Dr. Richard Niles

Publisher info

DR. RICHARD NILES’ career spans TV & film, pop, R&B, rock and jazz as a composer, producer, songwriter/lyricist, arranger, conductor, broadcaster, recording artist, guitarist, author and educator. He has contributed to over 40 pop hits.

Pop credits include: Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, James Brown, Tina Turner, Lulu, Cat Stevens, Mariah Carey, Pet Shop Boys, Dusty Springfield, Grace Jones, Joe Cocker, Kylie Minogue, Swing Out Sister, Michael McDonald, Sarah Brightman, Tears For Fears. Jazz credits include: Pat Metheny, Randy Brecker, Bob James, John Patitucci, Jane Monheit, Jim Mullen, Blake Aaron, Danny Gottlieb, Mark Egan, Gary Husband, Chris Hunter, Nigel Hitchcock and Bob Mintzer. Conductor for BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Big Band and Musical Director for TV series Don’t Mis Wax, David Essex, Leo Sayer and Michael Ball.

CDs as composer/guitarist/leader include Hi-Tek, Santa Rita and Club Deranged. He has led his jazz orchestra, BANDZILLA since 1986 and has released two CDs, BLUE MOVIES and BANDZILLA RISES!!! and performed with Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, Leo Sayer and Randy Brecker. (www.bandzilla.net). Niles has also worked with Don Peake and The Wrecking Crew All Stars.

Niles’ music for TV & film includes Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, A Christmas Carol and numerous TV commercials (including McDonalds, Max Factor and Kellogg’s). His score for The Strike, (C4/Comic Strip Films) won The Golden Rose Of Montreux, Honorable Mention for Music.
Niles’ songs have been recorded by Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Leo Sayer, Randy Brecker, Clive Griffin,
Silje Nergaard, Hue & Cry, Deniece Williams, Kid Creole, Bobby Womack and Spike Milligan.
Niles wrote, produced and hosted many music documentaries for BBC radio including his long running series New Jazz Standards (1994—2012), The Arrangers and Pat Metheny – Bright Size Life. His books include The Pat Metheny Interviews (2009) Polymetrics – 2011 (with Gary O’Toole), The Invisible Artist - Arrangers in Popular Music (2014), From Dreaming To Gigging – Jazz Guitar in 6 Months (2015), The Bandzilla Songbook (2017) and Songwriting –The 11 Point Plan (2017)

Degrees: Berklee College of Music (B.Mus. 1975) and Brunel University (PhD 2009). Teaching: Consultant to the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music helping create their international courses. Lectures & masterclasses at The Academy of Contemporary Music, Vocal Tech, Brunel University, Leeds College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music and Rose Buford College, Musician’s Institute, USC, UCLA, CalState (Northridge), Orange County School of Arts, Saddleback College, The Berklee College of Music.

Smashwords Interview

You’ve had a phenomenal 45-year career in music. How did it all begin?

My father was Tony Romano, a singer, guitarist, vocal arranger who worked with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Cole Porter. I grew up with him playing at home with fantastic Hollywood musicians such as Joe Venuti. I then moved to London of the 1960s seeing groups like The Who, John Mayall and Jimi Hendrix in small clubs. I graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1975 and all I ever wanted to do was be a songwriter.

So in London I got signed to a publishing deal but I immediately started getting work as an arranger. From that, I became house arranger for EMI Music in 1976 and then was asked to work with Cat Stevens. That led to TV work as Musical Director for David Essex and Leo Sayer. The phone kept ringing for work in pop, jazz and orchestral music, and I started getting production work.

When you look back, what are the highlights?

I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the greatest artists in pop and jazz - Paul McCartney, James Brown, Ray Charles, Pet Shop Boys, Tina Turner, Cher, Swing Out Sister, Pat Metheny, Bob James and so many more. Working with Paul McCartney was great not because his such an icon, but because he is so deeply and genuinely talented. I’ve been so lucky to work with many of my heroes and they all surprised me.

