Teddy Richards is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer. Teddy Richards, who was born in February 1964 is also best known as the son of the famous singer, Aretha Franklin, and American businessman, songwriter, and producer, Ted White. Although he is the son of the famous Aretha Franklin and Ted White, Teddy Richards has couched a niche for himself. He plays his own guitar chords and adds his own rhythm and melody to his songs.
Teddy Richards is 57 years old. He attended Michigan State University.
Teddy Richards’ Musical Career
Juggling a career as frontman, singer, and songwriter with his own band, while also playing guitar in the Aretha Franklin band taught Teddy Richards to always be prepared and diverse. Teddy Richards, who truly loves music and enjoys the journey it has taken him says he has evolved from a self-taught guitarist into a producer, engineer, and accomplished tunesmith.
In 1994, Teddy gave a copy of his 6-song cassette demo to INXS keyboardist/songwriter Andrew Farriss backstage at a concert. Andrew Farriss, an Australian rock musician and multi-instrumentalist, is the main composer for rock band INXS. Andrew wrote many of the INXS signature hits. He was very impressed with Teddy’s writing and invited him to work on a collaboration. After writing and recording 2 songs, they negotiated a music publishing deal. They worked exceptionally well together and ended up collaborating on 11 tracks. Teddy Richards reveals he commuted between his home in Detroit and Farriss’ home in London England, writing and recording the material for his 1st independent CD, “SONIC BLOOM. “I heard the demo and it knocked me out. Teddy has a good shot with this.” Dick Alen, Sr. VP Music William Morris Talent Agency Inc.
Teddy Richards’ collaboration with Andrew Farriss led to some choice opening slots on the INXS ELEGANTLY WASTED tour. Teddy also co-wrote material with Oliver Leiber (songwriter for Paula Abdul & son of the legendary Leiber & Stoller’s Jerry Leiber), Scottish singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer Gary Clark (also known as Danny Wilson and formerly of the band Transister), Teddy and his band have served as the opening act for Seal, The Verve Pipe, Fishbone and Chic both nationally and internationally. “I am very impressed by the music that Teddy is writing and would like to see him given a fair shot at being a superstar on the new day’s horizon. He has an uncanny sweetness with a funkrock edge that I find to be inspiring and uplifting.” Narada Michael Walden, Grammy Award-winning producer.
In 2006, Teddy signed with Germany’s Skip Records and released his CD “Gravity” throughout Europe. After a very successful follow up of European tours, Teddy also continued expanding his creative palate by orchestrating and producing music currently heard on CBS SPORTS, recording new material; collaborating with A.J. Croce, Marcy Levy (co-writer of Eric Clapton’s classic hit “Lay Down Sally”) Carlos Alomar (guitarist for David Bowie) European touring mate Gabriel Gordon (Natalie Merchant’s guitarist) and Carlos Alomar (David Bowie’s guitarist) while simultaneously recording tracks for his 3rd release ‘Solitaire’. Kim Frankiewicz, VP International Universal Music Publishing, describes Teddy as “a big talent, very passionate about his songwriting and continually working at it”. Kim added that it’s rare to find a musician who is a great performer, a great songwriter, and a great business sense like Teddy.
In addition to serving as Aretha Franklin’s concert guitarist for 25 years, Teddy has emerged as a gifted singer/songwriter/entertainer in his own right. Teddy is a brilliant cross-section between Seal and Lenny Kravitz, with the voice of an angel. His musical career spans more than two decades. His rich musical experience also includes serving as the opening act for Seal, Lenny Kravitz, INXS, The Verve Pipe and A.J. Croce. He has also collaborated and written with Gabriel Gordon (Natalie Merchant’s guitarist) and Carlos Alomar (David Bowie guitarist and co-writer of his hit ‘Fame’) Additionally, Teddy has also served as the guitarist
for Al Green, Natalie Cole, Joe Cocker and Nellie Furtado. His solo-acoustic ‘serenade’ is an eclectic genre-defying experience, filled with crowd favorites and memories spanning the spectrum of popular music.
Other Teddy Richards’ Notable Performances
- Featured performer and speaker @ Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival
- Featured artist on Volkswagen’s “Podcastcast Band” series (North American Auto Show)
- 300 national Borders Books and Music solo-acoustic performances
- Featured musical guest on The Food Network’s “Food Nation” with Bobby Flay
- 2 appearances as musical guest on MSNBC’S “Mitch Albom Show”
- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S FREEDOM FEST @ England’s Wembley Stadium. Global Concert held on Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday; drawing global attention & political leverage to free Nelson Mandela from South African imprisonment. Served as guitarist for Joe Cocker, Natalie Cole and Ashford & Simpson Instrumental music.
