Ric Formosa
Encyclopedia
Riccardo "Ric" Formosa is an award-winning Italian-born Australian musician and composer. He was the lead guitar
ist for pop band Little River Band
from 1975 to 1976 and recorded their first two albums, Little River Band
and After Hours
.
, Canada
. He migrated to Australia in 1974 and worked as a music arranger and studio musician. He joined Australian pop
group Little River Band
shortly after arriving in Australia.
ist, Graham Davidge
, played only on LRB's first recording session, a cover of The Everly Brothers
' song "When Will I Be Loved
". Formosa replaced Davidge shortly after.
Formosa played on the first two LRB albums, Little River Band
and After Hours
. For the latter he wrote the song "Bourbon Street" and co-wrote "Another Runaway" with fellow member Beeb Birtles
. Formosa toured Australia with Little River Band, playing 311 shows in 1975–1976. He was replaced by David Briggs
in August 1976.
On 19 August 1980, Formosa joined an ensemble of pop artists in a memorial concert for Andrew Durant (Stars'
guitarist who had died earlier that year). Formosa played slide guitar
, guitar and piano
. A live double-LP
, The Andrew Durant Memorial Concert, was released on Mushroom Records
in 1980.
fellowship in 1983 and studied with Franco Donatoni
at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
in Rome and at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana
in Siena
. He also attended masterclasses in conducting with Franco Ferrara
. On returning to Australia, Formosa worked for Victorian College of the Arts
, the Victorian Arts Studio and Musica Viva. Formosa works as an arranger, conductor and studio musician for recordings, radio and television. He also has an extensive catalogue of compositions.
.
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist for pop band Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
from 1975 to 1976 and recorded their first two albums, Little River Band
Little River Band (album)
Little River Band is the eponymous debut album by Australian rock group Little River Band which was released by EMI in November 1975. It peaked at No. 12 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. The band's debut single, "Curiosity " was released in September ahead of the album and...
and After Hours
After Hours (Little River Band album)
After Hours is the second album from the Australian rock band Little River Band, released in 1976 by Capitol Records. The first single from the album, "Everyday of My Life" was a top ten hit in Australia....
.
Early life
Riccardo Formosa was born in Rome, Italy but grew up in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He migrated to Australia in 1974 and worked as a music arranger and studio musician. He joined Australian pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
shortly after arriving in Australia.
Little River Band
Original Little River Band (LRB) lead guitarLead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist, Graham Davidge
Graham Davidge
Graham Davidge is an Australian musician. He has played with Little River Band, Goanna and numerous other Australian bands.Davidge was chosen as the original lead guitarist for Little River Band. He played on the band's first recording in 1975, a cover of the Everly Brothers song "When Will I Be...
, played only on LRB's first recording session, a cover of The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
' song "When Will I Be Loved
When Will I Be Loved (song)
"When Will I Be Loved" is a popular song, written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers and a #8 hit single for that duo in the summer of 1960. The track had been recorded in 1959 while the Everly Brothers were contracted to Cadence Records; by 1960 they had moved to Warner Brothers and recording...
". Formosa replaced Davidge shortly after.
Formosa played on the first two LRB albums, Little River Band
Little River Band (album)
Little River Band is the eponymous debut album by Australian rock group Little River Band which was released by EMI in November 1975. It peaked at No. 12 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. The band's debut single, "Curiosity " was released in September ahead of the album and...
and After Hours
After Hours (Little River Band album)
After Hours is the second album from the Australian rock band Little River Band, released in 1976 by Capitol Records. The first single from the album, "Everyday of My Life" was a top ten hit in Australia....
. For the latter he wrote the song "Bourbon Street" and co-wrote "Another Runaway" with fellow member Beeb Birtles
Beeb Birtles
Beeb Birtles , is a Dutch / Australian musician, one of the founding members of the Little River Band....
. Formosa toured Australia with Little River Band, playing 311 shows in 1975–1976. He was replaced by David Briggs
David Briggs (Australian musician)
David Briggs is an Australian musician and record producer, educated at Wesley College, Melbourne best known for his time as a guitarist in the rock band, Little River Band between 1976 and 1981.In 1976 he joined Little River Band. He wrote their hit single "Lonesome Loser", as well as "Happy...
in August 1976.
On 19 August 1980, Formosa joined an ensemble of pop artists in a memorial concert for Andrew Durant (Stars'
Stars (Australian band)
-Other appearances:-Members:*Glyn Dowding – drums *Malcolm Eastick – guitar, vocals *Mick Pealing – vocals *Graham Thompson – bass guitar *Andrew Durant – guitar...
guitarist who had died earlier that year). Formosa played slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
, guitar and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. A live double-LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, The Andrew Durant Memorial Concert, was released on Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
in 1980.
Composer
Formosa was awarded an Australia CouncilAustralia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
fellowship in 1983 and studied with Franco Donatoni
Franco Donatoni
Franco Donatoni was an Italian composer.Born in Verona, he started studying violin at the age of seven, and frequented the local Music Academy...
at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
The Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia is one of the oldest musical institutions in the world, based in Italy.It is based at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, and was founded by the papal bull, Ratione congruit, issued by Sixtus V in 1585, which invoked two saints prominent in Western...
in Rome and at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana
Accademia Musicale Chigiana
The Accademia Musicale Chigiana is a music institute in Siena, Italy. It was founded by Count Guido Chigi Saracini in 1932 as an international centre for advanced musical studies. It organises Master Classes in the major musical instruments as well as singing, conducting and composition...
in Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
. He also attended masterclasses in conducting with Franco Ferrara
Franco Ferrara
Franco Ferrara was an Italian conductor.After obtaining diplomas in piano, violin, organ and musical composition at the Conservatory of Bologna, Ferrara began his career as violin player in Bologna, in Rome and in Florence, with the Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino...
. On returning to Australia, Formosa worked for Victorian College of the Arts
Victorian College of the Arts
The Faculty of the VCA and Music is a faculty of the University of Melbourne, in Victoria . VCAM is located near the Melbourne central business district, on two campuses, one - the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - on the Parkville campus of the University of Melbourne, and the other - the...
, the Victorian Arts Studio and Musica Viva. Formosa works as an arranger, conductor and studio musician for recordings, radio and television. He also has an extensive catalogue of compositions.
Awards
Formosa has won awards and commendations during his career, including:| Year | Award | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | John Bishop Memorial Prize | University of Adelaide University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia... |
| 1991 | Gold Lion Award | Cannes Advertising Festival Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a global event for those working in advertising and related fields. The seven-day festival, incorporating the awarding of the Lions awards, is held yearly at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France... |
| 1991 | Best International Television Commercial (Music) | Mobius Advertising Awards |
| 2003 | Best Music for Children’s Television | APRA Screen Music Awards APRA Awards The APRA Music Awards are several award ceremonies run in Australia and New Zealand by Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.... |
Family
Formosa's daughter Antonella is a successful singer who performs and records as A-LoveA-Love
A-Love is a female Australian based MC from Melbourne. Her debut album, Ace of Hearts was nominated 'Best Urban Release' in the ARIA Music Awards of 2008.-Biography:A-Love was born Antonella Formosa in Rome, Italy on 21 March 1983...
.