Nealetta P. Richardson

I began taking piano lessons at an early age. My mom noticed that I was not practicing as I should and not showing much interest in taking piano lessons, so she stopped them. I remember her saying “One day, you’re going to wish you would have learned to play the piano”. Of course, as a kid I paid her no mind. But I must say she was absolutely right about that. Currently I play the piano, drums and bass guitar. I come from a legacy of music which comes from my mother’s side of the family.

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I did not touch the piano until I was in junior high school.  It was so normal for us to always have a piano in the home and there was a piano in the garage and I began to play it by ear. May I say music was always a part of our household. My mom would buy all of the newest gospel albums, she was a part of a female gospel group, she was the church choir director, my aunt was a wonderful musician and songstress, so music was my life.

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When I started high school, I was part of the symphonic band which I played the clarinet and bass clarinet, I was also in the marching band. I can remember loving to watch the Lawrence Welch show which always featured the show orchestra section and other great musicians as guest on his show. It was a show for old people but I loved watching it. Of course, growing up in church I sang in the junior choir, then the mass choir, I always had an ear for music.

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I as grew I was exposed to all type of music. Gospel, R&B, Funk, Classical, Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Symphonic etc. I have listened to and been able to see many of the historical great musicians of many genera’s and today I continue to be a disciple of all type of music and musical artist. My mother continues to sing as guest soloist and I accompany her to this day. I will always be a student of music in all of its forms, I love it.