Richard Abel (born 1955) is a Canadian instrumental musician and pianist.[1] He is one of the best selling Canadian instrumental artists of all time.[2] He has been nominated for a Juno award three times.

Early life

Son of a cab driver, who later became a craftsman, Richard Abel came from a very modest family.[3] The taste for music and piano comes from his mother. He began to play by ear as a child,[4] but did not take piano lessons until the age of 14 with nuns.[5][6]

His first experience in front of an audience was playing on Sundays at the Marie-Reine-des-Cœurs church[7] in Montreal, in what was then known as the rhythmic masses (also known as "gogo masses"[8]). He did this for two years and he says that it was at this same church that he performed his first solo show at the age of 18.

He then took music lessons at the École normale de musique[9] in Westmount and at the Cégep de Saint-Laurent[10] in Montreal, with Armas Maiste,[11][12] pianist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. To pay for his studies, he became a pianist accompanist at the renowned singing school of Roger Larivière who was also Ginette Reno[13]'s teacher.

Career

Richard Abel's first professional engagement was as pianist and conductor for Quebec crooner Michel Louvain.[14] He then accompanied the comedy duo Ti-Gus et Ti-Mousse (Réal Béland - father, Ti-gus and Denyse Émond,[15] which allowed him to make a name for himself as a pianist musician by authorizing him to perform several solos during their shows.[16] He then dabbled in music hall in the context of Guilda's high-profile revues.[17] Richard Abel believes that the music hall was the best school for him. He had to learn how to tap dance (he even got a 3rd degree diploma from the Al Gilbert School in New York City, 1983), sing, act, do quick costume changes and, most importantly, capture the audience's attention.[18]

He also accompanied Alys Robi[19][20] and other popular artists,[21][22] which allowed him to work in many of the great hotels and piano bars in the province of Quebec.[23] He met the American pianist Liberace on three occasions,[24][25] whose influence was major in his career, particularly in his choice of repertoire and in certain interpretation techniques. However, Richard Abel claims to have never imitated him. He maintains that unlike Liberace, he does not wear a costume, except when the concept of the show requires it, as during his Viennese show Elegancia.[26][27][28]

He recorded his first record, a 45 rpm vinyl disc or a single, in 1980[29][30][31] which included the pieces Clin d'œil (French for wink) and Thaïs.[32][33] However, it is only with the release of his first LP (Enfin (French for Finally), 1988)[34] that his career as a soloist begins to take off.[20] Despite this, his career had little exposure in the mainstream media, his income was meager, and Richard Abel struggled to make ends meet.[30] He undertook promotional tours to promote his music. He undertook promotional tours in shopping malls in the province of Quebec, which increased his record sales and his audience loyalty.[18]

He gave a private concert for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,[35][36][37] participated in state dinners (Jeanne Sauvé, the President of Costa Rica, the President of Iceland)[38] and even contributed to the soundtracks of the television series He Shoots, He Scores.[39][40][41] He also made two cross-Canada tours with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.[42][43]

His album Mélodies was nominated for LP of the year for instrumental music at the ADISQ Gala in 1991. In 1992, his first Christmas album, Noël au piano (French for Christmas at the piano), earned him his first Félix Award of ADISQ for instrumental album of the year.[44][45] His albums Instrumental Memories in 1993 and Pour le Plaisir/Just for fun in 1995 were also both nominated for a Félix Award for instrumental album of the year.[32] Pour le Plaisir/Just for fun was certified Platinum in Canada in 1996 with over 100,000 sales.[46]

On 3 January 1996, he won the lottery, Lotto 6/49, with a ticket he bought with his father. His share is $714,000.[47][48][49] Richard Abel insists that this lottery win has nothing to do with the sales success of his album Pour le plaisir/Just for fun.[50]

Contrary to rumors, Richard Abel never won a second lottery jackpot. This story was only a joke on 1 April in 1997 launched by the journalist Jean-Paul Sylvain of the Journal de Montréal.[51]

Richard Abel wins a second Felix award for instrumental album of the year with Pour le plaisir, just for fun vol. 2.[52] This album obtained a Gold certification in 1997 with 50 000 sales in Canada.[32]

In 2000, he recorded an album, Inspiration Classique (French for Classical inspiration), with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.[53][54] This recording was certified platinum[55] and earned him a third Felix Award for best instrumental album at the ADISQ Gala.[32][56]

Romance (2001) and Élegancia (2006) earned him nominations for the Félix Award for Instrumental Album of the Year.[32]

He then performed in larger venues in Quebec, including La salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2008, as an opening act or as part of a show and as a solo artist in 2015 Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts in 1986,[57] en in 2015 as an opening act. He did the Bell Centre in 2005[58][59] and the Place Bell in 2017.