Teddy Richards is also the bed writer for CBS SPORTS, ESPN, and Ford/Lincoln-Mercury.
Teddy Richards’ Acting Career
Teddy Richards is multi-talented. He is also a good actor. Teddy starred in Saturday Night Live: extra in skit with Nancy Kerrigan, David Spade and Phil Hartman and Universal Picture’s Blues Brothers 2000 extra.
Teddy Richards and the Aretha Franklin band
Teddy Richards played guitar in his mother’s band, Aretha Franklin’s band, for almost 30 years. His stay in the Aretha Franklin band set the tone for his musical career. Teddy got all the exposure, experience and even evolved from a self-taught guitarist into a producer, engineer, and accomplished tunesmith.
As guitarist for the Aretha Franklin band, Teddy Richards can boost of winning The Grammy Awards. The band has won at least 45 Grammys including the Best R&B Vocal In 1972.
While with the Aretha Franklin band, Teddy Richards appeared on the CBS Early Show with Bryant Gumble, Conan O’Brien Show, Late Nite With David Letterman, VH1 Divas Live (guitarist for Nelly Furtado, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott), The View and The Rosie O’Donnel Show.
Teddy Richards Net worth
Teddy Richards has an estimated net worth of $8 million. Teddy Richards makes his money from his career as a musician; singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer.
Teddy Richards’ Father
Who is Teddy Richards’ father?
Ted White is Teddy Richards’ father. Full name Theodore Richard White, Ted White is an American businessman, songwriter, and producer. Ted White and Aretha Franklin were married for four years from 1961–1969. They married just six months after meeting in 1961 when she was 18 years of age. It is not known what caused their early break-up but a publication by Time from 1968 alleged that Ted White had “roughed her up in public at Atlanta’s Regency Hyatt House Hotel”. Pianist Teddy Harris also added that “Ted was into something else. He was kind of abusive.” This probably might have caused the end of their marriage.
Though Ted White is a songwriter who wrote or co-wrote numerous songs for Franklin, including “I Wonder”, “Lee Cross”, “Dr. Feelgood”, and “Think”, he is best known as the manager and first husband of Aretha Franklin.
Teddy Richards’ Wife
Is Teddy Richards married? Who is Teddy Richards’ wife?
Teddy Richards has managed to keep his relationship out of the media. His official biography does not capture his marital status. It is currently not known if Teddy is married, or is dating.
Teddy Richards on social media
Teddy is on all the major social media platforms. The singer can be followed for the latest update on his songs and album releases, and tour dates. Below are Teddy Richards’ Wikipedia, YouTube, and Instagram pages.
Teddy Richards Wikipedia
Teddy Richards does not have a Wikipedia page yet.
Teddy Richards Youtube
Teddy Richards is on YouTube as teddyrichards1.
Teddy Richards Instagram
Teddy Richards is currently not on Instagram.
Teddy Richards Twitter
Teddy Richards can be followed on Twitter at @teddyrichards1.
Teddy Richards And Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers is a professional ice hockey team based in Miami Metropolitan Area. Florida Panthers compete in the National Hockey as a member of the Central Division. One Teddy Richards became the head of equipment manager for the Florida Panthers. People have confused the head of equipment manager with the singer Teddy Richards. These are two different people though several online platforms say it’s the same person. The online portals even claim the singer used his popularity to expand the fan base of the hockey team.
Aretha Franklin: Who Is Teddy Richards’ Mother?
Born Aretha Louise Franklin, Aretha Franklin was a Grammy Award-winning American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Aretha Franklin is widely referred to as the “Queen of Soul”, she has twice been placed 9th in Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and has 45 Grammy Awards to her credit. She is the mother of singer Teddy Richards. Aretha Franklin died at the age of 76 on August 16, 2018, after battling Pancreatic Cancer.
Aretha Franklin Children
How old was Aretha Franklin when she had her first child?
Aretha Franklin was 12 years old when she had her first child. Aretha Franklin first became pregnant at the age of 12 and gave birth to her first child, who she named after her father, Clarence. Clarence was born on January 28, 1955, two months before Aretha’s 13th birthday. Until 2019, the father of Franklin’s son was widely believed and reported to be Donald Burk, a boy she knew from school but a handwritten will discovered in 2019 revealed that the father was Edward Jordan.
