Richard DeRosa: Composer, Arranger, Educator, Drummer, Pianist…Mensch!

Composer, arranger, drummer, pianist and master educator Richard DeRosa joins Steve for an unusually deep—and frequently ridiculous—episode of You Dig? Rich shares stories about his father Clem DeRosa, Neil Slater, Gary Smulyan, Dick Oatts, Mel Lewis, the Village Vanguard and his years at the University of North Texas, while taking us inside the creative thinking behind pieces including “Sno Peas,” “Perseverance,” “Mixed Emotions” and “Fugue for Thought.” Along the way, Rich and Steve dig into composition, storytelling, teaching, perseverance, musical humor, Gary McFarland, the 1969 Mets, terrible impressions, affogato—and Rich’s beautifully simple philosophy of life: Find what you’re good at, cultivate it, and make yourself useful. _________________ Links from today's episode: https://richderosa.com/ 'Sno Peas • "Sno Peas" The One O'Clock Lab Band Mel Lewis "Alone Together" • Alone Together (Live at the Village Vanguard) Mel Lewis: "Dearly Beloved" • Dearly Beloved (Live at the Village Vanguard) Fugue for Thought • Fugue for Thought Perseverance • Perseverance Mixed emotions • Mixed Emotions Gary McFarland's "America The Beautiful" • On This Site Shall Be Erected…