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PHONE (323) 762-6083

local teen night clubs -- packing them in. They appeared a number on times on local DJ Robin Seymour’s weekly TV show “Swingin’ Time”. The band also recorded a number of songs released through local labels, but yielded no hits.

By age 16 and now attending Fordson High School in Dearborn, Michigan, Richard and The Fortunaires were performing in upscale Detroit Show Bars like The Roostertail, Club Gay Haven, Club Cliché, Military Inn, and many others. The band ultimately became house band, backing up acts like Sam the Sham, Johnny Rivers, Danny and the Juniors, The Coasters, Mary Wells, and others.  During this time Rich was also doing a great deal of studio recording, playing piano and other keyboards on songs like “Oh How Happy” by The Shades of Blue, and “Just Like Romeo and Juliet”, “Shabby Little Hut” by The Reflections.  In 1965 Richard joined a new band called The Sand Pipers who went on to win The Montgomery Ward Talented Teen Contest,  2nd place in the Michigan State Fair Battle of the Bands, and even toured Europe for three weeks.

By 1971 Richard joined a new band The Sunday Funnies who signed under the Motown Records’ Rare Earth Label.  Producer/Manager Andrew Loog Oldham (Rolling Stones) was hired and produced two Sunday Funnies Albums: “SUNDAY FUNNIES” and “BENEDICTION”. Both albums, although having light sales, were played extensively on radio stations worldwide. Kozz co-wrote, sang, and played on all songs on both albums. The band was working and toured with artists like Three Dog Night, The James Gang, Deep Purple, Ike and Tina Turner, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, and Brownsville Station.

Throughout this exciting musical time Richard still managed to go to college; Henry Ford Community College for 2 years, Lawrence Institute of Technology 1 year, and Eastern Michigan University for 3 years majoring in Math and Science. Sunday Funnies eventually broke up in 1974 and Kozz (Richard’s new nickname) moved his wife Anna and five year old daughter Rachel to California.

Kozz never forgot the piano tuning skills his father taught him, so when he got to Hollywood he auditioned at Studio Instrument Rentals Rehearsal Studios on Vine Street, tuning an old Baldwin grand piano for Carol King’s rehearsal. Carol was always complaining about that piano but this time there was no complaint. Kozz did a stellar job and was hired as the official SIR tuner. This was a great opportunity for him to be around the music industrys’ most exclusive music circles. Kozz became  “Tuner to the Stars” with clients like The Hollywood Bowl, Universal Amphitheater, The Greek Theater , The Grammies, Country Music Awards, Academy Awards, Capitol Records and more. He tuned pianos and other keyboards for artists like Stevie Wonder, Liberace, Elton John, E Street Band, Rick Wakeman, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, Chicago, Grateful Dead, America, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stone Canyon Band, Steve Allen, Dr. John, Carol King, Barry Mann, and others.

In 1977, Kozz auditioned and got the job as touring and recording keyboardist for Native American Band Redbone and their Tower of Power /War Tour.  One year later he auditioned and took keyboardist singer Michael McDonald’s vacant spot with ABC RECORDS' band The Big Whakoo.  Kozz recorded two albums with The Big Whakoo’s million dollar ABC record deal. The first album entitled “Big Whakoo” was recorded at ABC Studios with veteran producer  Roy Haley (Simon and Garfunkles’ Bridge Over Troubled Water). The second album "Berkshire"  was recorded at Village Recorders with Fleetwood Mac (Rumors) engineer Ken Kalait. The band played gigs including opening for The Kinks at Winterland in San Francisco and James Taylor / Carly Simon at The Bitter End in New York. One song "Mother of Pearl" co written by Kozz and former Steely Dan member David Palmer wound up on the James at 16 TV show.

In 1979 Kozz had a tragic accident. While on a tuning job at a large L.A. arena a mic was plugged in to an open fader which caused a 20,000 watt PA to feedback at decibel ratings of over 140 db. Kozz said, “By the time I dropped my gear to the floor to cover my ears the damage was done. In those few seconds my hearing was destroyed. All I heard was ringing, buzzing, and swishing, and very little external real sound.” The doctors said, “Your hearing could come back in a few years but no volumes over 100 db which is not very loud. And … No live bands. No headphones. For a few years.....

During this time (1979-1982) Kozz turned his focus from music to business and formed Sun Glo Transparents, Inc., a decal manfacturing company. As Director of Operations and Production Manager with brother in law Tom Byrne their successes included the rainbow decal which sold over 600,000 copies. You may have seen them on the rear windows of cars.

