
Big Band Swing Ballads Motown
Pop Soul Rock Rhythm & Blues

Since
the 80's, clarinetist Richard Olsen has been leading this bright
and sassy big band. Considered San Francisco's top society dance
band, the Richard Olsen Orchestra is available in a variety of sizes
to best accommodate your event, from a 5 piece swingin' combo to
a full 30 piece orchestra with a 9 piece horn section.
While the band's songbook includes the requisite staples of the
big band genre, Olsen also leans heavily on rhythmic numbers from
the songbooks of Ray Charles and Louis Jordan. This big band is
just as likely to play "Let the Good Times Roll", or "Smack Dab
in the Middle" as it is to play "Satin Doll" or "String of Pearls."
"I like the idea of a rockin' big band" says Olsen. And rock they
do - this is one very danceable band!
"Richard does a good job of engaging the
crowd: he really pays attention. For instance, sometimes you
get a loud, raucous band that forgets that they're at a wedding.
Not Richard. He very much plays to the audience, reads the crowd
well, and since he's so versatile, he reacts well to requests.
My clients have been really happy with him."
"Richard's got the type of band I would
use at a big wedding where you really want the music to be great,
something really special. I see him at the better functions,
the bigger more elaborate ones with the higher budgets. He's
at the high end of the spectrum because he's very talented,
versatile and personable. He's definitely high caliber. Just
fantastic."
"Richard offers everything from a small
combo to the full 30-piece Richard Olsen Orchestra with its
wonderful big band and swing repertoire. They really have a
big sound and his music is very, very danceable. Joel Selvin
of the Chronicle says Olsen has the 'swingingest' band."
"I have used him for the last 20 years.
I can't recommend him highly enough - he is fabulous. He has
quite a presence, like an old-time bandleader, but he's young
and attractive with his own style. He is so great on stage.
He's quite accomplished as a musician - both as a clarinet player
and a singer. He also manages to be pleasant, charming, engaging
and obliging on and off stage. I've never heard him say a derogatory
thing about anyone - he gets along well with everyone."
"Richard is really flexible about changing
tempo or style. I think he's so easy to work with because he's
totally versatile: he combines a fabulous range of music with
style and class."
"Richard is fun to work with since he's
so easy going and flexible. He's also articulate, very professional
and detail oriented. All of this makes him a real team player
- and it's important for the vendors at a wedding to work as
a team. For example, Richard willingly adjusts his playing time
when needed. He cooperates with the other vendors to make the
event work. I remember one event where we had a sound problem
while band was tuning up. The sound company had already left,
so Richard called in his own person and he took care of it.
Now that's going the extra mile!"
"I have a real comfort level when they're
the entertainment, because I know they're experienced and they're
going to do a good job. Richard's able to get high quality musicians
because he knows all the San Francisco talent. The band is very
appealing, he has a great bandstand and horn section, and I
especially like the two female vocalists who can change to a
Motown style. Plus, his band members always look very professional
at events. You can't go wrong with them - Richard and his band
are talented and trustworthy."
"They are topnotch with swing and big band
music, but also quite good with rock n' roll from the 50's to
the present. I'd say their biggest strength is that they're
very good for all ages. My list of references are important
to me - I rely on them - and I feel very good recommending Richard."
Quotes were excerpted from multiple interviews
with event industry professionals conducted by Hopscotch Press,
an independent marketing company in Berkeley, California. |
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Contemporary

Smooth Santana
Still the One Shania Twain
Mambo Number 5 Lou Bega
Let's Give Me Something Bonnie Raitt
70's & 80's

Love Shack B 52's
Superfreak Rick James
Best of My Love Emotions
Y.M.C.A. Village People
Disco

Dancing Queen Abba
Staying Alive Bee Gees
I Will Survive Gloria Gaynor
Celebration Kool and the Gang
Motown & Pop

Respect Aretha Franklin
Nowhere to Run To Martha & the Vandellas
Stop in the Name of Love Supremes
I Feel Good James Brown
Rock 'n' Roll

Satisfaction Rolling Stones
Honky Tonk Woman Rolling Stones
Brown Sugar Rolling Stones
Twist & Shout Beatles
Big Band Swing

Fly Me to the Moon Frank
Sinatra
It Had to Be You Tony Bennett
Mac the Knife Bobby Darrin
New York, N. Y. Frank Sinatra
The Way You Look Tonight Frank Sinatra
Our Love is Here to Stay Tony Bennett
Sing, Sing, Sing Benny Goodman
In the Mood Glenn Miller
Jump, Jive and Wail Louis Prima
Beyond the Sea Bobby Darin |
Click the "play" icons to hear
short samples of Richard Olsen's music.
Click to download Windows
Media Player or
Real
Player (required to listen to samples).
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