Richard Maloof
Encyclopedia
Richard Maloof is an American musician who played bass
and tuba
for the Lawrence Welk
orchestra.
He was born and raised by Cy and Lucille Maloofas, one of three children. Richard graduated from San Juan High School
in Citrus Heights, then attended Sacramento State University, Los Angeles City College
and UCLA while searching for work as a musician. He got his first break playing for Les Brown
's band and later Carmen Cavallaro
before joining the U. S. Army.
While stationed at the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), Richard played in the NORAD Commanders Jazz Band alongside future Welk musicians Johnny Zell
and Dave Edwards
. During his NORAD stint he got the invitation to join Lawrence Welk
, both with the orchestra
and on his weekly television show. That was in August 1967 and he remained when the show ended in February 1982.
Richard has also performed music for several TV shows such as The Julie Andrews Show
and Kojak
as well as several commercials and feature films, and has performed on stage for the show Forever Plaid
. He also served six years with the Los Angeles Pops and also teaches music sight and ear training for LA's Musicians Institute.
He married fellow Welk star Mary Lou Metzger
16 June 1973. They reside in Sherman Oaks, California
.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
for the Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
orchestra.
He was born and raised by Cy and Lucille Maloofas, one of three children. Richard graduated from San Juan High School
San Juan Unified School District
San Juan Unified School District is a very large school district in Sacramento County, California that serves Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, and parts of Rancho Cordova and parts of Sacramento....
in Citrus Heights, then attended Sacramento State University, Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
and UCLA while searching for work as a musician. He got his first break playing for Les Brown
Les Brown (bandleader)
Les Brown, Sr. and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the late 1930s, initially as the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils that Brown led while a student at Duke University. He was the first president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences...
's band and later Carmen Cavallaro
Carmen Cavallaro
Carmen Cavallaro was an American pianist. He established himself as one of the most accomplished and admired light music pianists of his generation.-Music career:...
before joining the U. S. Army.
While stationed at the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), Richard played in the NORAD Commanders Jazz Band alongside future Welk musicians Johnny Zell
Johnny Zell
Johnny Zell is an American musician, best known as a trumpeter from The Lawrence Welk Show, a musical, variety-show television series.-Early life and education:...
and Dave Edwards
Dave Edwards (musician)
Dave Edwards was an American big band-style musician who most notably was the lead alto saxophonist and multireedist for the long running, weekly Lawrence Welk Show on T.V. for over a decade from 1968 through 1979....
. During his NORAD stint he got the invitation to join Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
, both with the orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
and on his weekly television show. That was in August 1967 and he remained when the show ended in February 1982.
Richard has also performed music for several TV shows such as The Julie Andrews Show
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
and Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
as well as several commercials and feature films, and has performed on stage for the show Forever Plaid
Forever Plaid
Forever Plaid is an off-Broadway musical revue written by Stuart Ross in New York in 1990 and now performed internationally. The show is a revue of the close-harmony "guy groups" that reached the height of their popularity during the 1950s. Personifying the clean-cut genre are the Plaids...
. He also served six years with the Los Angeles Pops and also teaches music sight and ear training for LA's Musicians Institute.
He married fellow Welk star Mary Lou Metzger
Mary Lou Metzger
Mary Lou Metzger is an American singer and dancer best known as a cast member on The Lawrence Welk Show....
16 June 1973. They reside in Sherman Oaks, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.