Richard Gannaway

Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway in Los Angeles during Aomusic's "Twirl" recording sessions, Oct, 2000
Background information
Birth name	Richard Layton Gannaway
Born	(1955-06-13) June 13, 1955 St Louis, Missouri
Origin	United States
Genres	World music, Acoustic music New age music, Rock music
Occupations	Composer, Producer, Recording artist
Instruments	Vocals, Stringed instruments
Years active	1975–present
Labels	Arcturian Gate
Associated acts	Aomusic, Tiger & the Helix
Website	Official website
Notable instruments
Vocals, Irish bouzouki, 5-string banjo, acoustic guitar, bass guitar

Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist (vocals, stringed instruments) who founded the world music group Aomusic (also known as AO).^[1] The ensemble includes Miriam Stockley of the acclaimed Karl Jenkins' Adiemus project and Jazz keyboardist Jay Oliver (Dave Weckl Band) who co-produce with Gannaway Aomusic's cross-genre sound.^[2][3][4] Gannaway established the "AO" trademark and founded Aomusic's indie label Arcturian Gate in 1994, through which his little known literary works are also published.^[5][6] In 2012 he co-founded AO Foundation International, supporting a growing list of causes for underprivileged children worldwide and establishing the Aomusic project as 100% non-profit.^[7][8] The unconventional, visionary nature of Gannaway's creative works under the AO trademark characterize his reputation in the recording arts.^[9][10]

Gannaway grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and toured in acoustic ensembles as a 5-string banjo player after graduating high school. He moved to Los Angeles in 1986 as a contracted music composer and helped form the indie rock group Tiger & the Helix (Peace Face) in 1990.^[11] He toured the Helix project throughout Western Europe until 1997 while developing the sound for Aomusic's debut album release Grow Wild in 2000.^[12][13] In 2001 Gannaway and Aomusic co-founder Jay Oliver were asked by the Beijing Olympic Committee to compose theme music ("On Jai Ya") for the 2008 Summer Olympics. "On Jai Ya" was not selected as the official theme piece and appeared as a single on Aomusic's second album release Twirl in 2009.^[14]

Gannaway's Aomusic album projects consistently hold strong international chart position and have won several prestigious music and songwriting awards.^{[15][16][17][18][19][20]}

Discography

• Tiger & the Helix - Peace Face (1994)
• Aomusic - Grow Wild (2000)
• Aomusic - Twirl (2009)
• Aomusic - ...and Love Rages on! (2011)^[21][22]
• Aomusic - Hokulea (2013)^[23]

References

External links

• Official website
• Arcturian Gate - Record label Website
• Aomusic
• AO Foundation International
• Discogs artist page