Joshua Rich


Joshua Rich is a self-taught pianist who began playing and composing music when he was 8 years old.

Biography

At the age of 12, Rich wrote his first song, "Trying Vegetables". With no formal education, Rich became a professional musician by age 14, when he appeared twice on the local Boston TV program, "Community Auditions". At the age of 17, he began performing in piano bars, and taught himself how to accompany and music direct variety shows at various high schools in the area.
Rich moved to San Francisco and was signed to a new age piano label which produced his first album of original piano solos, "Discover".
Settling in the Washington, D.C. area, Rich composed and performed music for children, and he music directed and played for many productions at the Adventure Theater in Glen Echo, Maryland, which featured his original songs. Around this time, he also became a school performer, and created a multi-cultural interactive musical program, "It's A Global Thing", which he performed at many schools and venues. Rich also created, wrote and released the children's album with the same title, "It’s A Global Thing". His follow-up children's album, "Trying Vegetables", would come a few years later. His work with children also led him to work with the composer and conductor Marvin Hamlisch, who hired him to accompany and musical direct children's choirs for several events.
In 2006, he released the piano album Rain. He began working as a teacher of musical theater and drama for both children and adults.
In the late 2000s, a short period of time was spent living and working in New York City, where he performed at piano bars and clubs, and accompanied Broadway performers. Returning to the D.C. area, he became an actor and screenwriter, and has appeared in a variety of independent and college films, as well as many commercials. He has also written several screenplays, and produced a few short films.
He is married to Kari Kraakevik. Together, they work as music teachers, music directors, and directors. They formed the jazz duo "Take Two," which features their original compositions in the style of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

Discography

Albums:
  • Discovery 1984
  • It's A Global Thing 1995
  • Rain 2000
  • Talking To Furniture 2001
  • Trying Vegetables 2006
  • Girl In Need Of Rescue 2007
  • Darn That Dream 2008
  • Always 2009
  • Sounds of Beauty 2011
  • Inventions 2012
  • And The Cars Roll By 2012
  • Unforeseen 2012
  • Christmas In New York 2018
  • Moments 2019
  • Come On Over 2019
  • Christmas Lights 2019
  • Rich Classics 2024
Singles:
  • D.C. 2002
  • Comes The Time 2016
Jazz duo, Take Two:
Albums:
Singles:
  • Christmas In Chicago 2021
  • Our First Christmas Holiday 2021
  • Marquee 2022
  • Chantilly Cake 2022
  • Happy New Year Darling 2022
  • Santa Still Believes In You 2022
  • Bari/Shaddap You Face 2023
  • The Grumps 2024
  • Tartaruga di Marine 2024
  • Bullfrog 2024
  • Confetti 2024