Richard Cookie Thomas

Music Career
A versatile vocalist, and an undiscovered treasure, Richard Thomas’ career began in Philadelphia in 1960 when he had the opportunity, at fourteen, to open for B.B. King.

Richard’s current CD, Touch You With A Song, produced and arranged by pianist John di Martino, is a complement to his collection, which includes The Pleasure Of Your Company and Holiday Classics, both arranged by pianist Lynne Arriale. His latest recording Live At SoundWaters was performed on location at SoundWaters (link hidden)

Richard’s voice is especially suited to well-known classic standards. Richard draws his inspiration from the likes of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Hartman. In fact, you can hear a bit of each when Richard sings.

Richard currently performs at Soundwaters Community Center in Stamford, CT, which is home based. Additionally, he performs at the well-known Silvermine Tavern in Norwalk, CT; the Foxwoods Casino, Sage American Grill, and Oyster Bar in New Haven, CT; the Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook, NY; the Levitt Pavilion in Westport, CT; Szechuan Tokyo in West Hartford, CT; the Jackie Robinson Jazz Festival in Norwalk, CT; the Rich Forum & Palace theaters in Stamford, CT; the Greenwich Polo Club; and Danny’s Skylight Room, the Carlyle, and Waldorf Astoria hotels in NYC. The 21Club, Nyc. He has also performed for the Christopher Reeves Foundation and Pitney Bowes, Inc. Richard has shared the stage with pianists Alan Simon, Danny Mixon, Rob Silvan, David Epstein, Chris Casey, Jay Rowe, Chris Coogan, Joe McWilliams, and Sarah Jane Cion, winner of the 1999 Great American Jazz Piano competition. Richard also performs with guitarists Chris Morrison, Carmine Marino and John Cain. Drummers include Bobby Leonard, Don Mulvaney, and Arti Dixon, who toured with Ahmid Jamal. In addition, Richard has performed with saxophonists Marion Meadows, Houston Pearson, Lonnie Youngblood, and Ken Gioffre of AWB. He has also performed with bassists Bill Conway, Dave Daddario, and famed Phil Bowler, who accompanied Horace Silver. Moreover, he had the opportunity to perform with the world famous Joyce DiCamillo Trio. Richard’s performances also include the Oaks Garden Theatre in Niagara Falls, the Registry Resort Hotel in Naples, Florida, and the Liberty Theatre in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Print Media, Voice-over, Narration, and Film
2/98 - 5/02: Pitney Bowes (voice-over, narration, and video)
11/98: Connecticut Dept of Tourism (video)
12/98: Buckley & Wynne Law Firm (video & voice-over)
2/99: First Federal Bank of Hartford (video)
8/04: Universal Pictures Along Came Polly (vocal)
7/05: University of Hartford (print)
9/05: Mid State Medical Annual Report (print)
8/06: Connecticut Minority Suppliers Development Council (voice-over)
10/05: Consumer Reports (print)
10/05: Fuji Film (video)
5/06: St. Vincent’s Hospital (video & voice-over)
6/21/06: Merck: The Unmet Need (voice-over)
5/07: Cigna (video)
11/07: Pearson Education (audio books)
5/08: PricewaterhouseCoopers (voice-over & print)
9/8/2008 Connecticut Science Center

Richard has studied voice with screenplay writer Jay Fredricks of Westport, CT, vocal coach Jackie Presti of NYC, and Voices International of NYC. Richard also provides vocal coaching to several seasoned and non-seasoned singers. Richard maintains a close relationship with the well-known Carriage House Studio of Stamford, CT, Presence Studio of Westport, CT, and Edge Studio of Fairfield, CT—one of the area’s leading recourses for voice-over education. He is affiliated with John Ragusa Music of NYC and the Johnston Agency of Norwalk, CT.