Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude which separates excellence from mediocrity.
Looking at James L. Richard's family, it was safe to say that the Oakland native was not a street sweeper or a computer programmer. From the beginning, the former bandleader/music director for the Bay Area icons, The Sekret Service™ and Club Nouveau, was introduced to music by his talented musical family. His uncles are William Richard and Roy Richard of the doo-wop group The Robins and original members of the chart-topping icons The Coasters. His older brother Billy was a member of the legendary R&B group beginning in 1962.
James' Dad was the legendary Rev J. L. Richard, Pastor and Founder of the Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church of Oakland, and Baptist icon, who led the political charge for Black people in the Bay Area and across the nation. A celebrity in his field, he worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Julian Bond, Jimmy Carter, Maya Angelo, Jane Fonda, Jesse Jackson, and many others.
James' Mom, Dortha Lee Richard, lived with the Frank Sinatra family working as Nancy Sinatra`s personal assistant (from 17-21-years-old). She dressed Mrs. Sinatra (bought all her clothes and jewelry), handled all her appointments, acted as her single personal liaison, hosted all events and parties, and mentored Frank Jr. and Tina until she married Rev. Richard in the early 1950s.
The precocious musician started playing drums at four years old and moved to the piano at five. His godfather gave him his first guitar at 10, and he began playing bass, emulating his funk hero, William Bootsy Collins.
With The Sekret Service™, his band and production company, James has been scoring films, composing, producing commercials, designing sounds, performing, producing, engineering, and mixing recordings. He worked with artists like Tony! Toni! Tone!, Club Nouveau, and dozens of rap/hip-hop artists such as Askari X, Dru Down, Young Dre, and Rodney O.
As of 2022, James earned master's in History and Teaching, and he dedicates his future days to education.
Real Men Wear Black™