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Richard Glen Moore
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Richard was born in Vancouver, BC. His Mother saw his gift and arranged piano lessons for him at age six. He excelled and also enjoyed the adventure of taking the city bus across town by himself to his lessons. She was usually a protective Mother, but somehow thought it was safe for him to travel across town alone. But this was in Canada in 1951. Perhaps this was what sparked the fearlessness he carried through life. When he was nine the family moved to Vancouver Island to a little house on the shore of a beautiful lake just outside Victoria. The city bus trips were traded for building rafts from scraps of wood for navigating the lake and long hikes by himself in the nearby forests. He never got lost due to his use of "landmarks" to find his way home. His love of nature remained throughout his life. His music lessons continued and expanded to clarinet. He joined an award winning high school jazz band when he was 11. He had been very affected by seeing Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show in 1956, but didn't trade in his clarinet for a guitar until he was 15. He and some fellow local musicians became obsessed by the blues and he was in the first successful blues band,"Blues by Five," in Victoria. The friendships formed in that band lasted his lifetime. As a young man, his love of music and desire to perform took him from Vancouver Island over the water to the city of Vancouver to play blues, then to California to form a rock band that was signed with Warner Bros (and fell apart when two of the members were drafted) and then to remain in the US to tour with a country band for two years, and then to England (with a one way ticket and enough money to stay a month) to seek his fortune in the heart of the music scene of the time. His parents, who struggled to provide a home for their four children in tough economic times, were unusual in that they never encouraged Richard to get a "day job." They believed that a successful life comes from love of family and following your true calling. Shortly after arriving in London he auditioned for the band "The Troggs" and 3 hours later found himself on the way to a gig with the band. Two years later he met his American wife Louise in London. During his years with the Troggs he recorded 3 albums with them which included some of his original songs, toured many countries, met a lot of well known musicians, and had a lot of fun. After seven years in England he and Louise moved to the Algarve, Portugal, where they built a home near the ocean and he commuted to London to do recording sessions with many bands, including some newly formed punk bands. In 1982 they sold the Algarve property and moved to Santa Barbara. He continued to have his own band, "Cruise Control," and also played with other bands including a big band that performed at exclusive country clubs and private parties for many celebrities. He also obtained his real estate brokers license. He perfectly balanced his real estate business and his music. His love of people and his always collaborative attitude served both well. In 2009 he and Louise moved to Chico, CA. Both, before meeting each other, had lived in the San Francisco area in the 60's and early 70's and had longed to return to Northern California "one day." That decision has blessed them over and over. The wonderful friends, many of whom are amazingly talented musicians, the beautiful town and the natural beauty all around have made their lives in Chico very rich.
A note from Louise -
I wish to thank all Richard's friends for their love, kindness and support especially since his diagnosis and subsequent illness. He praised God for your love which lifted him up every day.
A note from Louise -
I wish to thank all Richard's friends for their love, kindness and support especially since his diagnosis and subsequent illness. He praised God for your love which lifted him up every day.