James Brown was a really deep thinker, and so interested in young musicians. Ray Charles was mind-blowing because he was 100% Brother Ray, every minute! Doing the Swing Out Sister album was so much fun because we were doing something so new and fresh. Working with producer Trevor Horn on Grace Jones’ “Slave To The Rhythm” was amazing because it was all about pushing the boundaries of record production. And they give me an 85-piece orchestra to do it!

Where to find Dr. Richard Niles online

Website: https://richardniles.com
Twitter: @RichardNiles
Facebook: Facebook profile
Blog: https://richardniles.com/category/blog/

Where to buy in print

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ADr.+Richard+Niles&s=relevancerank&text=Dr.+Richard+Niles&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Publisher of

John Law: Money to Burn by Pat Silver-Lasky

Price: $19.97 USD. Words: 117,310. Language: English. Published: August 24, 2021 by Dr. Richard Niles. Categories: Nonfiction » Biography » Historical biography, Nonfiction » History » Social history

John Law was the Scotsman who invented the concept of paper money and banking and became Comptroller of France. Though his principles were solid, the corruption of the French court led to the disaster known as The Mississippi Bubble. A dashing hero, dark villains, physical and political conflict, dangerous duels and harrowing escapes, exotic locales, beautiful and dangerous women, sex, corruption,

Whatever Happened to Hollywood? by Jesse L. Lasky Jr.

Price: $19.97 USD. Words: 127,810. Language: English. Published: July 4, 2021 by Dr. Richard Niles. Categories: Nonfiction » Biography » Autobiographies & Memoirs, Nonfiction » Art, Architecture, Photography » Performing arts » Film & video / direction & production

Screenwriter Jesse L. Lasky, Jr. tells his insider Hollywood tales sparkling with poetry, humor and first-hand observation. The son of Hollywood’s first producer, the book is the history of film and the birth of an art form and a personal memoir with revealing portraits of Lasky, Sr., Samuel Goldwyn, Cecil B. De Mille, Alfred Hitchcock, Gary Cooper, Yul Brynner, and dating Jean Harlow.

Books

Como Ser Un Músico Empleable / How To Be An Employable Musician (Spanish Edition) by Dr. Richard Niles

Price: $8.97 USD. Words: 12,470. Language: Spanish. Published: November 23, 2021 . Categories: Nonfiction » Music » Music business

Este manual del aclamado compositor/arreglador/productor Richard Niles te dice todo lo que necesitas saber para convertirte en un músico empleable. Richard ofrece lo que se requiere para tener éxito en base a sus 45 años en estudios y escenarios con algunos de los artistas más destacado de la música: Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, James Brown y muchos más. ¡Sigue leyendo para mejorar tus ingresos!

How to Be an Employable Musician by Dr. Richard Niles

Price: $8.97 USD. Words: 11,710. Language: English. Published: November 3, 2021 . Categories: Nonfiction » Music » Music business

This handbook from acclaimed composer/arranger/producer Richard Niles tells you everything you need to become an employable musician. Richard delivers the real deal from his 45 years in studios and on stages with some of the most iconic names in music – Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, James Brown, Cher, Tina Turner and many more. If you want to up your game, and your income, read on!

Adventures in Arranging by Dr. Richard Niles

Price: $22.50 USD. Words: 51,090. Language: English. Published: July 4, 2020 . Categories: Nonfiction » Music » Instruction & Study - Techniques, Nonfiction » Music » Instruction & Study - Composition

Composer/Arranger Dr. Richard Niles credits include Paul McCartney to Pat Metheny, James Brown to Randy Brecker, Tina Turner to Michael McDonald, Ray Charles to the Pet Shop Boys. Beyond a host of arranging techniques and analysis, Niles gives inspiring real-word advice and insider tips from 45 years on the ‘killing floor’ of the recording studio. "Richard Niles is a great arranger” Paul McCartney

Dr. Richard Niles' tag cloud

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