Richard March

Richard March, a tall, ebullient songwriter/storyteller is a modern day throwback to the melodic, progressive country music stars of several decades ago when folks like Mickey Newbury, Kris Kristofferson and Glen Campbell were regularly heard on radio and seen on evening television. A San Francisco Bay area native who lived in Nashville, returned west and now lives in Sacramento, March should be considered a true California bard.

A San Francisco Bay area native who lived in Nashville, returned west and now lives in Sacramento, March should be considered a true California bard. A number of his songs, both on his new 2007 album, Levee Road (?High on a Mountain?) and his 2004 release, These Dreams, (?San Francisco?) are paeans to his beloved Golden State.

With his well-worn Martin D-18, the Sammie (Sacramento Area Music Award) award winning March goes a bit beyond new Americana strum and twang. He has clearly benefited from the reflective, compositional styles of John Prine and Paul Simon; the yearning, multi-layered folk-rock of Roger McGuinn; even the gentle, conscious country-rock of humanitarian John Denver. These influences are melded into Richard's distinctive voice and memorable melodies.

March's long time band mates are guitarist Steve Randall (2006 and 2007 Sammie winner for Best Guitarist), drummer Kevin ?the Father? Priest and Tyler Ragle, his bassist/harmony vocalist and occasional co-writer.

Coming from a family of Bay Area public school teachers, and growing up in the 1970s-1980s, March's love of language and respect for public service is apparent.

In the early 1990s, March studied voice, composition and musical theatre at San Francisco State University, joined the local coffeehouse and club scene, and became part of a thriving songwriter community that included other local favorites, Matt Nathanson, Noe Venable, Ben Graves and Box Set. He recorded two albums there, The Bridge in 1994, and a self-titled disc in 1999. Both were well-received, garnering him showcase opportunities in radio personality/music promoter Bonnie Simmon's SFO1 Conference and the city-wide "Making Waves Music Festival."

After a stint in Nashville, Richard relocated to Sacramento in 2001 where he grabbed the attention of local critics and music fans alike with his buoyant live shows and These Dreams. He has won the praise of every one of the roots music legends he has opened for? from folk icon Ramblin' Jack Elliott, to the great bluesmen/songwriters Nick Gravenites and John Hammond, to rockabilly hero Lee Rocker, and most recently, Johnny Cash's original backing band, the Tennesse Three.