2024 is brewing with excitement!!! Starting with close to 50 new vocal songs and well recorded demos to choose from, Richard buckled down in January, February & March to produce his new solo album "Love Drop". It features 14 songs, including live favorites for the past couple of years: "Queen Of Excuses", "Secret's In The Sauce", "Every Drop Of Rain", "The Antacid Blues", "Wherever You Are", "I Like The Weeds" and "I'm The Guy". This record features (in alphabetic order) Jake Banaszak, Daniel Broadwater, Barry Caudill, Cory Dunt, Mike Gottleib, Bobby Hird, Vicki Kieffer, Bob Margolis, Mitch Shaivitz, Eric Robertson, Ray Tilkens, Lee Townsend, Tecla Walton & Joe Mama Wirt. Available late spring / early summer.
2023 starts off with a bang with the release of Richard Walton Group's BRAND NEW 8 song CD "5 By Seven" . This is their anticipated follow up to the 2016 release of "Under The Current". "5 By Seven" features the composition &musical talents of Michael Bronson, Barry Caudill, Joey D'Amico, Mike Gottleib, Dave Krug, David Meer, Matt Perich, Mitch Shaivitz & Eric Robertson. There were many obstacles that the band had to overcome to get this project finished. The reward is overwhelming, with songs ("Infatuation", "Bad Dog", "A Song For C.L" just to name a few) that the band has been playing live in concert the past years.
2022 has been a busy year of writing & recording new music: November ushers in the debut EP from Three's A Crowd (Vicki Kieffer & Richard) This EP features many fine musicians: Barry Caudill, Bill Dumas, Bobby Hird, Mike Gottleib, Marc Jackson, Dave Krug, Karyn Oliver, Tecla Walton, plus Richard Walton Group musicians (David Meer, Mitch Shaivitz & Eric Robertson)
In June of 2021, Richard's album project Straight On Red ‘’Your Love'’ will be released. It's a 17 track CD, featuring the talents of group members Nashville's Drew Davidsen, Tecla Walton, Kevin Doxzen, plus a few special guests. Basically, a remastered & remixed CD EP from 2007, plus 11 new previously unreleased, fresh bonus tracks....finished and mixed during the Covid pandemic lockdowns.
In June 2019, Richard's new LP "Twelve" (VINYL & CD) hit the shelves. The record features most of the critically acclaimed bands Crack The Sky (Rick Witkowski, Bobby Hird, Joey D'Amico, Joe Macre, Glenn Workman & John Palumbo) & Richard Walton Group (Michael Bronson, Mike Gottleib, David Meer, Mitch Shaivitz & Eric Robertson). Co-produced by legendary Crack the Sky guitarist Rick Witkowski. Other significant creative contributions on "Twelve", are from friends & musicians Tom Alonso, Scott Smith, Ellis Woodward & Bob Margolis.
In December 2016, Richard was honored as one of the youngest musicians inducted into the Maryland Entertainment Hall Of Fame.
In early 2016, Richard signed a publishing deal with a major California-based music firm, representing his vocal & instrumental work. His songs are now featured in major network television shows.
Richard Walton has been a Mid-Atlantic professional music performer since his teens. From spontaneous solo acoustic performances to multi-genre instrumental group concerts, he has earned the respect of his peers and the general public for his professionalism. Richard has been composing, performing and producing original music for over 25 years. He is best known for leading The Richard Walton Group, an all-original, award-winning, multi-genre, instrumental group, celebrating 25 years. He has released 14 critically acclaimed CD’s to date and received 41 songwriting awards from various international and regional songwriting contests. His current CD's are: 2023 release "5 By Seven" (Richard Walton Group), 2022 release "Wheelhouse" (Three's A Crowd) and 2019 release "Twelve" (solo),
In 2016, Richard Walton Group was nominated by Maryland Music Awards as Best Jazz Artist.
In 2016, Richard Walton Group's CD "Under The Current" received a WAMMIE nomination for Best Jazz Recording and placed 4th as Most Popular Mid-Atlantic Area Musician/Artist.
Richard’s music and recordings can be heard on various radio & satellite stations around the United States, including Pandora Radio. His music is found and sold on all the major digital sites, including I-Tunes, Amazon, CD Baby, etc...
Richard's songs have been licensed for major television networks, various CD compilations and tribute CD projects. He has over 150 of his compositions (co-writes or solo) published and has vast experience in successful, professional music business leadership and networking.