In 2005, he recorded an album Hommage aux compositeurs canadiens et québécois (French for A Tribute to Canadian and Québécois composers) for Reader's Digest World in Brussels (Belgium), which won the Félix award for Instrumental Album of the Year.[60]

In 2006, as spokesperson for the Cerebral Palsy Association he gave a show in Paris at the UNESCO hall. He also gave another concert in Lyon at the Bourse du travail in front of 2000 spectators, with Nanette Workman, Martin Deschamps and Yves Duteil.[61]

He won another Felix Award for the instrumental album of the year with Noël, Christmas, Navidad, Weihnachten, Natale, Kerstmis, Jul in 2008.[62] He recorded a television special entitled Elegancia, which was broadcast on PBS in 2009.[63]

At the invitation of charitable organizations, including Atmavishwas, Richard Abel made 4 tours in India in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2019.[64]

In November 2016, he published his biography, Richard Abel: mon histoire en noir et blanc[65](French for Richard Abel : my story in black and White) =, with the help of author and journalist, Denis-Martin Chabot, in which he reveals his difficult childhood and affirms for the first time his homosexuality. This book with more than 5000 sales is considered a best-seller in Quebec.[66]

During his career, Richard Abel has sold more than a million albums and DVDs.[67]

Discography

Singles

  • Clin d'œil / Thaîs, 1980
  • Mélodie d'Antan / Promenade au Carnaval, 1982
  • Promedade dans les Îles / Bumble Boogie, 1984

Albums

  • Enfin!, 1988
  • Mélodies, 1990
  • Noël au piano, 1991
  • Instrumental Memories, 1992
  • Pour le Plaisir – Vol. 1, 1994
  • Pour le Plaisir – Vol. 2, 1996
  • Instrumental Memories, – Vol. 2, 1997
  • Richard Abel Live, 1999
  • Inspiration classique, 2000
  • Romance, 2002
  • Hommage aux compositeurs Canadiens et québécois, 2004
  • Elegancia, 2005
  • Richard Abel Noël, 2007
  • Elegancia Special PBS, 2009
  • Instrumental Memories "The New Version", 2010
  • Autour du Monde, 2014
  • Hommage aux plus grands artistes de tous les temps, 2019

Compilations

  • Richard Abel, Les grands succès, 1998
  • L'Essentiel, 2003
  • Richard Abel, Plus de 25 ans de musique, 2008
  • Mes plus belles mélodies, 2016
  • Für Sie, 2018
  • Con el alma Latina, 2018
  • Apposta per voi, 2018
  • Sleep well my Angel Vol. 1, 2020
  • On Wings of Dreams Vol. 2, 2020
  • R. Abel Goes Classic Vol. 1, 2020
  • R. Abel Goes Classic Vol. 2, 2020

DVDs

  • Richard Abel Live, 1999
  • Soirée Romantique avec Richard Abel, 2003
  • Elegancia (Capitole de Québec) 2006
  • Elegancia (USA-PBS) 2009

Awards

Abel was nominated for a Juno award for best instrumental artist in 1996 and 1997[68] and for best instrumental album in 2002.[69] Abel also has won five Felix Awards.[70][71][2]

Personal life

Richard Abel lives in Sainte-Thérèse, north of Montreal.

Citations

  • It may not be good to suffer, but it is good to have suffered.
  • Music is a balm for the wounds of the soul.

