In Saturday’s (4/20) Los Angeles Times, David Ng writes, “Richard D. Kelley, a bassist whose tenure with the Los Angeles Philharmonic lasted nearly six decades, died on Tuesday at 76. The musician died at his home in La Puente following a long battle with cancer, according to an orchestra spokeswoman. Kelley was one of the orchestra’s longest-serving musicians at the time of his retirement in October. He joined the bass section in 1956 at the age of 19. During his 57-year tenure, he played under six different music directors, most recently with Gustavo Dudamel. … Kelley came from a family of Southern California musicians. His father, Richard, was also a bassist with the L.A. Philharmonic, joining in 1930, also at age 19, and playing with the orchestra for close to five decades. His brother, Ray, was a cellist with the orchestra from 1963 to ‘68. … The L.A. Philharmonic said that Kelley was known for his sense of humor during rehearsals, sometimes making outlandish comments and spontaneous outbursts. Before the L.A. Philharmonic, he joined the Dallas Symphony at age 18 and played there for one season.”
Posted April 22, 2013
