Richard Burke
Vocals, keyboards, 12-string guitar
Richard needed just one rehearsal with Glencoulee back in 2000 to demonstrate his musical abilities. That same session, he was asked to join the band, providing various instrumentation, some harmony vocals and some lead singing.
Born in Calgary, Richard has also resided in Los Angeles, Victoria, B.C. and Comox, B.C. He has lived, on and off, in Lethbridge for three decades.
Celtic music has been part of Richard's life since he was a lad listening to an uncle playing jigs and reels on an old fiddle. But Richard's connection to matters Celtic goes back beyond that.
Richard takes pride that a great, great grandfather, who was a peer of the realm, was basically kicked out of Enniskillen, Northern Ireland for marrying his maid. His relative journeyed to New Waterford, Nova Scotia and became a working man. These days, Richard figures a fair portion of folks in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are probably relatives.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Richard performed in rock 'n' roll and folk bands. During the 1980s and 1990s, he worked in pop music, either solo or in a duo, sometimes performing his own tunes.
When Richard was asked to try out for Glencoulee, it took just a few songs for him to prove he'd be an invaluable asset - and to show how much he could influence the band's sound. Since then, he's not only performed, but contributed arrangements and written music for the band.
A multi-talented musician, Richard spends most of his stage time behind the keyboards. Sometimes, he will pull out his 12-string guitar for some lovely ballads. He also sings lead vocals on several songs besides adding impeccable harmonies on dozens of others.
"Every time I play a Celtic tune, I feel a bit of my family's past," Richard says.
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Glencoulee
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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