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Richie Pratt
Member Since: 2004 | Location: Honolulu | Page Views: 1,759About Me
His professional tenure as a musician in New York actually began while he was employed as a Host at the famed Village Gate. Richie began sitting in with Jaki Byard and word began to spread about the big guy from the Midwest who played drums. The legendary bassist, Major Holley eventually invited Pratt to jam on Sundays at Jacques; which resulted in Junior Mance hearing him play drums and offering him his first paid gig as a drummer in New York. Initially described in the New York press as a “bubbling cauldron of musical vitality,” Pratt has added musical diversity to his cauldron by performing with the American Symphony, the Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey; in the Broadway hits: Ain't Suppose to Die; Dude; Raisin; and notably, Pratt was the drum soloist in Broadway's smashing tribute to Duke Ellington - Sophisticated Ladies! In the traditional Jazz arena, Pratt spent over three years as a member of the New York Jazz Quartet, which included Sir Roland Hanna, Frank Wess, and George Mraz. Pratt has also accompanied Billy Taylor, Milt Jackson, Milton Hinton, Frank Foster, Monte Alexander, Michel Legrand, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, and Benny Carter among others. The lightness and sensitivity of his drumming has enhanced such legendary vocalists as: Nancy Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Marlena Shaw, Barry White, Melba Moore, the Temptations, Della Reese, Johnny Hartman, Carol Sloane, and Johnny Desmond as well. Richie Pratt is now based in Honolulu, Hawaii where he is active on the music scene as a performer, clincian and composer. Pratt's musical story is still continuing to develop, so stay tuned for more work from this artist. His musical motto still remains the same, “Have sticks, Will travel...”
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This page was last updated on 2004-01-24.
