Dina Richardson

Dina Richardson, aka Dina Taylor, is an American singer and songwriter. Richardson is a native New Yorker whose musical roots are in New York City and London. She spent her youth singing in a church choir. She attended the Long Island High School for the Arts, specializing in voice and drama. Richardson continued her studies of music and drama at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and the Royal Court Theatre Young People's Theatre in London.

Performing and recording career

In London, as the lyricist and lead singer of BBG (1990-94), Polydor artist Richardson hit the UK Billboard charts twice with Sweet Inspiration (which reached number 24) and Some Kind of Heaven; other releases included Snappiness.^[1] During her time with BBG, Richardson appeared on various TV shows: Top of the Pops, Blue Peter, the Terry Wogan Show and Pebble Mill. Her London performances included a headliner at The Fridge in Brixton, opening for De La Soul at the Brixton Academy, and appearances at Heaven and the Docklands' London Arena.

Richardson was invited by Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates) to work on a collaborative project at Apawling Studio in Pawling, New York, for Sony Music. She recorded the eponymous EP Dina Richardson (1998), at Sony Music Studios with producer David Lai for Lucky Lai Productions. She has played numerous New York venues including the Postcrypt Coffee House.^[2]

From 2002 to 2005, Richardson was vocalist and co-writer for the New York based band AlphaMotive. During this period, Wave Music released the Thus Far EP (2003) followed by The Light EP (2003), Better Day and You are Not Alone. The Light was described by Spirit of House as 'a deep groover with subtle synth stabs, trumpet, funky percussion and delicious bassline'.^[3] Tracks by AlphaMotive have also appeared in several compilations.^[4]

Richardson has sung backing vocals for many artists, including Oleta Adams and Roland Orzabal from the band Tears for Fears.

She opened for Phoebe Snow, at the Bottom Line in February 2000 as part of the “Nightbirds” Series,^[5] and for John Legend at the Knitting Factory Concerts for Change in October 2004;^[6][7]

Richardson studied acting with Suzanne Shepherd in 2007; has done voiceovers for Aveda, sung jingles for Bell Atlantic and Levi's; served as the principal actor in a Burger King commercial and the TV pilot 'Finding Music'; appeared on the Cosby Show; and wrote and performed the tag line for Joe’s Blue Plate Special, a syndicated college radio show. She has also appeared in several student and independent films.

Songwriting career

Early co-written songwriting successes for Richardson included: Shout About, by Jason Donovan, the closing track of his album All Around the World, Sony UK (1992); Does Anybody Know Where Happy Lives, Danielle Gahar, Sony UK/AU (1993), and Walking in a Rhythm, Maiuko, (1995).

Recording artist Will Young, 2002 winner of the UK TV talent show Pop Idol released Friday’s Child the single, co-written by Dina Taylor (aka Richardson) and Steve Lee. The single went to number 4 in the UK charts, while the five-times platinum album, also titled Friday’s Child (BMG 2004), topped the album charts twice in December 2003 and January 2004, and achieved worldwide sales in excess of 1.8 million.

Richardson has written with recording artists Daryl Hall, Adam Joseph and Hugh Panaro from Broadway’s The Phantom of the Opera; and collaborated with songwriters including David Lai.

Recent projects

Richardson is currently working with Feminenza and The Forgiveness Concerts as part of the non-professional altruistic ensemble Thalia's Whisper, fundraising and exploring ways that music and musical collaborations can enhance to possibilities of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation between peoples in conflict.^[8]

Richardson has also written songs and performed with crossover cellist Stephanie Winters.

References