He was a pianist, organist, singer and arranger born
Richard Ten Ryk, later changed by him to "Tee", in Brooklyn, New
York, living later in Detroit and then Cold Spring, New York.He took classical studies at
the High School of Music and Art followed by the Manhattan School of
Music.After he left
his education he was given a position with Motown as a house pianist
and later he would rise to being a staff arranger. At the same time he would
also not only work on the piano, but started to play the Hammond
organ. Working as a solo performer and a session musician, his work
was sought by artists such as Patti Austin, Average Whiter Band,
Gato Barbieri, The Count Basie Orchestra, Michael Bolton, James
Brown, Mariah Carey, Joe Cocker, Georgie Fame, Aretha Franklin,
Marvin Gaye, Andy Gibb, Barry Gibb, Stephane Grappelli, Al Green,
Lena Horne, Quincy Jones, Chaka Khan, Kenny Loggins, Ralph
MacDonald, The Manhattan Transfer, Herbie Mann, Van McCoy, Melanie,
Sinead O'Connor, Odyssey, Chuck Rainey, Lou Rawls, Lee Ritenour,
David Sanborn, Tom Scott, Ben Sidran, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Allen
Toussaint, Stanley Turrentine and numerous others. Often heard on
hit songs he was the keyboard player on Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin'
Away" and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "Dance Away" by Roxy Music,
although he wasn't credited on the accompanying Manifesto
album, but later appeared in the credits on their The Best of
Roxy Music and Thrill Of It All.A prolific recording artist,
his work graces albums such as his own Bottom Line, Contemporary
Piano, Natural Ingredients, Strokin' and Inside You and
also Rare Collection by Bee Gees, Give Me the Night by
George Benson, Black Tie, White Noise by David Bowie, Hot
Water by Jimmy Buffett, The Best Of... by Karen
Carpenter, Journeyman by Eric Clapton, Softly With These
Songs by Roberta Flack, Shaking the Tree by Peter
Gabriel, The Stranger by Billy Joel, Midnight in San
Juan by Earl Klugh, Red Hot Rhythm & Blues by Diana
Ross, Concert in Central Park by Simon & Garfunkel,
One Trick Pony by Paul Simon, Guilty by Barbra
Streisand, East by Stuff, Blade Runner by Vangelis and
Friends Can Be Lovers by Dionne Warwick, Inside
Grooves by Grover Washington Jr. and the soundtrack to
Saturday Night Fever to name a very few. He was the founder of the
Richard Tee Committee and co-founder of Stuff.As a composer he wrote the
musical production Mama, I Want to Sing.He married his wife Elena
after being together for 16 years with the drummer and close friend
Steve Gadd and his wife attending the ceremony.Buried in Woodstock at the
Artist Cemetery, he leaves behind six sons and two
stepdaughters.
