Richard Tee (November 24, 1943 – July 21, 1993) was an American pianist, studio musician, singer and arranger. Richard Tee was born in Brooklyn, New York, where he spent most of his life and lived with his mother in a brownstone apartment building.
He graduated from The High School of Music & Art in New York City and attended the Manhattan School of Music. Though better known as a studio and session musician, Tee led a jazz ensemble, the Richard Tee Committee, and was a founding member of the band Stuff. In 1981 he played the piano and Fender Rhodes for Simon and Garfunkel’s Concert In Central Park.
Richard Tee played with a diverse range of artists during his career, such as Paul Simon, Carly Simon, The Bee Gees, Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Peter Allen, George Harrison, Diana Ross, Duane Allman, Quincy Jones, Bill Withers, Art Garfunkel, Nina Simone, Juice Newton, Billy Joel, Etta James, Grover Washington, Jr., Eric Clapton, Kenny Loggins, Patti Austin, David Ruffin, Lou Rawls, Ron Carter, Peter Gabriel, George Benson, Joe Cocker, Chuck Mangione, Tim Finn, Peabo Bryson, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, Phoebe Snow, Doc Severinson, Leo Sayer, Herbie Mann and countless others.
He also contributed to numerous gold and platinum albums during his long career and joined the band Stuff led by bassist Gordon Edwards. Other members of the band included guitarist Cornell Dupree, drummer Chris Parker and later adding guitarist Eric Gale and drummer Steve Gadd to the line up.
After a 16-year relationship with Eleana Steinberg Tee of Greenwich, Connecticut, the couple was married in Woodstock, New York, by New York State Supreme Court Justice Bruce Wright. The couple moved to the Chelsea Hotel in 1988, and later to Cold Spring, New York.
Richard Tee died of prostate cancer on July 21, 1993 in Cold Spring, New York at the age of 49. He is buried in the Artist Cemetery in Woodstock, New York.
Discography
Strokin´& Natural Ingredients
Cherry Red Records 2013
Tracks: First Love, Every Day, Strokin´, I Wanted It Too, Virginia Sunday, Jesus Children Of America, Take The “A” Train, What A Woman Really Means, Now, The Nut´s Off The Screw, Tell it Like It Is, Us, Back Door Man & Spinning Song.
Musicans on the Strokin´/Natural Ingredients album: Richard Tee, Steve Gadd, Chuck Rainey, Eric Gale, Ralph Mac Donald, Hugh McCracken, Michael Brecker, Tom Scott, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, Jon Faddis, Seldon Powell, Barry Rogers, Bill Eaton, Frank Floyd, Ken Williams, Zachary Sanders, Matthew Bragg, Valerie Simpson, Ullanda McCullogh & Lani Groves.
Real Time
One Voice 1995
Tracks: That´s The Way Of The World, The Way, Gone Too Soon, My Funny Valentine, I Miss You My Love, Yo Romeo, In Real Time, Send One Your Love, Take The "A" Train, A Secret Place & Without You.
Musicians on the Real Time album: Richard Tee and others.
Richard T - Inside You
Columbia Records 1989
Tracks: Inside You, Thinking Of You, Chalk It All Up, Precious Thing, Crying In My Sleep Tonight, Louisiana Sunday Afternoon, Lullabye, So Hard To Handle, Will You Be There, Changes & Wishing.
Musicians on the Inside You album: Richard Tee, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Marcus Miller, Eddie Gomez, John Tropea, Ralph MacDonald, Lenny Pickett, Bill Eaton, Patti Austin & Lani Groves.
The Bottom Line
King Records 1985
Tracks: If You Want It, What Can I Say, The Bottom Line, Nippon Lights, Rhapsody In Blue, Miss Understanding, Spring Is You, No Real Way & Moving On.
Musicians on the Bottom Line album: Richard Tee and others.
The Best Of Richard Tee
Columbia Records 1981
Tracks: Take The "A" Train, Now, Us, First Love, That´s The Way Of The World, Tell It Like It Is, Spinning Song, Send One Your Love, I Wanted To, Virginia Sunday & Rhapsody In Blue.
Musicians on the Best Of Richard Tee album: Richard Tee and others.
Richard T - Natural Ingredients
Columbia Records 1980
Tracks: What A Woman Really Means, Now, The Nut´s Off The Screw, Tell it Like It Is, Us, Back Door Man & Spinning Song.
Musicians on the Natural Ingredients album: Richard Tee, Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Matthew Bragg, Ralph MacDonald, Hugh McCracken, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Tom Scott, Barry Rogers, Seldon Powell, Valerie Simpson, Ullanda McCullogh & Lani Groves.
Richard T - Strokin´
Columbia Records 1979
Tracks: First Love, Every Day, Strokin´, I Wanted It Too, Virginia Sunday, Jesus Children Of America & Take The "A" Train.
Musicans on the Strokin´album: Richard Tee, Steve Gadd, Chuck Rainey, Eric Gale, Ralph Mac Donald, Hugh McCracken, Michael Brecker, Tom Scott, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, Jon Faddis, Seldon Powell, Barry Rogers, Bill Eaton, Frank Floyd, Ken Williams & Zachary Sanders.