Richard Hastings started playing guitar at age seven and has been a professional working musician(guitarist and vocalist) his entire adult life as performer, studio musician, composer, and recording artist.His styles include classical, jazz, pop, and flamenco.
Richard has earned two degrees in music from USC including his B.A. (classical guitar) and a Masters in studio/jazz guitar. He is also a graduate of the famed Musicians Institute (Hollywood, CA). Richard has had the privilege of private instruction and/or master classes with such greats as Pepe Romero, Andres Segovia,Christopher Parkening, Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, and many others. Richard has also been an instructor at Reed College, USC, El Camino College, Harbor College, Cerritos College, and others.
As a performer, Richard as opened for such diverse artists as Bobby Caldwell, Chuck Mangione, Earl Klugh, Bo Diddly, Stanley Jordan, Strunz and Farah, Stanley Clark, Richard Elliott, Jose Feliciano and many others.
Besides private events, corporate events and concerts, Richard has maintained a steady flow of long-term engagements at Southern California’s most prestigious resorts, including his current engagement in Andrea at The Resort at Pelican Hill (5 nights a week for the past 5 years). His performance in Andrea treats the diners to a romantic mix of Spanish, Italian, and contemporary acoustic guitar work, all laced with his elegant classical guitar tone and style.
As a recording artist and composer, Richard has released seven CDs ranging from smooth Jazz to world beat to solo guitar. He has been backed by such jazz greats as Dave Benoit, Richard Elliott, Snooky Young, and many of LA’s top studio musicians.
