured with him on several occassions, playing live on Simon's 'Rhythm Of The Saints' tour. Richard also starred (as a player and as an actor) and he sang with Paul on 'Ace In The Hole' on Paul Simon's 'One Trick Pony' in 1980. He also appears on the DVD re-release of Paul Simon's 'Live At The Tower Theatre'. This was a filmed performance from the 'One Trick Pony' tour.
'The Bottom Line' was released in 1985 and included Ralph McDonald, Steve Gadd, Marcus Miller and John Tropea. Richard worked with many artists including Roberta Flack, Margie Joseph, The O'Jays, Jennifer Holliday, James Brown, Peter Gabriel and Chaka Khan, with whom he recorded her chart hit 'I'm Every Woman'.
Richard also played with Aretha Franklin's "Young, Gifted, and Black", "The Best of", Stephanie Mills, Bill Withers"Just the 2 of Us" Ray Charles, Jimmy Hendricks, George Benson, Lena Horn, Bette Midler The Bee Gee's, Bob Marley, Biily Joel "I Love You Just the Way You Are", Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Patty Austin, Ashford and Simpson, Barbara Strisand, Phoebe Snow, Billy Idol, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Patty Labelle, Quincy Jones, Champagne, Ron Carter, Tom Scott, Dave Sanborn, Venessa Williams, and Carla Blay.
Soundtracks Richard played on:
The Wiz, King of Comedy, Saturday Night Fever, Blade Runner, & Roots.
He played with Paul Simon in Central Park concerts '81 & '91,
as well as the 1991 "Born at the Right Time" tour.
Richard Tee died in 1993 at age 49 from prostate cancer and was buried in the Woodstock Artist Cemetery.
