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.
Sources:
- http://www.richardtee.com/biography.html
- http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=114031735
- http://www.richardtee.com/discography.html
- http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Richard%20Tee.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Tee
- http://www.buffettnews.com/resources/coralreeferband/?bid=141
- http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Richard%20Tee:1927186618