Like so many 20 Under 20 musicians, Paul Richey had no idea he was even under consideration. “It’s nice to be recognized,” he said. “I wasn’t even aware I was nominated until my sister texted me to tell me I was included.”The self-taught musician readily admits he’s a creative looking to create. When he was starting out in music, he also had dreams of being a comic book illustrator, but the structure and discipline required too much for his spirit. “It’s easier to be creative with music,” Richey said. “With comic books, I had to have something in mind. With the piano, I can sit down and get into it and be spontaneous.”And spontaneity is something he’s become accustomed to: “That happens almost every time I play.”A freshman music performance student at Purdue University Fort Wayne, Richey is loving learning the technical side of music. In the end, he wants to write and perform. He calls Sweetwater instructor Eric Clancy a role model and his biggest influence in music. As an instructor, Clancy is doing what Richey wants to do. “He always has the right answer,” he said.
Paul Richey
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