Richard had played some trombone in Elementary School and Junior High, but he soon found he had a real passion for the guitar. The earliest interest he recalls in music was the pop song “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies. He quickly graduated to Credence Clearwater Revival, learning all of John Fogerty’s rhythms and leads. At this time he also took some lessons with Debbie Thomas at the local music store. “It was Debbie who taught me bar chords, for which I will always be grateful.” Richard’s next infatuation was with rock/blues guitarist Johnny Winter. “I spent so much time playing with my Johnny Winter albums one summer, it was so hot and we had no air conditioning, some fungus started growing on me.” He also loved Edgar Winter’s music.
          Richard would play guitar all day and take his guitar with him wherever he went. He played with anyone he knew who could play, and would have them play chords so he could improvise. He played in local bands throughout high school, and worked his way up, playing with better and better players. Eventually, he found himself playing with the best local player around, Art Najera.

          “There were some other good local players around, but Art was the best and most well known.” Richard enjoyed a sort of an apprenticeship with Art, playing parties as well as local concerts, opening up for Y&T at the Newark Pavilion on one occasion. Richard excelled as a rock and blues guitarist, he was fast, exciting, and extremely competent. However, Richard was becoming intrigued with another style of music, he didn’t understand it but he liked it; it was jazz.
          At about age 20, Richard sought instruction from Eddie Pasternak. Eddie was a student of jazz guitarist Warren Nunes, and he played extensively around the Bay Area with his bass playing girlfriend and drummer Dave Black. Eddie was a great teacher, and taught Richard all about ii, V, I, I6 progressions and the basics of how jazz tunes were structured. After about 6 months, Eddie recommended Richard to Warren as a new student. Richard was a student of Mr. Nunes for nearly 7 years. “I have an outstanding record as a student with Warren; I never missed one lesson in 7 years. Once I had the flu and went the next day. My folks were paying for the lessons, that wasn’t the issue. I was just that serious and learning so much. I loved it.” Richard co-wrote an instruction book with Warren in 1983. It was titled “Rock to Fusion” and was published by Hansen House.

          Toward the end of his study with Nunes, Richard went to the Great American Music Hall to see Stormin’ Bruce Forman. The opener was the great duo Tuck and Patti. “I was very impressed by Tuck, and asked him after the show if he gave lessons. I was lucky enough to study with him for about 1 year, before he was totally big time. He was so different than Warren, so free and so unconstrained. I learned the basics of his unique style, and how he combined walking bass and rhythm parts together with percussive back beats. Also, some his special use of harmonics. The freedom, drive, and liberty with which he played are unparalleled in regards to the advancement of the modern instrument. It was a very important time in my musical education; Tuck was a Monster.”
          As well as playing local gigs like weddings, corporate parties, clubs, and concerts, Richard began to do more and more teaching. To enhance his credibility he decided to get a music degree. He went back to Ohlone College and completed his general ed. courses and transferred to Cal State Hayward. Since he already had a strong jazz background Richard chose to study classical guitar.

          His teacher was Jim Bertram. Jim was an old school type of instructor. “He didn’t care what you could already play or what background you had. He was a true taskmaster.” Richard was driven hard and learned to play lute and guitar pieces from each of the musical periods. Though he felt like a slave to the instrument at this time, Richard learned a lot and became a proficient classical guitarist. After receiving his B. A., he continued his study at Cal State and earned his Masters degree in performance.
          While studying at Hayward, Richard played for two years in Cal States Jazz Ensemble conducted by Dave Eshelman. “Eshelman was a great arranger and always had a first rate band.” Art Landy and Joe Henderson were among some of the guest artists Richard got to perform with during this period. He also associated with Dave Duañes for a time, trading lessons and playing some together, and did some private study with Richard Flores, another Cal State Masters graduate.

          Unfortunately, just 1 unit from earning his Masters degree, Richard strained the interostious muscle of his left hand. “It was a freak accident resulting from overuse and cracking my knuckle after a long day of practice.” Richard was unable to play for 5 months, but nine months later he was finally able to play his graduate recital. Graduation was bittersweet, however. He had learned and accomplished a great deal, but also suffered terribly while trying to recover from his hand injury.” It took years to get over completely.”
          Almost immediately after leaving Cal State, Richard got a part-time teaching position at Ohlone College in Fremont. He has been there since 1997, and has taught Music History, Music Fundamentals, Rock/Blues Guitar, Jazz Guitar, and Music Theory for Bass and Guitar. Also in 1997, Richard opened the Mission San Jose School of Guitar, where he teaches a full load of eager jazz, rock, blues, and classical guitar students.

          In 2005 Richard self published his G-String Guitar Method, an accelerated beginning guitar book. It has been used with great success in his teaching at the school of guitar as well as Ohlone. He also has a Blues/Rock Improvisation book; classical guitar pieces “Two Studies” (“A Very Short Bloom” and “Passing Time”), two classical guitar duets, “Te Deseo” and “Dawn in the Desert”, and two solo classical pieces, “Imagining You” and “The Colorful Dragonfly”. OLD STONE WELL MUSIC is the name of his publishing and CD company.
          Richard has decided to start playing out again, this time playing his own music exclusively. After nearly two and a half years of writing and recording Richard finished his “Havana Dream” CD in Dec.’06, which recently received airplay on KCSM, one of the San Francisco Bay Area's premiere Jazz radio stations. The CD has twelve original guitar compositions, and features Latin Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Classic Jazz, classical guitar duets, and solo classical guitar compositions.
          R. W. Kendrick is currently booking upcoming concerts, festivals, and events, and writing new material for his second CD. The CD is tentatively titled “Souls Embrace” and will probably release sometime in spring ’08.