Dina Richardson
Encyclopedia
Dina Richardson, aka Dina Taylor, is an American
singer and songwriter
. Richardson is a native New Yorker whose musical roots are in New York
and London
. She spent her youth singing in a church choir. She attended the Long Island High School for the Arts, specializing in voice and drama. Richardson continued her studies of music and drama at New York University
’s Tisch School of the Arts
, the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
and the Royal Court Theatre
Young People's Theatre in London.
, Blue Peter
, the Terry Wogan
Show and Pebble Mill
. Her London performances included a headliner at The Fridge
in Brixton, opening for De La Soul
at the Brixton Academy, and appearances at Heaven
and the Docklands' London Arena
.
Richardson was invited by Daryl Hall
(of Hall & Oates
) to work on a collaborative project at Apawling Studio in Pawling, New York, for Sony Music. She recorded the eponymous EP Dina Richardson (1998), at Sony Music Studios with producer David Lai for Lucky Lai Productions. She has played numerous New York venues including the Postcrypt Coffee House.
From 2002 to 2005, Richardson was vocalist and co-writer for the New York based band
AlphaMotive. During this period, Wave Music released the Thus Far EP (2003) followed by The Light EP (2003), Better Day and You are Not Alone. The Light was described by Spirit of House as 'a deep groover with subtle synth stabs, trumpet, funky percussion and delicious bassline'. Tracks by AlphaMotive have also appeared in several compilations.
Richardson has sung backing vocals for many artists, including Oleta Adams and Roland Orzabal from the band Tears for Fears
.
She opened for Phoebe Snow, at the Bottom Line in February 2000 as part of the “Nightbirds” Series, and for John Legend at the Knitting Factory Concerts for Change in October 2004;
Richardson studied acting with Suzanne Shepherd in 2007; has done voiceovers for Aveda, sung jingles for Bell Atlantic and Levis
; served as the principal actor in a Burger King
commercial and the TV pilot 'Finding Music'; appeared on the Cosby Show; and wrote and performed the tag line for Joe’s Blue Plate Special, a syndicated collage radio show. She has also appeared in several student and independent films.
, the closing track of his album All Around the World, Sony UK (1992); Does Anybody Know Where Happy Lives, Danielle Gahar, Sony UK/AU (1993), and Walking in a Rhythm, Maiuko, (1995).
Recording artist Will Young
, 2002 winner of the UK TV talent show Pop Idol released Friday’s Child the single, co-written by Dina Taylor (aka Richardson) and Steve Lee. The single went to number 4 in the UK charts, while the five-times platinum album, also titled Friday’s Child (BMG 2004)
, topped the album charts twice in December 2003 and January 2004, and achieved worldwide sales in excess of 1.8 million.
Richardson has written with recording artists Daryl Hall
, Adam Joseph and Hugh Panaro
from Broadway’s The Phantom of the Opera
; and collaborated with songwriters including David Lai.
Richardson has also written songs and performed with crossover cellist Stephanie Winters
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Richardson is a native New Yorker whose musical roots are in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She spent her youth singing in a church choir. She attended the Long Island High School for the Arts, specializing in voice and drama. Richardson continued her studies of music and drama at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
’s Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
, the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
__notoc__The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute is an acting school located at 115 East 15th Street between Union Square East and Irving Place in the Union Square neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, as well as at 7936 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, California...
and the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
Young People's Theatre in London.
Performing and recording career
In London, as the lyricist and lead singer of BBG (1990-94), Polydor artist Richardson hit the UK Billboard charts twice with Sweet Inspiration (which reached number 24) and Some Kind of Heaven; other releases included Snappiness. During her time with BBG, Richardson appeared on various TV shows: Top of the PopsTop of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
, the Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
Show and Pebble Mill
Pebble Mill at One
Pebble Mill at One was a popular British lunchtime chat show broadcast live originally on BBC2 before transferring to BBC1. It was produced from the Pebble Mill facilities of BBC Birmingham, and uniquely was hosted from the centre's main reception area rather than a traditional studio...