By 1982 Kozz’s hearing recovered and he got back into music and songwriting.  He invested in the latest studio gear and electronic equipment and started scoring local radio ads and writing songs with singer songwriter Darwun St. James.  In 1984 Darwun was signed to Polygram Records by Russ Reagan. Kozz and Darwun co-wrote and produced the album. One song "Tear Me Up" was on the soundtrack album of the movie “Thief of Hearts”, and got a favorable review in People Magazine. Unfortunately, Russ Reagan left Polygram at this time and the Darwun album was shelved and never released.

Kozz then collaborted with veteran songwriter/producer Willie Hutch where he played keyboards and was credited on records by The Temptations, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, as well as 2 Willie Hutch solo albums.  He also composed the themes and underscore for three TV shows: Trial Watch, Bachelor Party, and Totally Hidden Video.  Kozz also partnered with music producer David Kitay and together sought out more film and TV work. After doing several very low budget films, they scored three Warren Miller Ski Films; “Steep and Deep”, “Beyond the Edge”, and “White Winter Heat”.

In 1986 Kozz landed an amazing opportunity to work as composer/engineer for Tyrell-Mann Music Group (veteran producer/music supervisor Steve Tyrell and songwriting legend Barry Mann).  He composed cues for many major network TV shows: Teen Wolf, First and Ten, Snoops, Frank's Place, Man of the People, Rick Moranis in Gravedale High, The Famous Teddy Z,  CBS Storybreak; Raggetty Ann and Andy, Spiral Zone, The New KRRP, Network Special Movie My Past My Own, and the films The Nightstalker and The Pound Puppies Movie: The Legend of the Big Paw. In 1990 Kozz also received THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES  AND TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES  OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for the Score on "Cartoon All-Stars To The Rescue" (National simulcast on CBS, NBC, ABC in 1990 with intro by President George Bush.)

Kozz’s career was now in full swing. He performed on and is credited on "Stand Up to the Night" by Bonnie Raitt and The Boxing Ghandhi's debut album. Kozz and Dave Kitay next landed the music underscore for TV show Mad About You. Kozz did quite a few shows but was so busy he switched to a another job scoring 137 episodes of The Fox Cubhouse, a daily children's show.

In 1988 Kozz and producer Michael Portis formed a commercial music company Portis-Kosinski Music. The company first started underscoring Mitsubishi Motors TV dealer spots, later graduating to Mitsubishi national brand TV spots and by 1990 Kozz and Portis were scoring National TV spots for dozens of clients along with theatrical film trailers, film scores, documentaries and dance scores. Kozz also underscored, on his own, TV spots including; Yukikaze, Bondai, Pleasant Holidays, Hyundai Sonata, Mattel Barbie, Fox Children's Network, and Fox Power Rangers. In 1993, Kozz shared the prestigious GEORGE FOSTER PEABODY BROADCASTING AWARD as Composer for the seven one minute spots in the winning Fox Children's Network public service campaign.

In 1994 he co-composed with world music innovator John Zeretzke, the 21 minute ballet score "Cloud" commissioned and performed by the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen, Denmark with the Queen attending the premiere.  He also co-composed scores for the New York Ice Theatre, The Ohio Ballet, The Aspen Music Festival, Ballet de Monterrey, and the Albany Berkshire Ballet.

From 1997-1999 Kozz went on to become staff writer for Pfeifer Music Partners where he also wrote several TV spots.

Today Kozz works as head engineer/studio manager/commercial traffic manager for a syndicated radio talk show. He runs a 3 hour live radio show 5 days a week programming shows on Nex Gen, Live Board op, Audio Editor (Pro Tools), and manages music imaging and production. He maintains studio equipment and internet video/audio streams, manages commercial traffic. and has built and run over 1000 live shows.

From the age of five, Richard was taught to read, write, and play classical music by his mother Alice, a pro piano teacher.  He performed many piano recitals and received membership and two high awards from The Detroit Musicians League’s Honor Society for his live performances of music by Chopin and Schubert. At age 7, Richard’s father Walter, a professional piano tuner/technician, trained him to be a piano tuner. By age twelve Rich was both a capable piano tuner as well as a great piano player.

By age 13 Richard joined a group of teen musicians as keyboardist in his first band The Fortunaires. The band placed in the top 5 in the Michigan State Fair Battle of the Bands two years in a row.  Meanwhile the band was playing four nights a week at popular

Richard “Kozz” Kosinski