Meet local lifelong trumpeteer

LOCAL MUSICIAN

Leisure World resident Richie Freedman is spending his retirement enjoying what he loves: the trumpet.

The trumpeteer began playing when he was just 8 years old. By the time he was 12, he was a pro. In New York, he studied with trumpet master Charles Colin. In 1963, he arrived in Los Angeles and studied with Irving Bush, John Clyman and Tommy Stevens.

During his college days, he recorded with the likes of Della Reese, Ike and Tina Turner, The Impressions, The Seven Wonders, The Emotions, and many others. After receiving his bachelors degree and attending graduate school, he accepted a position in law enforcement. During his 35 year tenure, he abandoned his music.

Upon his retirement he dusted off his horn and started on the long road back. Freedman has played the jazz chair for the Woody James Big Band, where he produced—as operations director—two CDs: “The Musicians” and “Richie’s Trumpets.”

He was also the principle trumpet for the Los Angeles Police Department Concert Band, and the director of the jazz and swing bands. He is the west coast musical director of both Pat Longo’s Hollywood Big Band and the Art Depew Memorial Big Band, and performs with the UCLA Alumni Band.

Residents may recall seeing him perform right here in Leisure World with the jazz group Cool Blue, which recently performed at the GRF Life Options Expo. The group performs throughout Southern California and has performed with Nancy Sinatra, Connie Stevens, Kimberly Locke, American Idol and others.

For more information, visit his page on Facebook, under Rich Freedman.

Richard "Richie" Freedman