Richard Elliot
{{Short description|American saxophonist (born 1960)}}
{{About||those of a similar name|Richard Elliott (disambiguation)|the naval officer|Richard M. Elliot}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Richard Elliot
| image = DaveKoz05.jpg
| caption = Richard Elliot performing in 2005
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Richard Joel Elliot
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|1|16|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| origin = Los Angeles, California
| genre = Jazz
| occupation = Saxophonist
| instrument = {{hlist|Tenor saxophone|lyricon|alto saxophone|soprano saxophone}}
| years_active = 1977–present
| label =
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Tower of Power|Rick Braun|Dave Koz|Gerald Albright|Boney James|Kirk Whalum|Najee|Mindi Abair}}
| website = {{URL|richardelliot.com}}
}}
Richard Elliot (born January 16, 1960) is an American saxophonist. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards for Summer Horns.
Biography
=Early life=
Elliot was born in the Scottish Highlands, but moved to Los Angeles, California with his family at the age of three. There, he became smitten with the R&B sound, particularly that of Motown.
=Career=
Elliot started out as a member of the jazz-rock unit, KittyHawk, playing lyricon (a wind synthesizer) and saxophone, and recording several albums with them. He then became a member of the funk band Tower of Power, playing tenor sax for five years during the 1980s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/richard-elliot-mn0000852970/biography|title=Richard Elliot {{!}} Biography & History|last=Jurek|first=Thom|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=April 27, 2019}} He also did a stint as a member of the Yellowjackets. He also worked on Stacy Lattisaw's 1986 album Take Me All the Way. His solo career took off when he remade the Percy Sledge classic "When a Man Loves a Woman", which had also been remade by Michael Bolton. Other well-known songs include "In the Groove", "Take Your Time", "Crush", "Chill Factor", "Corner Pocket" and "Sly", as well as remakes of classic pop songs such as "I'm Not in Love" and the Luther Vandross hits "Here and Now" and "Your Secret Love".
Elliot participated with fellow saxophonists Paul Taylor and Gerald Albright, as well as keyboardist Jeff Lorber, in the "Grooving for Grover" concert series. The series honored the legacy of the late Grover Washington Jr.
Elliot was known for his zebra-striped tenor saxophone. In 2011, he switched from LA SAX Saxes to Dakota Saxophones, which the owner, Peter LaPlaca, sold for Dakota.
In 2005, Elliot joined trumpeter Rick Braun{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/rnr-rick-braun-artizen-music-group-review-by-susan-lozinak.php|title=Rick Braun / Richard Elliot: RnR|last=Lozinak|first=Susan|date=November 24, 2007|website=All About Jazz|language=en|access-date=April 27, 2019}} to co-found their own label, ARTizen Music Group (now known as Artistry Music). Among the first albums on that label is Elliot's own Metro Blue.
Elliot played the lyricon on several songs on the album Mirage a Trois (1983) by the Yellowjackets.
Discography
- Initial Approach (ITI, 1984)
- Trolltown (Intima, 1986)
- The Power of Suggestion (Intima, 1988)
- Take to the Skies (Intima, 1989)
- What's Inside (Enigma, 1990)
- On the Town (Manhattan, 1991)
- Soul Embrace (Capitol/Manhattan, 1993)
- After Dark (Blue Note, 1994)
- City Speak (Blue Note, 1996)
- Jumpin' Off (Metro Blue, 1997)
- Chill Factor (Capitol/Blue Note, 1999)
- Crush (Verve/GRP, 2001)
- Ricochet (GRP, 2003)
- Metro Blue (Artizen, 2005)
- R n R (featuring Rick Braun) (Artizen, 2007)
- Rock Steady (Artistry Music, 2009)
- In the Zone (Artistry Music, 2011)
- Lip Service (Heads Up, 2014)
- Summer Madness (Hear Music, 2016)
- Authentic Life (Shanachie, 2021)
- Straight Up Down (Record Label Needed Here, 2024)
Awards and nominations
{{awards table}}
!{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
|align=center|2013
|Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album
|{{nom}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.richardelliot.com Official Website]
- {{Discogs artist|artist=Richard Elliot}}
{{Tower of Power}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliot, Richard}}
Category:Tower of Power members
Category:Smooth jazz saxophonists
Category:21st-century American saxophonists
Category:British male saxophonists
Category:Scottish jazz saxophonists
Category:21st-century British male musicians