Leader of Modulators Band
Bill Richey, age 63, became interested in music at the age of 57. He credits his present enjoyment of music to his friends - Mr. Lester Hickman, a long time mandolin player who played on radio back in the early days of Fort Worth and Mr. Earl Hart, a retired Fort Worth banker and guitar player. He also credits Quita Buie, Dulcimer Instructor, Doris and Hubert Dobbins, instructors in ukulele, guitar and music reading of White Settlement.
He received encouragement from fellow bluegrass musicians and retired WBAP news man, Wayne Brown in fiddle, who sings, plays fiddle, guitar and mandolin as well as dobro player Wayne Leggett.
Evelyn Templeton invited him to her Kennedale, Texas band then encouraged him to take her place when she and her husband, Wimpy, moved to the Granbury area. He thanks the instructors of Camp Bluegrass at Plainview Junior College in Leveland, Texas where he attended vocal classes in the Summers of 97, 98 and 99.
He enjoys folk, country and bluegrass classics and pop music. He is now a member of the Tarrant County Gold Tone Choir, directed by Brenda Duncan, who has a degree in music. He is also a band member in the Dukes of Uke and the Ukuladies. He was elected and is now serving on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Bluegrass Club in Grapevine, Texas.
He is director of the all-seniors 18 member Modulators Band of White Settlement, Texas and furnishes and operates the sound system. He plays a ukulele and mandolin and sings and acts as Master of Ceremonies. He thanks his wife, Sunako of Japan, for putting up with his noise until it becomes music, and now thanks Capt. Talmage Morrison, U.S.N.R.. Charlotte Balsley, retired E.S.L. School Teacher, Dr. Henry Birdwell, M.D. retired, Lewis Dickey, retired General Dynamics Management, for their work with him in starting the now called Modulators Band which is presently hosted by the White Settlement Senior Center, Barbara Young, Director.
The Modulator Web Site is manned by Norris Chambers, early radio entertainer with string instrument and song, later TV shop and Print Shop until owner until retirement and this year Volunteer of the Year for the City of White Settlement.