Ratan: Tribute to Doug Riley

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Doug Riley is family, a lifelong friend..."Doc" is a national treasure in his home country of Canada, he is the rockin' barrelhouse piano player on Bob Segers "Old Time Rock 'n Roll". He is a brilliant jazz pianist in the tradition of Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans, and is a serious classical composer, conducting the London Symphony for Placido Domingo and performing his own works with national orchestras. He is also "the baddest B-3 player on the planet". Doug Riley is the complete musician.
- David Clayton Thomas
http://www.davidclaytonthomas.com/new...
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I owe a great deal to Doug Riley.
He chose me to be one of the vocalists in the dynamic group, Dr. Music.
Doug believed in my talent enough to choose one of my songs, Gospel Rock,
as the first single release for Dr. Music on which I sang the lead vocal.
I loved the man, his music, and his kindness.
I will always be grateful for his faith in me.
- Brenda Russell
http://www.brendarussell.com/default....
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Doug "Doc" Riley
April 12, 1945 - August 27, 2007
was a renaissance man
in the truest sense.
He was a great composer, arranger,
pianist, organist, bon vivant,
mentor and close friend
whom I greatly admired
and respected
for more than 30 years.
I was shocked
and greatly saddened
to learn of his passing.
I miss him more
with each passing day.
- Brian Murphy
http://brianmurphymusic.com/main.html
http://web.mac.com/brianmmurphy/iWeb/...
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Thoughts and memories
on the passing of Doug Riley

I have never heard anyone as versatile and well versed and immersed in so
many styles as Doug Riley. He just didn't play a style. He owned it.
You believed when he was playing 'bop' for instance that it was all he ever played. Yet when you heard him wail on R&B and Blues, you never
heard a tinge of Bop. He could play stride piano with a lope, that only comes from playing it your whole life,
yet turn around and play organ like he was raised in a southern baptist choir.
All styles covered. Whether show piano with Michael Burgess or Rock keys with Bob
Seger .... always just right and always so musical.
And THAT is the point. Piano and organ!!
Tell me anyone else who is as fluid and versatile on both, to the point that you could never tell whether he was a pianist who played organ or an
organist playing piano. He had mastered both. This is what made Doug so very special and unique.Doug was a master of his craft and all us
musicians (especially the brotherhood of keyboard players) knew it.

What you may not know about Doug Riley, if you had not had the pleasure of meeting him, was his warmth, honesty and gentle nature.
He was a true gentleman. With his quiet calm he was a rock, and he anchored every session and performance he was on.
When Doug kicked off a tune, it already had a heavy groove before it got to you.
All you had to do was get on board for the ride.

The memory of Doug that I will hold in my heart is the last time Dominic Troiano played at the Orbit Room in T.O.Dominic was in a lot of pain and would die within months. He was weak
but determined to play. Doug gave Dominic the performance of his life that
night and you could see how Dominic's spirits were lifted. Doug was on FIRE! All the keyboard players in the audience (and
I could count ten from where I stood), could only look at each other and shake their heads in disbelief. It was that good. That
unbelievably, freaking good. The master was on that night and we all could just go hang up our organ shoes.Every breathtaking organ solo energized Dominic and he began
to stand taller and soon adopted the famous Troiano stance and attitude. By the end of the first set Donnie was answering in kind.It was a remarkable example of the power of music. and a
beautiful gift that Doug gave his old friend and us all, that night.
I will never forget it.

Doug Riley is a national institution, a national
treasure. His loss is devastating to the Toronto and Canadian music scene. He has single-handedly produced, arranged, recorded and
written on more LP's, CD's, TV and radio shows, jingles and concerts than anybody in Canada, ever. His output was astounding, and his
energy was unsurpassed. Ask the thousands who have benefited from his wonderful musicianship and his gentle nature.

The bar has been set. I can't imagine anyone raising it. Certainly no one with your gentle style, grace, integrity and soul. You used your gifts well, Doug. Thank You.

Lance Anderson
http://www.makeitrealrecords.com/Page...
http://www.makeitrealrecords.com/Page...

Video created by
http://brianmurphymusic.com/about.html
for Great Eastern Music Productions Inc.

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