[78-L] 78-L Digest, Vol 38, Issue 4 - Johnny Richards

[Nigel Burlinson]

Pinched from another group


Johnny Richards was born (as Juan Manuel Cascales) in Toulca, Mexico, on 
November 2, 1911, coming to the United States in 1919. His mother was a 
concert pianist, and his three brothers were also professional musicians. 
Taught by his mother, Johnny first learned piano and violin, making an 
appearance in a vaudeville act in 1922, then took up the saxophone and 
played in a theater orchestra. The family lived in Schenectady, New York, 
and Johnny attended Syracuse University. In 1932, Richards moved to London 
where he composed movie scores for the Gaumont British studio. By 1934, he 
was in California where he was hired by Paramount Pictures, becoming an 
assistant for Victor Young and studying under Arnold Schoenberg. During this 
Hollywood period, he had his own small band under the name Johnny Cascales 
which included Spike Jones on drums, Charlie LaVere on piano and Bonnie Lake 
as vocalist.