Born: November 8, 1955 Primary Instrument: Drums
Guyanese-born Richard Bailey started his drumming career in Trinidad at the age of nine, sitting in on percussion, drums and even bass guitar with his elder brother Robert's ( Robert Bailey, keyboard -OSIBISA) group, the top band in Trinidad and Tobago at that time. He also accompanied Robert, who played Hammond organ, to perform TV/Live concerts as a duo.
At twelve years old Richard's family moved to London where Richard went to school, sitting in on occasional gigs in his spare time, but while at school Richard also excelled in athletics, becoming Southern England school champ at 100 metres. His father, Emmanuel McDonald Bailey had held the world record for the 100 yards and won an Olympic Bronze for England.
Even so, Richard decided to leave school at fifteen to play drums, leaving behind athletics.
By the time he was sixteen he was recording and touring the UK and USA with Johnny Nash and the great Bob Marley. By eighteen he had recorded Jeff Beck's biggest selling album “Blow By Blow” (1975, Epic/Sony Japan) to critical acclaim and appeared on the film soundtrack “Tommy” alongside Pete Townsend, Phil Chen and Roger Daltrey.
The next decade saw many recordings and tours varying in style from Rock to Reggae to Jazz to Pop and Latin including two world tours with Billy Ocean and Basia.
Richard occupied the drumseat with the the excellent British acid jazz/rock/soul fusion collective “INCOGNITO” for the past 15 years.
More recently he has been an integral part of Steve Winwood's two important return-to-form recordings, 2003's About Time (Wincraft) and last year's Nine Lives (Columbia).
His versatility has made him a first-call kitman for four decades whilst maintaining his own unique style keeps him much in demand.
Batti Mamzelle "I SEE THE LIGHT" (CUBE)
Jeff Beck "BLOW BY BLOW" (EPIC)
Jeff Beck "WIRED" (EPIC)
The Breakfast Band "DOLPHIN RIDE" (BREAKFAST MUSIC)
The Breakfast Band "WATER'S EDGE" (MAKING WAVES)
Gary Boyle "ELECTRIC GLIDE" (GULL)
Brother Resistance "RAPSO TAKEOVER" (MASIMBA CONNECTION)
Paul Carrack "NIGHTBIRD" (VERTIGO)
Al Corley "RIOT OF COLOUR" (PHONOGRAM)
Sharon Forrester "SHARON" (ASHANTI)
Gonzales "HAVEN'T STOPPED DANCING" (EMI)
Cleo Laine
Linda Lewis "NOT A LITTLE GIRL" (ARISTA)
Linda Lewis "FATHOMS" (RAFT)
Arthur Louis Feat / Eric Clapton "FIRST ALBUM" (POLYDOR)
Max Middleton & Robert Ahwai "ANOTHER SLEEPER" (HARVEST) '79
John Mizarolli "MESSAGE FROM THE FIFTH STONE" (CARRERE)
Dick Morrisey & Jim Mullen "CAPE WRATH" (EMI)
Johnny Nash "THE JONNY NASH ALBUM" (CBS)
Billy Ocean "INNER FEELINGS" (EPIC)
Raven Ohtani "RAVEN EYES" (S.M.S.)
Gilbert O'Sullivan "FROBISHER DRIVE" (TELDEC/ULTRAPHONE)
Annette Peacock "PERFECT RELEASE" (AURA)
Phase II
Polystyrene "TRANSLUCENCE" (UNITED ARTISTS)
Steel Pulse "EARTH CRISIS" (ELEKTRA)
Steel Pulse "BABYLON THE BANDIT" (ELEKTRA)
R Head Brothers "DEDICATE" (EMI)
Jess Roden "JESS RODEN" (ISLAND)
Sniff ‘n the Tears "THE GAMES UP" (CHISWICK)
Mayumi Shinozuka "TURNING POINT" (POLYDOR)
Ali Thomson "TAKE A LITTLE RHYTHM" (A&M)
Pete Townsend O.M.P.S. "TOMMY" (POLYDOR)
Doris Troy
Richard Bailey "FIRE DANCE" (SUGARCANE MUSIC)
Snowy White "SNOWY WHITE" (TOWERBELL)
Snowy White "WHITE FLAMES" (TOWERBELL)
Zahara "FLIGHT OF THE SPIRIT" (ANTILLES/ISLAND)
Incognito "POSITIVITY"
Incognito "100 DEGREES AND RISING"
Incognito "BENEATH THE SURFACE"
Incognito "LAST NIGHT TOKYO" (Live)
Incognito "NO TIME LIKE THE FUTURE"
Incognito "LIFE STRANGER THAN FICTION"
Incognito "WHO NEEDS LOVE"
Incognito "ADVENTURES IN BLACK SUNSHINE"
Incognito "LET THE MUSIC PLAY"
Incognito "ELEVEN"
Incognito "BEES AND THINGS AND FLOWERS"
Incognito "HOPE COLLECTIVE" (Single)
Asuka Kaneko "AVE" (PID) Jul '07
Richard Bailey "SHANTI OM" (SUGARCANE MUSIC)
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