Professional Latin Musician Richard Lopez is currently living in the Minneapolis-St Paul Area.
Richard Lopez literally grew up on the musical stage in his native Honduras. His grandfather Santos, a local musician and construction worker, vowed that his descendants would be able to read, write, and perform music. His only child Leoncio became well known for his skills as a classical guitarist, singer, writer, music producer, and teacher. To continue the family legacy, he
began teaching 6-year-old Richard, the eldest of his three sons, to read the scales while practicing on a little guitar. He learned quickly and soon began performing every Saturday on the stage of his primary school. As the other two sons reached age 6, they joined Richard at the little table and chairs, with their own small guitars. There, they practiced 7 days a week for up to 5 hours per day to become one with their music. The neighborhood soon became aware of the little Lopez trio. So when people began to hang from the Lopez’ windowsills to catch a glimpse of the little boys practicing, they began to give impromptu concerts on the front steps of their house.
At age 12, after 6 years tutelage by his father, Richard went to study voice and piano at the National School of Music. At 13, he entered the music conservatory, La Banda de los Supremos Poderes, for a 3-year program of study of the clarinet, voice harmony, and music theory. He also took private lessons in trombone, trumpet, and saxophone. At home, he began to shift the focus of his guitar studies to the bass since he would be doing vocals while his two brothers took over guitar and percussion in their trio. To the surprise of his teachers, Richard tested out of the conservatory after only one year.
So at only 14 years of age, he embarked on a professional music career, spending the next 8 years performing in Honduras and Costa Rica with Antonio Medina’s Band and in Grupo Corea, which was chosen by the Honduran government to record with CBS celebrating the Anniversary of Tegucigalpa. Richard became known as perhaps the top bass player in Honduras, and was a member of the National Orchestra, performing 6 seasons for the country’s OTI Orchestra.
By the age of 22 and after already 16 years of performing, Richard realized he must leave his birth country. So, with an accounting degree, skills as a computer programmer, and his guitar in hand, he headed to Miami where he soon became embroiled in the hot Latin music scene of the 1980’s. During those years he gradually built up his reputation and repertoire, playing the Miami Concord, the Swiss Chateau, Fontainebleau Tropigala, and the Copacabana with the likes of Jose Jose, Jose Feliciano ,Valeria Lynch, Maria Marta Cerralima, Braulio, Cachao, Nestor Torres, Rolando Laserie, Olga Guillot. When brother Raphael arrived in the US, they formed the duo Alpha y Omega. Then, in the early 90’s the Swiss Chateau came under new management, and Richard was hired on as Artistic Director and leader of the 16 piece orchestra. Additionally, he acted as sound and light engineer, and was charged with booking acts such as Rey Ruiz, Lalo Rodriguez, and Anthony Cruz.
After the demise of the Swiss Chateau Club in 1995, the music scene in Miami was becoming less profitable and reliable, so Richard’s focus returned to family matters and his computer career. He continued to perform intermittently at various clubs and restaurants around the city, while taking night classes in music and computer topics.
Now, it is the 2000’s, and Richard has returned to his old mistress, the music. He continues strong in his skills with the bass, piano, and guitar, but this time, he returns primarily as a solo artist using the modern technology of the keyboards to bring Latin styles and rhythms and passions to those who grew up with them and to those who are just beginning to learn.
Richard’s greatest strength is his sensitivity to his audience, so if you are looking for a performer who plays for the dancers and to the moods of the listeners, you will be very pleased.
Call anytime to get more information!
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Richard Lopez – 952-334-4256
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