Mona Richardson

Mona Richardson was an American-born singer and actress who had performed with Johnny Otis, Ray Charles and Ike Turner. She ended up in Australia, where she died in 1985. She released a number of singles and albums for the Philips, RCA Victor and EMI labels.

Mona Richardson
BornFebruary 5, 1947
Los Angeles, California
DiedAugust 5, 1985
Melbourne, Australia
GenresSoul, jazz, pop, disco
Occupation(s)Singer
LabelsPhilips
EMI
Euromaster Stereocolor
Ela Ton
RCA Victor
Toshiba-EMI Ltd
Epic

Background

Mona Richardson was a blues, jazz and soul singer. She was born in Los Angeles, California, on February 5, 1947. She came to Australia in 1980 and decided to stay. She was still in Australia when she died in 1985.[1][2]

Career

1970s

Around the mid-1970s, she was being showcased at the Trophy Lounge in Las Vegas, the same venue where Judy Carp and The Rich Bono Duo appeared.[3] In May 1967, she was in Singapore, appearing at the Shangri-La Hotel's Tiara Supper Club from the 10th to the 31st.[4] In June 1977, Richardson was performing at the Hilton Hotel in Singapore.[5]

In 1978, her selft-titled Mona Richardson album was released on EMI. It was produced by Swedish born Hong Kong based musician, Anders Nelsson who also contributed backing vocals.[6][7] In 1979, her Disco Dazzler album was released. It was arranged and conducted by Hong Kong producer Chris Babida who would also work on albums for Andy Bautista and Sam Sorono.[8][9]

1980s

She appeared on Sharifah Aini's Just for You album, which was released in 1980. The one song she contributed to was "Reunited", which was a hit for Peaches & Herb in 1978.[10] She came to Australia that year as part of a theatrical tour and decided to stay in the city of Melbourne.[11] In September that year she was starring alongside Lorraine Bayly and Alfred Sandor in the stage production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at Her Majesty's Theatre in New South Wales, which was directed by Jerry Yoder.[12]

In January 1982, she was a cast member of the production Barnum which played at Adelaide's Festival Theater. She gave an impressive performance as Joice Heth in the first part. Later in the show she returned in a different form as the Blues Singer and made an impactful performance which was described by Theatre Australia magazine, "to grab the show by the scruff of the neck to strut and shake out "Black and White".[13] Her performance was also noted by The Sydney Morning Herald and the reviewer referred to her as "a brilliant presence".[14]

In early 1985, she had landed a regular spot at the Crab Cooker Supper Club at 482 Victoria Street, North Melbourne.[15]

Death

She died in Melbourne Australia on August 5, 1985, as a result from falling to her death from her apartment. The cause of death was deemed to be suicide.[16][17]

Discography
Singles
Title Release Year Notes #
"Stay with Me" / "Heartbeat" RCA Victor RCA 2309 1973
"Crumbs Off The Table" / "You're No Good" RCA Victor RCA 2340 1973
"Bang, Bang" / "The House Of The Rising Sun" EMI Japan EMR-20488 1978
"Bang Bang" / "House Of The Rising Sun" Toshiba-EMI Ltd EMR-20488 1978 Japanese promo[18][19][20]
Albums
Album title Release Year Notes #
Try It, You'll Like It Philips 6455501 1977
Mona Richardson EMI EMGS-6040 1978 Released in France as Disco Mania
Disco Dazzler EMI EMGS 6054 1979
Live Euromaster Stereocolor LP 768 [21]

Stage
Appearances
Title Venue Director Role Date Notes
Barnum Her Majesty's Theatre
Melbourne, Victoria		 16 June 1982
Barnum Regent Theatre
Sydney, NSW		 5 March 1982
Barnum Festival Theatre
Adelaide, SA		 13 January 1982
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Her Majesty's Theatre
Sydney, NSW,		 13 September 1980
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Her Majesty's Theatre
Melbourne, VIC		 7 February 1981 [22]
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gollark: YeS
gollark: SOLD IN CHORUS CITY AT REASONABLE PRICES™tm™
gollark: I have maybe 256.
gollark: And the numbers are generated pretty inefficiently, so increasing it much would make the uninstaller slow.

References
  1. The Blues Encyclopedia, edited by Edward Komara, Peter Lee - Page 831 RICHARDSON, MONA - EDWARD KOMARA
  2. The Sydney Morning Herald, Sunday, August 11, 1985 - Page 154 Suicide - the ultimate right that leaves the heartbreaking question
  3. Las Vegas Strip Historical Site - Flamingo 1960-1999
  4. New Nation, Monday, May 24, 1976 - Page 3 Stars at Shangri-La
  5. The Year I Followed the Sun, By Laurie J. Rutherford Pederson - Page 225
  6. Discogs - Mona Richardson – Mona Richardson
  7. South China Morning Post, Saturday, 11 June 2016 - Hong Kong’s Swedish son Anders Nelsson turns 70 - Oliver Chou
  8. Discogs - Mona Richardson – Disco Dazzler
  9. Discogs - Chris Babida Discography, Production
  10. Motown Encyclopedia, By Graham Betts - FREDDIE PERREN
  11. The Blues Encyclopedia, edited by Edward Komara, Peter Lee - Page 831 RICHARDSON, MONA - EDWARD KOMARA
  12. Theatre Australia, September, 1980 - Page 45 NSW THEATRE
  13. Theatre Australia, March 1982 - Page 32 S.A. Exciting, Confusing, Compelling, BARNUM by Gus Worby
  14. The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday, March 6, 1982 - Page 14 Livermore swings in with class
  15. The Age, Friday, February 1, 1985 - Page 61 Jazz Jazz joints set to jump again
  16. The Blues Encyclopedia, edited by Edward Komara, Peter Lee - Page 831 RICHARDSON, MONA - EDWARD KOMARA
  17. The Sydney Morning Herald, Sunday, August 11, 1985 - Page 154 Suicide - the ultimate right that leaves the heartbreaking question
  18. Discogs - Mona Richardson Discography , Singles & EPs
  19. 45Cat - Mona Richardson - Discography, Japan
  20. 45Cat - Mona Richardson - Discography, UK
  21. Discogs - Mona Richardson Discography, Albums
  22. AusStage - Mona Richardson
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