. Her London performances included a headliner at The Fridge
The Fridge
The Fridge is a nightclub in the Brixton area of South London, founded by Andrew Czezowski, who had run the Roxy during punk music's heyday in 1977. It was originally started in 1981, in a small club at 390 Brixton Lane, and in 1982 above Iceland in Brixton Road with a radical decor that included...
in Brixton, opening for De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
at the Brixton Academy, and appearances at Heaven
Heaven (nightclub)
Heaven is a Superclub in London, England which appeals predominantly to the gay market. It is located underneath Charing Cross railway station in Central London, just off Trafalgar Square.-Early history:...
and the Docklands' London Arena
London Arena
The London Arena was an indoor arena and exhibition centre, on the Isle of Dogs, in East London, England...
.
Richardson was invited by Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
(of Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
) to work on a collaborative project at Apawling Studio in Pawling, New York, for Sony Music. She recorded the eponymous EP Dina Richardson (1998), at Sony Music Studios with producer David Lai for Lucky Lai Productions. She has played numerous New York venues including the Postcrypt Coffee House.
From 2002 to 2005, Richardson was vocalist and co-writer for the New York based band
AlphaMotive. During this period, Wave Music released the Thus Far EP (2003) followed by The Light EP (2003), Better Day and You are Not Alone. The Light was described by Spirit of House as 'a deep groover with subtle synth stabs, trumpet, funky percussion and delicious bassline'. Tracks by AlphaMotive have also appeared in several compilations.
Richardson has sung backing vocals for many artists, including Oleta Adams and Roland Orzabal from the band Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
.
She opened for Phoebe Snow, at the Bottom Line in February 2000 as part of the “Nightbirds” Series, and for John Legend at the Knitting Factory Concerts for Change in October 2004;
Richardson studied acting with Suzanne Shepherd in 2007; has done voiceovers for Aveda, sung jingles for Bell Atlantic and Levis
Levis
-People:*François de Gaston, Chevalier de Lévis , French soldier best known for his command in Canada in 1760*George Levis , American college basketball player and coach*Georges Lévis , French adult comic artist-Places:Canada...
; served as the principal actor in a Burger King
Burger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
commercial and the TV pilot 'Finding Music'; appeared on the Cosby Show; and wrote and performed the tag line for Joe’s Blue Plate Special, a syndicated collage radio show. She has also appeared in several student and independent films.
Songwriting career
Early co-written songwriting successes for Richardson included: Shout About, by Jason DonovanJason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
, the closing track of his album All Around the World, Sony UK (1992); Does Anybody Know Where Happy Lives, Danielle Gahar, Sony UK/AU (1993), and Walking in a Rhythm, Maiuko, (1995).
Recording artist Will Young
Will Young
William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
, 2002 winner of the UK TV talent show Pop Idol released Friday’s Child the single, co-written by Dina Taylor (aka Richardson) and Steve Lee. The single went to number 4 in the UK charts, while the five-times platinum album, also titled Friday’s Child (BMG 2004)
Friday's Child (album)
Friday's Child is the second album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on 1 December 2003 and reached #1 in the UK Album Chart...
, topped the album charts twice in December 2003 and January 2004, and achieved worldwide sales in excess of 1.8 million.
Richardson has written with recording artists Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
, Adam Joseph and Hugh Panaro
Hugh Panaro
-Life and career:Panaro was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and resided in the East Oak Lane section of the city with his family. As a schoolchild, he attended St. Helena’s parochial school in the adjoining Philadelphia neighborhood of Olney. He played organ for the parish church from age twelve...
from Broadway’s The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
; and collaborated with songwriters including David Lai.
Recent projects
Richardson is currently working with Feminenza and The Forgiveness Concerts as part of the non-professional altruistic ensemble Thalia's Whisper, fundraising and exploring ways that music and musical collaborations can enhance to possibilities of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation between peoples in conflict.Richardson has also written songs and performed with crossover cellist Stephanie Winters
Stephanie Winters
Stephanie Winters is an American New York-based cellist with a wide-ranging career as soloist and performer. Winters creates leadership-themed programs and has performed for organizations such as Lincoln Center, The World Bank, United Nations Development Program and Rutgers University and acts as a...
.