Richard Digance

Richard Digance: 40 YEARS ON THE ROAD

Richard Digance is known as one of the great folk entertainers of the 70s and 80s. His evergreen career has been acknowledged through numerous awards within both the music and entertainment industries, from a BAFTA Nomination as a TV entertainer to a Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. He has supported Steve Martin in the USA, Robin Williams at The London Palladium and is included in The Virgin Anthology of Songwriters for his important contribution to British comedy songwriting. When presented with the Gold Award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters he was described as someone who for half a century has travelled the world with just a guitar and an immense collection of stories gathered through his own experiences. That kind of says it all.

It was Dennis Norden on the ITV programme '30 years of Comedy' who said that Richard Digance trod a unique and dangerous path, telling stories like no other without taking the obvious tried and tested gag route. Richard Digance is indeed unique. Name another performer who appeals to all age groups by singing his own songs, telling fun stories, whilst throwing in his popular poems and legendary audience participation sing-songs for good measure.There is no-one else like Richard Digance, he does indeed tread a unique and dangerous path without competitors. But it's on stage Richard is most comfortable, giving two hours of original material with just a guitar, no support acts, no gimmicks, just one man with a treasure chest of stories collected over 35 years in the entertainment industry.

As a poet Richard's works are included in The Oxford University Press anthology of British Poetry, used in the Feardon Teaching Aids publications in the United States and as English Literature syllabus material in British Columbia, Canada.

He has survived all trends with his two and a half hour one-man show, his summer festival appearances in the UK, the United States, Canada and Dubai, his cruise work and television appearances.He is both an accomplished musician, rated by many as one of Britain's greatest acoustic guitarists, inspired by his good friend Ralph McTell, and an entertainer who many younger comedians claim as one of their major influences. Garry Bushell, in The Sunday People, listed Richard Digance as one of the Magnificent Seven of British Comedy along with the likes of Tommy Cooper and Bob Monkhouse, a wonderful tribute indeed. On his own ITV Saturday-night show Richard has played guitar with Queen's Brian May, The Moody Blues, Status Quo, Chris deBurgh, Juan Martin, Marc Cohn and Elkie Brooks.

Richard Digance gained a BAFTA Nomination for TV Entertainer Of The Year in the late 1980s and in 2003 received the Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters for his services to live music. He is one of Britain's top comedy and music attractions, a rare performer in that he's respected by comedians for his original material and by musicians for being an accomplished acoustic guitarist. His loyal following confirms his wide appeal, from the younger generation attracted by both his guitar playing and the fact he has inspired many modern-day performers, to the super-loyal who have followed Richard since the time he had his own ITV series and even further when he started out in folk clubs. He is listed in the Virgin Encyclopedia of Music and his poems are used as teaching aids by Fearon Publications in the USA and by The University of British Columbia in Canada. In recent years he built a further following through his regular appearances on Channel 4s Countdown.

However, Richard Digance does not rest on his immense reputation. In the last two years he has broadened his appeal, firstly by proving to be one of Britains most sought after cruise entertainers and secondly by returning to his musical roots through major festival appearances. He has worked with a multitude of world-class artists; Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys, Elton John, Steeleye Span, David Essex, Jim Davidson, Supertramp, Elkie Brooks and Tom Jones. His TV specials for ITV ran for a record 11 years and on these shows he played guitar with Brian May, Status Quo, The Moody Blues, Buffy St Marie, Juan Martin, Marc Cohn who wrote Walking in Memphis and Chris de Burgh on his way to being a major artist

Richard Digance at Darwen Library Theatre in Darwen, Lancashire on Sunday, 11 March 2012.

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