It is usually just Richard on vocals and acoustic guitar. He has also included in his sound, some, or all, of the following players and their instruments: mandolin, fiddle, electric guitar, sax, keyboards, stand up and electric bass and drums and/or percussion.
Influences
Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, The Carter Family, Phil Ochs, Steve Goodman, John Prine, Peggy Lee, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Cole Porter, Rogers and Hart, Jagger/Richards, Dizzy Gillespie, Aaron Copeland and many, many others.
One of the most unique -- and pleasant -- voices I've heard in quite some time.
The songs are little jewels, instantly embracable by afficianados of American roots music. There's simply not a misstep. www.indie-music.com
___________________________________________________________________________
With Thorne, its best just to forgo categorizing and appreciate him for what he is-
a gifted songwriter who dabbles in assorted musical strains: folk, country, bluegrass, pop."
Erie Times News Erie, PA
___________________________________________________________________________
Thornes latest release Amalgam is full of stories that will captivate and amuse you for hours. A team of great bluegrass and folk artists shine on this well crafted album. Jamestown Music. Inc Des Moines, IA
___________________________________________________________________________
Although he was born in, what is referred to as, the "Finger Lakes" region of Upstate New York, he has been a long time resident of New York City. He has been at one time both an actor and dancer, but from an early age, has almost always been involved with music in one form or another. He started with piano at the age of 6, began playing the drums at age 10, and then some years later, picked up the guitar to write and perform his own songs. His influnences and tastes are broad and varied, borrowing from just about everyone. He has been writing and performing his quirky, non traditional somewhat theatrical narrative folk pop and country folk songs for over 25 years. His most recent CD, ONE PLUS SIX, released in December 2007, contains a Christmas song (The One) "Plus Six" secular country folk songs featuring guitar, upright bass, banjo, fiddle and mandolin. His two previous CD's are the EP, UNDERCOVER, OVERACHIEVER (2000) and the album, AMALGAM (2005) , which received quite a bit of air play on both independent and internet radio stations. All three CD's are available at www.cdbaby.com as well as at numerous digital music sites such as Apple I-Tunes. He continues to write and to perform occasionally in the NYC area as well as to tour outside of the Metropolitan area in the Northeast, the Mid Atlantic and in the Midwest. He is a long time member of ASCAP and a recipient of several of the organization's Popular Music Awards as well as a member of the Folk Alliance. He is also a long time suffering, but dedicated, Mets fan.
_______________________________________________________________________
"(Buddy) Holly may have sounded something like this if he had migrated to the Village scene in the latter 1960s, as folk music was transforming into folk-rock, in otherwords into an intelligent, inner directed, generally acoustic pop." www.rambles.net Lancaster, PA
_____________________________________________________________________
"Borrowing from folk and hints of bluegrass, Richard's songs are light hearted like an afternoon ride, at times not unlike early Cat Stevens. Lyrically spun around a character who seems to 'get it' and knows everyone else can too. www.jezebelmusic.com NY, NY
___________________________________________________________________________
Amalgam is a perfect marriage of folk, bluegrass, alt. country, and roots rock. Singer/songwriter Richard Thorne has a serene sense about himyoull often find yourself wandering into his lyric sheet and closing your eyes, allowing Richard to whisk you off to the inner reaches of his creative mind." www.smother.net Manassas,VA
___________________________________________________________________________
" Richard is obviously not your typical acoustic singersongwriter. Perhaps folksinger is too narrow of a label for Thorne who seems to thrive on diversity." Trading Post East, Wadsworth,OH
________________________________________________________________________
"Thorne's way of combining quirky melodies with narrative lyrics is reminiscent of early Bob Dylan. He does succeed in standing out from the crowd in his use of unconventional chord structures" Folk World, On-Line Music Magazine, The UK
__________________________________________________________________________
"Richard demonstrates the ability to write songs that don't all sound the same, a trap some writers tend to fall into." The Green Man Review, Portland,ME
______________________________________________________________
Download our music at DigStation.com
hey richard- thanks for saying so about the new song! hope things are going well for you...will we see you on the 22nd? i'll try to make it out to your vivaldi show- haven't seen you play in the city in a while :)
Hi Richard, good to meet you, cheers for the visit. I've just been listening, I admire and respect your talents. I like "Everyone's Left Town" it has a very nice feel. Have a fanspecmazing weekend. All the best, Duncan.
hey man, it was good to meet you too, if you're going to be in the vicinity of harrisonburg again, come by the artful dodger or message me and we'll get a show set-up
It sure was nice meeting you at Folk Alliance. I only wish I had made it to one of your showcases. I will next time, without fail! (you better remind me, though!) Anyway, the music on here is good enough to tide me over.
Take care, and give me a holler if you ever get to my neck of the woods.
Hi, Richard! Thanks for the add request! Glad to count you among our musicAL friends. Ya know, I had to cock my head for a moment in listening to your moment and see if you weren't Woody Guthrie's long lost brother or something! ;-) That song "Freight Trains and Strange Dreams" is really awesome. And you are a talented instrumentalist!
Richard very fresh sound, I told you me and my friend Nicole have similar musical taste. Just gave the whole play list a listen, "Everyday's a New Day" really sticks in my head and the others were just as delightful to listen to. You just sold an album son.