“Every morning I wake up and I have the opportunity to call myself a musician, and be able to know that I do this for a living.”

He goes by the name of Third, but when you hear him play, you know he’s first rate.    He’s played with many of smooth jazz’s most established and talented players, as well as it’s up and coming rising stars.  He’s not only an accomplished drummer, but he plays bass, a little guitar, and sings as well.  And, his faith goes with him every time he takes the stage.  This month, Smoothviews goes to Florida to introduce you to drummer Frank “Third” Richardson.

Third began playing drums at the tender age of three.  Like most drummers, he began by banging on things around the house.  “I banged on anything I could get my hands on; pillows, pot, pans.  I even used lampshades.  I could never pay [my mom] back for all the things I destroyed.”    Having come from a musical family, it’s no wonder that playing drums came easy for him.  His grandfather was a drummer, his father is a Minister of Music, and plays organ in the family church, and his brother, Andre Lewis is a professional musician as well.  The keyboard is his instrument of choice.  In addition, his mother and sisters all sing.  “It’s obviously a genetic thing.  I fell right in line.” says Third. 

He grew up playing drums alongside his father and brother in the family church, which is his grandmother’s church, the Ambassadors of Christ Temple of Prayer in Tampa Bay, Florida.  Music was all around him.  He and his siblings would go into the bathroom and sing, taking advantage of the great acoustics bathrooms have to offer.  The family would listen to Bobby Jones on Sunday mornings.  Third’s father would often work on songs and arrangements for the choir at home as well.   Then, everything came together at church on Sunday mornings.

He honed his craft in and around the Tampa Bay area.  As a high school student, he worked in local clubs and played jazz with musicians from the University of South Florida.  “I was the kid that was a junior in high school, and had my own car.  I was working three nights a week and doing the jazz jam on Wednesday nights until two, three o’clock in the morning sometimes, trying to wake up for English 3 or English 4 the next morning.”

It certainly helped that big brother Andre Lewis paved the way for him.  While Third was in junior high and high school, Andre was touring with R&B acts like Aliyah, Ginuwine, Timbaland, and Jodeci.  Andre was also able to get Third some spots playing locally.  “My brother would get a local gig with an R&B band, and they might need a drummer, so he’d say, ‘My little brother can do it.’”  Because Third was a minor, he had to stay outside during the breaks.  He wasn’t allowed inside due to liquor licensing laws.  “That was the rule, and I was down for it.  Anything to get the sticks in my hand.”

His father and his brother proved to be the biggest musical influences on his decision to become a professional musician.  He saw what his father did for the choir and the church, and he saw the life his brother led, and heard the stories about being on the road.  “To see my brother out there playing the big stages, and having the opportunity to work with these artists, as a kid of 14, 15, that’s what I wanted to do.  The advantage of having my brother around town, whom everybody knew because he had worked with all of these hot pop R&B acts, and then my dad being a minister of music and an organist in the area, well, that was my ticket.  I met, and ran into a lot of musicians.” 

Third’s journey has taken him all around the country and across the globe.  I saw Third at the Berks Jazz Festival in Reading, PA in March.  He played multiple gigs that weekend, including Euge Groove, the package of Jesse J, Jackiem Joyner, and Oli Silk, the late night jam session, and, he even sat in for Boney James drummer Omari Williams when Omari had transportation issues and couldn’t make it to the gig in time.  Third got the call from Boney’s manager on Saturday, (after the Euge Groove show,) that there was a problem and Omari may not make the gig in time, or, at all.  On Sunday morning, he met with and sound checked for the Jesse J/Jackiem Joyner/Oli Silk 2pm show.  After the show, he was driven to the Scottish Rite for a sound check and run through with Boney and his band.  “I get there and still haven’t had the opportunity to listen to the music yet.  I didn’t know the live arrangements, endings, transitions, and different things like that, so we ran through a song that I thought I could make it through.  I said, ‘God, just give me the material and I’ll see what I can do to try and make this Boney thing happen.’  I went to work.  I did pretty well.  I made it happen. And it just kind of happened.”  I was in the audience that night.  I can tell you that he did make it happen.  (Omari actually made it there by the third or fourth song.)  I would not have known that Third was subbing with almost no preparation.  This is why we love the independent musicians we call sidemen.   This is why we write about them every month in On the Side.  To have talent, professionalism and maturity enough to play on the fly like that is impressive.  We’ve seen it before, and they always manage to pull it off.

