Classical music and opera was often heard in the Finch-Turner household, but it was not until he began to sing classical music that Richard’s passion for it really began. But in 1990 he decided he wanted to expand his vocal ability and so he enrolled for classical voice lessons at the Conservatoire in Blackheath. Richard had always enjoyed singing and was already doing backing vocals with the bands he played with. Given the choice Richard would far rather play fretless all the time, and views the instrument as his default setting. It had a profound effect, so much so that Richard moved to playing fretless bass exclusively for the next 15 years, and only in the last 6 years or so started playing a fretted bass again. Although Richard had heard of Jaco and heard his bass playing, it wasn’t until that evening that he really “heard” Jaco’s unique playing. In the early 90’s a good friend and band mate played Richard an album by Weather Report featuring the incredible bass playing of Jaco Pastorius, both Richard and his friend were in a state of goodly inebriation. The first two years were spent “wood-shedding” and then Richard joined his first band and began gigging in pubs and clubs around London and the South East honing his craft. A few years later it was an album by British jazz-funkers Level 42 that caught his attention, and that was it…the instrument was decided…in 1984 Richard bought his first bass. In his teenage years Richard was introduced to the music of Canadian rockers Rush and that was the first time he was actually aware of the electric bass as an instrument. The infectious grooves of James Jamerson and melodic playing of Paul McCartney gave him a subconscious predilection to the bass. Richard believes that he was drawn to the electric bass by his exposure to the music of Motown and The Beatles at his parents house and in his Mum’s car.
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