Piano legend plays all-request concert in Santa Rosa

How about a concert where the audience gets to call the songs?

Guy Richards, the quintessential “piano man” who has played everything from Bar Mitzvahs to Broadway in a career that spans some 50 years, will perform an “All-Request Concert” Oct. 9 at the Unity Center in Santa Rosa.

He’s difficult to stump. Richards began playing piano at five and quickly emerged as a prodigy. He studied at Juilliard School of Music, played rock and roll with bands like Joey Dee and the Starlighters, The Coasters and The Shirelles, was the organist on the classic hit, “The Peppermint Twist” and played in legendary New York hot spots from the Copacabana to The Latin Quarter. He played for the Broadway hit “Promises Promises” and was a regular pianist at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. All that and countless gigs at weddings and corporate events have left Richards with the uncanny ability to play almost anything. And he does it with a giant, joyous grin.

The concert Friday night begins with desserts at 6:30 p.m. Richards will take to the keyboard from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and available in advance or at the door. For information call 542-7729 or email info@unityofsantarosa.org.

The Unity Center is at 4857 Old Redwood Highway in Santa Rosa, across from Molsberry’s Market.

You can reach Meg McConahey at meg.mcconahey@pressdemocrat.com or 521-5204. On Twitter @megmcconahey.