Third is part of an informal network of musicians who live in cities across the country.  This network, this relationship, was formed out of friendship.  He is close to a lot of smooth jazz’s most talented side musicians.  So much so that he loves playing festivals because it gives him a chance to catch up with and hang with his friends.  Omari Williams is a good friend, as is Chris Miskel, Donnell Spencer, and Ricky Lawson.  “We’re all in this thing together, and not only being a fan of one another’s playing, but just passing this thing around and working together.”
But talent and teamwork are not the only factors involved in getting gigs.  Integrity, attitude, and professionalism have a lot to do with it as well.  “Being punctual, having a great positive attitude, smiling, having fun, interacting with the guys, all of that comes into play.  Leave your baggage on the outside.  We’re here to create music.  Music is beautiful, so let’s do that together.”  Third knows this, believes this, and it serves him well.    

 In addition to the musicians we saw him playing with at Berks, Third has played with fellow Floridian Eric Darius, Warren Hill, and has begun playing a few gigs with Nick Colionne.  He recently played with Nick at this year’s Capital Jazz Fest in June, and has a few more dates lined up with him.  At the time of our interview, he was preparing to play with Shilts in Melbourne, FL, the next day.  He would love to play with Kurt Whalum, “There’s nothing in the world like a Kurt Whalum tenor.  That’s real music to me.”  Stepping outside of the smooth jazz genre, Third would love to play with John Mayer.  “I like John Mayer.  The music that’s happening right now on the alternative mainstream pop market, where you can be in front of 20,000 people and break into a slow 12 bar blues and everyone goes nuts…that’s what I’m talking about.” 

Less you think this man is all work and no play, he does find time to partake in two of his hobbies, basketball and pool.  Third is admittedly addicted to the NBA.  “I’m totally into the rosters, and the ownership, the association as a whole.  I love it.  If I ever make a load of money, I’d definitely buy into a team.”  He not only watches the game, but he plays from time to time as well.  Third is a serious pool player.  This was another gift from his father.  “My dad is a real big time pool shooter.  He’s got nice stick on him.  He will shoot you silly.  It takes him awhile to get around the table now, he’s got a cane, but when he gets there, he’s going to shoot every shot.  He’s really helped me with the physics of the game, and understanding defensive positions on the table, and different things like that.”  Third compares pool playing to playing drums.  “People see drums but they don’t understand the technique that it takes to play as fast as I do.  There’s a certain technique that you need to use to get proper English off your cue ball when you’re trying to make the nine ball in the corner pocket.  There’s a certain way to hit that snare drum.  You don’t just go and shoot the shot.  There’s a certain way that you have to finesse it, a certain way to do it.  That’s called technique.”  He takes his play as seriously as he takes his work.
Third has been working on a solo project for some of his endorsers, with the working title of Vestibule Conversations.  It will be a music and DVD package, a compilation of different genres.  However, the project has been temporarily put on hold so Third can focus his attentions on the upcoming birth of his first child.  “I’m gung-ho on trying to be the best father that I can, and I can’t do that and nurture this record at the same time.”   

Third is humbled and grateful for all that he has accomplished and received.  He’s never far from his faith.  It is a huge part of who he is, not only as a musician, but as a person.   “My gift comes from God, and without him, I wouldn’t be where I am, or have the ability to do what I do.  I feel closest to God when I’m playing drums.”  And, he wants to share his gift with as many people as he possibly can. 

Third Richardson is a name that the smooth jazz community will hear more and more as he continues to shine.  He’s played with many of our favorite musicians, and I’m sure more will follow.  “I’m 30 years old.  I have a decent career going for myself.  I work with artists that I’ve been a fan of for a long time in the jazz market.  I’ve had an opportunity to work with R&B artists, rock artists, blues, straight ahead, bebop, swing, jazz, and country.  I’m just lost in it all and having a good time.”  Look for Third playing with Eric Darius, Euge Groove, Warren Hill, and a host of other smooth jazz greats.