Educated & trained as a classical violinist at an early age, Richard gravitated towards singing, bass & acoustic guitar. His advanced high school electronic music courses gave him the basic education for engineering & production. He works as an energetic solo performer in a variety of situations, including restaurants, corporate functions, coffee houses, schools, pubs, churches, concert halls, weddings, private parties, retirement communities, charity events and house concerts. Richard has also served for over 15 years on several worship teams at churches in the Howard County region, currently serving at Bethany Methodist Church in Ellicott City, MD & The Crossing in Milton/Lewes, DE. He also is a freelance musician and performs regularly in duo/trio/band situations with other professional musicians.
Richard Walton Group (Barry Caudill, David Meer, Matt Perich, Mitch Shaivitz & Richard): award-winning, multi-genre (world beat, jam, fusion) instrumental
Solo Acoustic acoustic (covers & award-winning originals)
Three's A Crowd: (Vicki Kieffer & Richard): chick / male acoustic pop/rock duo (covers & originals)
Rich Mama (Joe Mama & Richard): acoustic pop/rock duo (covers & originals)
Rich & Famous (Frank Frazier & Richard) acoustic classic rock duo (covers & originals)
Rich & Mitch (Mitch Shaivitz & Richard) acoustic pop/rock duo (covers & originals)
Richard Walton & Friends (Stephen Brusca, Freddie Louden or Frank Frazier: bass guitar/vocals, Vicki Kieffer: vocals/percussion, David Meer: guitar/vocals, Mitch Shaivitz: drums/percussion, Tecla Walton: violin/vocals) Covers & Originals / Yacht Rock / Dance / Harmony-based
Musical influences (no order, all equally important): Pat Metheny, Jimmy Webb, NRBQ, Sergio Mendes, Stevie Wonder, Michael Franks, Stanley Clarke, Faces, Laura Nyro, Temptations, Jeff Beck, George Duke, Chicago, Badfinger, Djavan, Joni Mitchell, Hollies, Toto, Glen Campbell, Peter Frampton, The Association, Smokey Robinson, Glenn Hughes, Jack Bruce, Dan Fogelberg, Crack The Sky, Free, The Who, Phil Keaggy, Beatles, Thin Lizzy, Billy Cobham, Poco, Todd Rundgren, Zombies, Tower Of Power, Big Star, CSN&Y, Tommy Bolin, Seals & Crofts, Asleep At The Wheel, Kings X, Jaco Pastorius, Deep Purple, Bread, Yes, Zeppelin, Todd Rundgren,Three Dog Night, Jellyfish, Cheap Trick, Steven Curtis Chapman, Fleetwood Mac, Doors, Bob Marley, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jessie Colin Young, Joe Walsh, Manhattan Transfer, Van Morrison, Raspberries, Loggins & Messina, Eric Johnson, America, Ambrosia, Genesis, Humble Pie, etc..
Records that changed my life or wore out the grooves to: "Court & Spark" - Joni Mitchell, "Spectrum" - Billy Cobham, "#1 Record"- Big Star, "Diamond Girl" - Seals & Crofts, "Pat Metheny Group" - Pat Metheny Group, "School Days" - Stanley Clarke, "At Yankee Stadium" - NRBQ, "Sgt. Pepper" - Beatles, "Innervisions" - Stevie Wonder, "Through The Past Darkly" - Rolling Stones, "Teaser" - Tommy Bolin, "Deja Vu" - CSN&Y, "Aretha's Gold" - Aretha Franklin, "Tommy" - The Who, "Something/Anything" - Todd Rundgren, "Crazy Eyes" - Poco, "Tiger In The Rain" - Michael Franks, "The Garden Of Love Light" - Narada Michael Walden, "No Matter What" - Badfinger, "Home Free" - Dan Fogelberg, "What A Day" - Phil Keaggy, "Rides Again" - James Gang, "Song For Juli" - Jesse Colin Young, "Talking Book" - Stevie Wonder, "Hey Jude" / "Revolution" - Beatles, "Tumbleweed Connection" - Elton John, "A Trick Of The Tail" - Genesis, "Humble Pie" - Humble Pie, "Wired" - Jeff Beck, "Crack The Sky" - Crack The Sky, "You Are The Music, We're Just The Band" - Trapeze, "The Yes Album" - Yes, "Montrose" - Montrose, "In Rock" - Deep Purple, "Bird Of Paradise" - Djavan, "Celebrate Me Home" - Kenny Loggins, "Homecoming" - America, "Tapestry" - Carole King, "Motherlode" - Loggins & Messina, "Sergio Mendes Presents Brasil 66", "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink" - The Faces, "On The Boulevard" - New Grass Revival, "Ozark Mt. Daredevils" - Ozark Mt. Daredevils