References

  1. ↑ "November 6, 2001". The Gazette from Montreal (Newspapers.com). The Gazette from Montreal. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  2. 1 2 "CD REVIEW: Richard Abel – Elegancia". Muse's Muse. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  3. ↑ Gauthier, Ginette (12 May 2001). "Je ne veux pas oublier la misère de mon enfance". Le Magazine 7 Jours: 28–29.
  4. ↑ "Play (something) by ear".
  5. ↑ Chabot, Denis-Martin (7 November 2017). Richard Abel, mon histoire en noir et blanc (in French). Montreal: La Semaine. pp. 13 to 25. ISBN 978-2-89703-361-3.
  6. ↑ Bouchard, Marie-Ève (19 November 1999). "L'histoire d'une passion". Week-end Outaouais.
  7. ↑ "Église Marie-Reine-des-Coeurs". Diocèse de Montréal.
  8. ↑ "Les messes à gogo des années 1960 et 1970, ces célébrations religieuses, musicales et festives". Ici Radio-Canada (French language branch of the Canadian Broadcasting corporation.
  9. ↑ "École normale de Musique". The Canadian Encyclopedia. 7 February 2006.
  10. ↑ "Département de musique, Cégep de Saint-Laurent". Cégep de Saint-Laurent.
  11. ↑ "Armas Maiste". The Canadian Encyclopedia. 7 February 2006.
  12. ↑ "C'est lui qui accompagne Louvain, Alys Robi et cie". Le Journal de Monréal. 9 May 1980.
  13. ↑ "Ginette Reno". Ginette Reno.
  14. ↑ Montminy, Marie-Josée (6 November 1999). "Le parcours de Richard Abel". Le Nouvelliste (in French): 3.
  15. ↑ "Le P'tit monstre au piano de Ti-Gus et Ti-Mousse: Richard Abel en concert". Télé Radio Monde. 29 October 1978.
  16. ↑ Sylvain, Roger (29 September 1978). "Ti-Gus et Ti-Mousse parrainent la carrière du jeune pianiste Richard Abel". Échos Vedettes.
  17. ↑ Chabot, Denis-Martin (7 November 2017). Richard Abel, mon histoire en noir et blanc (in French). Montreal: La semaine. p. 73. ISBN 9782897033613.
  18. 1 2 Chabot, Denis-Martin (7 November 2017). Richard Abel : mon histoire en noir et blanc (in French). Montreal: La semaine. pp. 73 to 77. ISBN 9782897033613.
  19. ↑ "Celui qui accompagne Louvain, Alys Robi et cie". Le Journal de Montréal. 9 May 1980.
  20. 1 2 Montmigny, Marie-Josée (6 November 1999). "De la biochimie au Music-Hall". Le Nouvelliste.
  21. ↑ "Nouvelle Figure : Richard Abel". Echos Vedettes. 26 January 1980.
  22. ↑ Cusson, Normand (3 February 1980). "Les grands noms du Cabaret. Richard Abel : un talent qui ne cherche qu'à s'affirmer". Le Nouveau Samedi: 25.
  23. ↑ La Roche, Paule (January 1987). "De l'accompagnement à la carrière solo". Le Droit.
  24. ↑ "Quand deux pianistes se rencontrent". Télé Radio Monde. 7 July 1979.
  25. ↑ Monté, Germain (25 November 1978). "Liberace aussi avait été enchanté". Le Grand Journal illustré.
  26. ↑ "Richard Abel fait ses débuts fracassants à Montréal". Échos Vedettes. 8 March 1980.
  27. ↑ Chabot, Denis-Martin (7 November 2017). Richard Abel : mon histoire en noir et blanc (in French). Montreal: La Semaine. pp. 97 to 99. ISBN 9782897033613.
  28. ↑ "Je joue comme si je voulais soulager les gens par le langage universel de la musique". Le Journal de Montréal: Notre temps, 3. 28 October 2006.
  29. ↑ "Richard Abel en récital". Échos Vedettes. 22 March 1980.
  30. 1 2 Laurence, Jean-Christophe (2 October 1999). "Qui a peur de Richard Abel ?". La Presse.
  31. ↑ Cusson, Normand (March 1980). "Richard Abel lance son premier disque : Thaïs et Clin d'oeil". Hebdo Vedettes.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 "Richard Abel | Discographie". disqu-o-quebec.com. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  33. ↑ "Mode Maintenance". palomavaleva.com. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  34. ↑ "Richard Abel nous offre son premier microsillon". Le Journal illustré. 22 November 1986.
  35. ↑ Girard, Claude (December 1989). "Richard Abel : le pianiste des grandes personnalités". Echos Vedettes.
  36. ↑ Chabot, Denis-Martin (7 November 2017). Richard Abel, mon histoire en noir et blanc (in French). Montréal: La semaine. pp. 109 to 110. ISBN 978-2-89703-361-3.
