Richard Ainsworth Cummings

Richard Ainsworth Cummings is the eldest of five sons

RICHARD AINSWORTH
BRYAN WAYNE
KEVIN DARNLEY
TERRANCE WILLIAM
GARY SCOTT

born to Ruby (née Campbell) and Richard Cummings Sr.
At the age of five years, Richard was given his first piano and music theory
lessons by his paternal grandmother, God rest her;
Maude Bascome Cummings Taylor

In 1960, he entered New York's original
Juilliard Preparatory School of Music
where he studied piano for four years under the Russian pianist,
Anna Shenderoff.
In addition to the study of western European classics, he also became well versed in the many other ethnic musical forms into which he found himself daily immersed. Before the end of his teenage years, his musical styles also reflected:

Jazz of the 50's and 60's
Rhythm & Blues and Soul music
Gospel choirs
The rhythms of the West Indies, Cuba and South America

In 1973, after majoring in piano and composition at the
University of Detroit / Marygrove College
he began his professional music career with various local
groups,experimental rehearsal bands and eclectic tribal orchestras in
New York City and all along the U.S. eastern seaboard.
Since then, his talents have been visited upon such luminous artists as:

Noel Pointer, Norman Connors, Jon Lucien, Harry Belafonte
Letta Mbulu, Dianne Reeves, Hugh Masekela, Wayne Shorter
Zubin Mehta, George C. Wolfe, Sherry Winston, Iyanla Vanzant
Three Mo' Tenors, Melvin Van Peebles
and a host of other wonderful creators!

Thanks to God and Grandma!