Guitarist, vocalist, composer, recording artist originally from Catonsville. Worked with Top-40 groups Sunset Dawn, Mirage, and Pentagon before striking out as an original solo artist in early ‘80s. Throughout the years Walton has done solo work as well as working with Bill Dumas as the Buzzy Fretton duo, he has led his own original music bands that have undergone numerous transitions, and was a member of the alternative/classic rock band BOINK!
As a solo acoustic artist he began in 1983 and has worked at countless venues including Cacao Lane, Maggie’s, Max’s on Broadway, Club 66, Cheshire Crab, Wild Duck Cafe, U.M.B.C., Allview Inn, Chi-Chi’s, Coakleys, Red-Eye Dock, Middleton’s, Souveniers, Shannigan’s, Reynold’s Tavern, Westminster Inn, The Afterdeck, Ram’s Head, Fireside Inn, Fells Point Pub, Cheeseburger In Paradise, T-Bonz Steakhouse, etc…
A retrospective of his original music of the ‘80s was released in 1989 as a cassette titled “The Whole Nine Yards.”
The Richard Walton Group was formed in 1991 as an all-originals contemporary jazz group consisting of Walton (bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals, composer, production), with Eugene Jubilee (keyboards, composer, vocals), David Meer (guitars, composer, vocals), and Randy Smith (drums, vocals). This group released the first Richard Walton Group CD “Out of Bounds.” In 1992 Walton brought in Joe Doyle (saxophone, flute), and Bill Dumas (electric guitars, composer ex-Mirage, Buzzy-Fretton). By 1995 Randy Smith had been replaced with Eric Robertson (drums, composer –later played with Walton and Dumas in BOINK!), and by 1996 Doyle and Dumas had departed and were replaced with Kevin Hughes (saxophone), and Brian Jarboe (electric guitars, composer). In 1997 Jubilee left and was replaced with Deena Gift (keyboards, composer, vocals), while the group also added Andrew Davidsen (electric guitars, vocals), and Mitch Shaivitz (percussion). Seen at Bare Bones, J.B. Fins…
His song “Where Time Stood Still” (title track from his 1998 album) was included on the WTMD 89.7 FM comp “Best of The Breeze Volume 2.”
From 2000-2005 the group consisted of Walton, Meer, Davidsen, Robertson, Shaivitz, and Jacob Yoffee (saxophones, composer). Saxophonist David Krug replaced Yoffee in 2005, and in turn was replaced with Gabrielle Murphy. Keyboardist Michael Gottlieb and lead guitarist Michael Bronson were also added to the group in 2007.
The Richard Walton Group performed at Blues Alley Jazz & Supper Club, Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, 13th Floor Belvedere, Armadillo’s, The Pit (Westminster), Mt. Washington Jazz Festival, Wine in The Woods, Columbia Lakefront, Centennial Park, Jammin Java, Baltimore Waterfront Festival, Baltimore Book Festival, Lurman Woodland Theatre, Towsontowne Festival, Stephens Hall Theatre, U.M.B.C, Bare Bones, etc…
In addition to the Richard Walton Group, Walton began a new project in 2006 called Straight on Red, an acoustic, contemporary Christian originals and selected covers band, with Tecla Heuring (violin, vocals, composer), and Kevin Doxzen (percussion, vocals).
In the ‘00s Richard’s groups / collaborations included The Richard Walton Group, solo acoustic appearances, Three’s A Crowd (with Vicki Kieffer), Rich Mama (with Joe Mama), Rich & Famous (with Frank Frazier), Rich & Mitch (with Mitch Shaivitz), Richard Walton & Friends…
Richard was voted by his peers into the Maryland Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2016.
Guitarist Andrew Davidsen continued with a successful solo career releasing CD’s “The Journey,” “Around (Again),” “We 3 Stringz,” “Spin Cycle”… He scored national smooth jazz hits and nomination for Best New Artist by Oasis Contemporary Jazz (2011).
Richard Walton discography:
1989(CS) Notlaw 1414 The Whole Nine Yards
1991(CD/CS) Notlaw 1500 Out of Bounds
1994(CD/CS) Notlaw 1515 Savannah Blue
1998(CD/CS) Notlaw 2000 Where Time Stood Still
2000(CD) Notlaw 2100 Hear and Now
2004(CD EP) Notlaw 2400 “Live at Blues Alley”
2006(CD) Notlaw 2500 Vessel
2006(HDCD) Notlaw 3000 Junction
2009(CD Vessel (solo album)
2013(CD) Cover Me (Straight on Red)
2015(CD) Under the Current (Richard Walton Group)
2019(CD) Twelve (Crack the Sky and Richard Walton Group)
2021(CD) Your Love (Straight on Red)
2022(CD-EP) Wheelhouse (Three’s A Crowd with Vicki Kieffer and an all-star cast)
2023(CD) 5 By Seven (Richard Walton Group)
2024(CD) Love Drop (solo album)
Note: In 2002 the cassette “The Whole Nine Yards” was reissued as a remastered, limited edition CD with bonus tracks.