  37. ↑ "Le pianiste Richard Abel a joué pour le Prince Philip". Hebdo Vedettes. 1 July 1989.
  38. ↑ Léger, Benoît (30 September 1989). "Le pianiste Richard Abel s'offre le Grand Théâtre de Québec". Hebdo Vedettes: 13.
  39. ↑ Lemay, Claude-Sylvie (6 May 1989). "Richard Abel se met sur la carte". Le Droit: 3A.
  40. ↑ Trépanier, Guy and Dubé, Normans, Lance et compte, musique de la saison 1, Éditions Lance et Compte CAPAC, 1989, track 6, side B
  41. ↑ Trépanier, Guy and Dubé, Normand, Lance et compte : musique de la saison 2, Montreal, Éditions Lance et Compte CAPAC, 1986, track 5, side A
  42. ↑ "Richard Abel". Le Journal de Montréal. 3 May 1996.
  43. ↑ "Richard Abel à la Place des Arts". La Presse: A15. 19 July 1996.
  44. ↑ Dostie, Bruno (14 October 1992). "L'ADISQ récompense les travailleurs de l'ombre". La Presse: D1.
  45. ↑ "Remise de 28 Félix aux producteurs". Le Soleil: B9. 14 October 1992.
  46. ↑ "Pour le plaisir / Just for Fun (1994) | Richard Abel". disqu-o-quebec.com. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  47. ↑ Lorrain, Jean (27 January 1996). "Richard Abel : un voyage à Cuba. Le gagnant du 6/49 s'est offert de belles vacances". Échos Vedettes.
  48. ↑ Goupil, Mario (10 October 1999). "Ue bonne étoile... et un peu de chance". La Tribune.
  49. ↑ Brassard, Jean-François (June 1996). "Richard Abel : un millionnaire en camping forcé depuis l'été". Échos Vedettes.
  50. ↑ Chabot, Denis-Martin. Richard Abel : mon histoire en noir et blanc (in French). Montreal: La semaine. p. 119. ISBN 978-2-89703-361-3.
  51. ↑ Chabot, Denis-Martin (7 November 2016). Richard Abel : mon histoire en noir et blanc (in French). Montréal: La Semaine. p. 123. ISBN 978-2-89703-361-3.
  52. ↑ Safari, Sonia (27 October 1997). "Céline Dion raffle cinq Félix". La Presse: A1.
  53. ↑ "Richard Abel s'offre l'Orchestre Philharmonia de Prague". TVA Nouvelles. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  54. ↑ Husk, Alan (6 November 2001). "The king of easy listening". The Gazette.
  55. ↑ "Rétrospective 2001 : certifications ventes albums". Le Palmarès. 7: 11. 24 December 2001.
  56. ↑ Lévesque, Lia (23 October 2001). "Premiers gagnants de l'ADISQ". Le Soleil: B3.
  57. ↑ Lavoie, Denis (5 December 1988). "L'accompagnateur Richard Abel se paye un grand spectacle". La Presse: B4.
  58. ↑ Laurence, Jean-Christophe (17 October 2012). "Richard Abel au Centre Bell: d'un kitsch...". La Presse: Arts et Spectacles 4.
  59. ↑ "Richard Abel". www.quebecpop.com. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  60. ↑ "Liste des gagnants de l'autre gala de l'ADISQ". La Presse. 24 October 2005.
  61. ↑ "Concert franco-québécois pour une bonne cause". Le Progrès – Lyon: 16. 21 November 2006.
  62. ↑ "L'Autre Gala de l'ADISQ a récompensé une vingtaine d'artistes". Presse Canadienne. 27 October 2008.
  63. ↑ "Richard Abel au réseau PBS". La Presse: Lectures 9. 22 February 2009.
  64. ↑ "Canadian pianist's show to raise funds to house poor". The Times of India. 2 May 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  65. ↑ "Mon histoire en noir et blanc". Groupe Livre (in French). Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  66. ↑ Collard, Nathalie (11 May 2017). "Best-seller: la recette du succès". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  67. ↑ Nadeau, Jessica (30 August 2003). "Richard Abel nous présente l'essentiel". Journal de Montréal, cahier Weekend: 28.
  68. ↑ "Richard Abel". Juno Awards. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  69. ↑ Powell, W. Andrew (18 February 2002). "2002 Juno Awards Spotlight – Nominations". TheGATE.ca. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2006.
  70. ↑ "Richard Abel". All Music. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  71. ↑ "Richard Abel and his Christmas musical album earned a Félix". Info Culture. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
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