Bio

Accordionist, bandoneonist, composer, concertist, virtuoso, Richard Galliano expresses himself in all musical genres, from classical music to jazz. He is considered to be the best-known accordionist in the world and collaborated with multiple artists.

Richard Galliano studied piano and accordion from the age of 4, first with his father Lucien Galliano, accordionist and teacher, then at the Académie Internationale d'Accordéon de Nice, directed by Claude Noël.

Particularly gifted and invested, he very quickly entered the Conservatoire de Nice, then directed by the organist Pierre Cochereau, and followed harmony classes with Pierre-Philippe Bauzin in Nice, counterpoint with Julien Falk, in Paris. Both will strongly encourage him to compose. He also took courses in sliding trombone and obtained a First Prize in 1969 for this instrument.

He arrived in Paris in 1975 where met Claude Nougaro, becoming firm a friend well as the singer's accordionist and musical director until 1983. From this collaboration were born a dozen titles, which are part of the "Chanson Française "French song’s heritage, such as "Allée des brouillards", "Des voiliers", "Vie Violence" .

Creative and avant-garde, Richard Galliano records more than 50 albums under his name during his long and prolific career. Inspired by his meeting with Argentine composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla, he is at the origin of the revival of the Musette with the creation of the French "New Musette" and the "New Jazz Musette".

He has distinguished himself in a variety of genres, collaborating with an impressive number of prestigious artists and musicians: Chet Baker, Ron Carter, Serge Reggiani, Claude Nougaro, Barbara, Juliette Greco, George Moustaki, Charles Aznavour, Serge Gainsbourg, Nigel Kennedy, to name a few, and a large number of orchestras.

Richard Galliano has been awarded many times, winning a Victoire de la Musique Jazz in 1998 for the album "Blow Up" recorded with Michel Portal, as well as a Victoire de la Musique Classique and the Composer of the Year Award in 2014. He was also named Officier in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2009 and promoted Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite in 2016 by François Hollande.

Richard Galliano studied piano and accordion from the age of 4, first with his father Lucien Galliano, accordionist and teacher, then at the Académie Internationale d'Accordéon de Nice, directed by Claude Noël.

Particularly gifted and invested, he very quickly entered the Conservatoire de Nice, then directed by the organist Pierre Cochereau, and followed harmony classes with Pierre-Philippe Bauzin in Nice, counterpoint with Julien Falk, in Paris. Both will strongly encourage him to compose. He also took courses in sliding trombone and obtained a First Prize in 1969 for this instrument.

He arrived in Paris in 1975 where met Claude Nougaro, becoming firm a friend well as the singer's accordionist and musical director until 1983. From this collaboration were born a dozen  titles, which are part of the "Chanson Française"French song’s heritage, such as "Allée des brouillards", "Des voiliers", "Vie Violence" .

Creative and avant-garde, Richard Galliano records more than 50 albums under his name during his long and prolific career. Inspired by his meeting with Argentine composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla, he is at the origin of the revival of the Musette with the creation of the French "New Musette" and the "New Jazz Musette".

He has distinguished himself in a variety of genres, collaborating with an impressive number of prestigious artists and musicians: Chet Baker, Ron Carter, Serge Reggiani, Claude Nougaro, Barbara, Juliette Greco, George Moustaki, Charles Aznavour, Serge Gainsbourg, Nigel Kennedy, to name a few, and a large number of orchestras.

Richard Galliano has been awarded many times, winning a Victoire de la Musique Jazz in 1998 for the album "Blow Up" recorded with Michel Portal, as well as a Victoire de la Musique Classique and the Composer of the Year Award in 2014. He was also named Officier in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2009 and promoted Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite in 2016 by François Hollande.

http://www.richardgalliano.com/