Bio/ Richard Hastings
Richard Hastings started playing guitar at age seven and has been a professional working musician (guitarist and vocalist) his entire adult life as performer, studio musician, composer, educator, music contractor and recording artist. His styles include classical, jazz, pop, folk, country, island, rock, and flamenco. He holds a Masters degree in music from USC and is a graduate of the famed Musicians Institute in Hollywood. As a performer, Richard has opened for such diverse artists as Bobby Caldwell, Chuck Mangione, Earl Klugh, Bo Diddley, Strunz and Farah, Stanley Clark, Richard Elliott, Freddie Fender, Jose Feliciano and many others.
Although his love for music has inspired him to explore, perform and record many styles of music, Richard’s original passion for music was in songwriting. His first cousin, Tim Hardin, who penned such classics as If I were a Carpenter and Reason to Believe, was Richard’s first inspiration. As a young boy, he watched Tim make a name for himself in the Greenwich Village folk scene of the 60’s, with the likes of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Peter Paul and Mary, etc.
As time went on, Richard built a successful business booking and performing for corporate events throughout Southern California and nationally. Over that time he released a variety of CDs ranging from solo guitar to smooth jazz to flamenco. As he says, “making a living as a musician required me to branch out and pursue many styles of music, but I enjoyed every minute of the journey!”
In recent years, Richard has returned to his songwriting roots by releasing two CDs: one, a tribute to his (now deceased) Cousin Tim Hardin, the second, a CD of original songs reflecting on his life’s experiences, lessons and revelations.
Although he and his wife Teresa are in the process of retiring in Southern Baja, Richard’s passion to perform remains one of his main drives in life. Look for him in local Southern California and Todos Santos, MX music venues and concerts!