Backgrounder: Johnny Richards' Walk Softly

As West Coast arrangers go, Johnny Richards was spectacular. Like Bill Holman and Shorty Rogers, he had an authentic feel for the Hollywood scene and how to blend glamor with art. To stir this mood, Richards made wonderful use of French horns and piccolos, and he always threw in a touch of Latin flavor. His arrangements for Stan Kenton stand out, but his leadership albums are truly special. 

Born Juan Manuel Cascales in Mexico in 1911, Richards came to the U.S. in 1919. He attended Fullerton College and began working as a bassist in Los Angeles in 1930, and by the 1940s he was arranging.

His albums for Kenton include Cuban Fire! (1956), Back to Balboa (1958), West Side Story (1961) and Adventures in Time (1962). His albums as an orchestra leader and conductor include Something Else (1956), Wide Range (1957) and Aqui Se Habla Español (1967). They are among my favorite big band recordings.

I last featured Richards by featuring a Backgrounder on Something Else (see below). Today, I'm providing you with his Walk Softly, Run Wild! (1959), another terrific recording and favorite album.

Johnny Richards died in 1968.

Here's Walk Softly, Run Wild! without ad interruptions...