I was born in February 1967, my career in music began in 1984. Music had always motivated and moved me from as far back as I can remember, so to decide that my future was in music came as no surprise to myself or anyone who knew me at that time.
My instrument of choice was the electric bass, I was entirely self-taught, sometimes I would practice for up to 15 hours a day, saying I was obsessed would be an understatement! I joined my first band in February 1986 shortly after my 19th birthday, and then began gigging regularly around pubs and clubs throughout Kent and the South East of England.
In 1990 I enrolled to study classical voice at the Blackheath Conservatoire of Music and Art. I trained there until the end of 1994. From the study of classical singing I developed a passion for classical vocal music too.
In 1995 I added another string to my bow in the form of DJing
(see http://www.myspace.com/richardphoneman).
I played bass and sang in numerous live bands and recording sessions over the next few years to the present, including working with members of King Crimson and Level 42, and a tour with number 1 selling artist, Cassandra Fox. I also DJ'd at various underground parties and clubs, most notably was playing at the Soundshaft, part of Londons famous Heaven nightclub, and guest spots at Wiggle, Peg, The Drome and Lunar in London, Optical in Brighton as well as scores of private parties. I have had a few 12 singles released on independent record labels under my DJ name of Richard Phoneman.
For the past 10 years I have been teaching singing and bass, and this is something I particularly enjoy doing. I re-enrolled at the Conservatoire in Blackheath in April 2005 to continue my vocal studies, both to expand my own capabilities as a singer and to enrich my knowledge as a teacher, I am still there to this day; I also have a monthly lesson with a respected singer from the Royal Opera House chorus. I currently teach singing at a private stage school in Kent, and in the music department of Lewisham College in South London.
Recent new bands I have been working with include The Berakah Project, I recorded a few tracks on their album "Music for The Heart" that will be released in November. I have also been gigging with them since July. In September 2007, I joined Albdelkader Saadoun's band, Kader is a native Algerian, and the music we play is a fusion of traditional Algerian "rai" music and western jazz and funk.
I have joined Freak Power of "Turn On, Tune In, and Cop Out" fame, for some gigs in London and Europe, hopefully the gigs will be a rip roaring success, they will certainly be a lot of fun!
I now do an average of around 100 gigs a year with live bands, and about 20 or so DJ gigs. I have performed in Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, and the Republic of Ireland, as well as Dubai and Oman in the Middle East. I am happy to take on new students for electric bass and voice training, for more information please message me.
I finally put up some clips of me playing bass, vocal clips to come soon. Many thanks to John Meaney for playing piano, programming the drums and recording the clips for me. You can also hear me playing bass by visiting www.myspace.com/theuglyboyz, and www.myspace.com/berakah, I am playing fretless bass on the track "Inchalah" and www.myspace.com/noelphillips I am playing on "Mr Lovegrove" and "Gary".
