MEET RICHIE
Known as a music composer, arranger and producer for over 30 years, Richie is also an educator and a songwriter for many genres such as Latin, R&B and Soul, Pop and Jazz.
Richie Diaz was born and raised on the streets of Philadelphia where he developed a love of music from his parents at an early age. His father, Angelo Diaz, also known as El Mexicano, was a jazz vocalist for the Mark Davis Orchestra during the 1960 and collaborated with many artists throughout his career.
When Richie was 12, his father introduced him to the guitar before learning to play the piano, bass, and percussions. By the age of 14, he had started performing at neighborhood block and house parties, festivals and local events and became an opening act for many Latin salsa artists and groups at the Philadelphia Athletic Club.
Richie attended Thomas A. Edison High School studying music theory where he had the opportunity to perform with the only Edison High School Salsa orchestra. He continued his studies at the Gran Olde School of Music with Dennis Sandoli, an American jazz guitarist, composer and music educator. Richie also attended Combs College of Music to study classical piano techniques as well as the Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico (Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico) to continue his classical piano techniques.
Over time, Richie formed his own band called Orquesta Herencia and served as a bandleader, arranger and composer. Throughout the course of his career, he has worked with Cecil Deval, pianist for Grammy Award Winning Teddy Pendergrass, recording artists such as Daryl Burgee, world-renowned Master Drummer who has toured with Tina Marie and Rick James, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, world renowned fusion bass player for Ornette Coleman (Sax), Max Roach, Carlos Santana, Cecil Dival, and John DiMartino.