John Richards began writing and performing in his early teens. Over the years he has quietly become one of the most covered writers on the UK folk scene and has been a well respected muscian and songwriter from those early days.
Songs such as Did you like the Battle Sir? (written with Bev Pegg), Honour & Praise, The Deserter, Shine On, Roaring Water Bay (written with Dave Jones), The Unknown Soldier, The Moth, Foundryman’s Daughter, The Smuggler’s Song (written with Rudyard Kipling ☺), and If You Can Walk You Can Dance have been covered by some of UK Folk music’s finest professional artists as well as a long line of local singers.
John has fronted a number of bands over the years, Springheel Jack, The Ivor Smallpiece Big Band, Maurice and the Minors, Desperate Men, and the John Richards Band (in various line ups). In the early days the repertoire was mostly traditional and covers but gradually the balance changed and became predominately John’s own songs.