Sing us another one (From Stroud News and Journal)

Sing us another one

A PIANIST who once played with Stevie Wonder is offering Stroud audiences the chance to hear the whole history of popular music in one night.

Richard Goldsmith, from Rodborough Common, will bring hit show Memories Are Made of This back to the Stroud area on Saturday, May 3.

The musician, who used to work for EMI records, will perform a light-hearted history of popular music at Bussage Primary School alongside fellow pianist Richard Reason.

The next night the pair will move to Nailsworth Town Hall for their follow-up show, Sing Us Another One Do, celebrating comedy and novelty in music as part of the Nailsworth Festival.

Richard Goldsmith also wrote the music for Not in my Back Yard, a comic play inspired by local features like the Nympsfield wind turbine, which is showing at the Space on Saturday, May 3.

The two Richards met as music students in London in the 1960s but lost contact until they bumped into each other in the capital in 2000.

Richard Goldsmith started his career as a commercial manager at EMI, where he worked with Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Jackson Five.

As a fluent German speaker, he would accompany artists to Germany, where he dueted with Stevie Wonder in 1974 in a Frankfurt hotel.

Richard said: "I was very impressed by Stevie Wonder. He could play that song in any key. It was so natural to him."

In the same year he interviewed the Jackson Five for radio. At the time Michael Jackson was about 14.

Richard said: "Michael Jackson was monosyllabic. He seemed to have no real opinions. He would just give yes or no answers. Stevie Wonder was very different."

Richard later worked as an A&R manager, staff producer and songwriter. More than 40 of his songs have been released, generating sales of more than 1.5 million.

He also wrote the music for the play Not in My Back Yard, at Stroud theatre The Space on Saturday.

Richard Reason is an experienced pianist who has transcribed music by artists including Yoko Ono.

To see 'Memories' call 01453 884413 or for 'Sing us' call 01453 836170.