How old was Aretha when she had her second baby? Aretha Franklin got pregnant again at the age of 14 and had her second child on August 31, 1957, with Jordan, named Edward Derone Franklin. So Aretha was 14 years old when she had her second baby. Franklin was a mother of four sons.
How did Aretha get pregnant at 12?
How Aretha Franklin got pregnant at the age of 12 still remains a subject of discussion in the media and several online forums. Aretha Franklin got pregnant at the ages of 12 and 14. At 15, Aretha was having two sons. She did not like to discuss her early pregnancies in interviews. Despite getting pregnant as a child and having two raise children as a teenager, Aretha pursued her dreams and became one of the greatest singers the world has ever witnessed. She won at least 45 Grammys and was inducted into the Grammys Hall of Fame.
How many children did Aretha Franklin have?
Did Aretha Franklin have children? Aretha had four children in all. She had two with Edward Jordon, one with Ted White, and one with Ken Cunningham. The four children of Aretha Franklin are Clarence Franklin, Edward Franklin, Teddy Richards, and Kecalf Cunningham.
Who was Aretha Franklin’s first child?
Clarence Franklin is Aretha Franklin’s first child. Aretha gave birth to Clarence when she was only 12 years of age. Like all the four sons of Aretha, Clarence also tried his hands on music.
Did Aretha Franklin’s father have a child with a 12-year-old?
Aretha Franklin’s father, C. L. Franklin, had a child with 12-year-old Mildred Jennings. Mildred was a member of his congregation. They gave birth to their daughter, Carol Ellan Kelley, on November 17, 1940. Carol Ellan Kelley was the last of his children to survive him. She died on January 30, 2019.
Who were Aretha Franklin’s husbands?
Aretha Franklin had two husbands; Ted White and Glynn Turman. Aretha was married to Ted White for eight years from 1961 to 1969, and to Glynn Turman for six years from 1978 to 1984. Aretha Franklin also had children with Edward Jordon and Ken Cunningham.
Who Is Edward Jordan? Aretha Franklin’s First Son’s Father
Edward Jordan is the father of Aretha Franklin’s first two sons; Clarence Franklin and Edward Franklin. Edward Jordan impregnated Aretha at the age of 12 and made her a mother of two by age 15. Not much is known of Edward Jordan. Edward’s name was hidden until Aretha’s will was discovered in 2019 that mentioned him as Clarence’s father. The Will also denied Edward from receiving any of her properties or handle that of Clarence’s.
A part reads: “His father, Edward Jordan Sr., should never receive or handle any money or property belonging to Clarence or that Clarence receives as he has never made any contribution to his welfare, future or past, monetarily, material, spiritual, etc, except $5 or $10 when he was a child.”
How much older was Ted White and Aretha Franklin?
Ted White was 11 years older than Aretha Franklin. At the time of their marriage, Aretha Franklin was 19-years-old while Ted White was 30.
Was Aretha’s husband a pimp?
Ted was a notorious Detroit pimp. According to the Daily Mail, he was a brutal Detroit street criminal and pimp who used his prostitutes’ earnings to invest in Aretha Franklin’s career.
Why did Aretha and Glynn divorce?
Aretha and Glynn divorced because they had difficulties in maintaining a long-distance relationship. They first separated in 1982 and officially divorced in 1984.
How accurate is Genius Aretha?
‘Genius: Aretha’ is fairly accurate. The story is based on a true story. The series throws light on how Aretha Franklin went on to become a global star, despite her struggles in life, notably as a preteen mother raising who had her first son at age of 12 and second at 14.
What happened to Aretha Franklin’s mom?
Barbara Siggers Franklin was Aretha Franklin’s mom. Barbara Franklin died on March 7, 1952, of a heart attack aged 34.
Is Aretha Franklin alive or dead?
What is Aretha Franklin’s cause of death? Aretha Franklin is dead. She died on August 16, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Aretha Franklin died of Pancreatic Cancer aged 76.
Aretha Franklin Movie: Respect
Respect is American singer Aretha Franklin’s biopic. It is a 2021 American biographical musical drama film based on the life of Teddy Richards’ mother. Directed by Liesl Tommy, from a screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson, Respect stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin. Stars featured in supporting roles include Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, and Mary J. Blige.