Richard and The Girl Next Door

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Richard-Charles Hoh, one of the great inspirations in my life, is featured on Watchfire Music's Inspirational Song of the Week today. I hope you will take a moment to listen to Richard sing his sweet, sweet version of "The Girl Next Door": http://watchfiremusic.com/inspirationalsongoftheweek/

Richard happens to be a dear friend. We were neighbors in the same building for years -- he lived on the 29th Floor (for 43 years) and I lived on the 38th (for 15 years). Our building was (is) full of NYC performers, and Richard performed both on and off Broadway during the 60 years he lived in New York City! 

Richard just turned 90 this year -- a mere youngin'.  He is now happily living at the The Actors Fund Home (also called the Lillian Booth Actors Home).  Vibrantly, he continues to sing concerts there and has returned to his passionate, lifelong pursuit of painting portraits, while participating in a whirlwind of activities at the Home.

Before becoming an actor and singer, Richard trained in portrait art -- and he has painted professionally throughout his career. He finished 3 portraits and was a featured artist in a public art show -- all during this first year of his living at the Home!

8 years ago, Richard came to Link Recording Studios in New York City and recorded his CD, "Looking Back With Love: My Life In Music."  I adore this CD for so many reasons. This actor's emotion, humor, and wisdom are all beautifully captured in his singing of songs from the Great American Songbook.  

Richard has completely inspired me -- for years now -- to expect to sing and perform for the rest of my life -- and to do it well, with freedom, with love, and with joy.

I hope, after you listen to him, that he inspires you with this same goal -- whether you sing, play, paint, act, dance, bake apple pies -- whatever -- there's just no limit to expression and its beauty in all shades and colors, in all seasons and times.

Expression is infinite.  Activity is infinite. Life is infinite. Richard is a shining example of these three.  

He inspires me.

Who inspires you?

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Click here to listen to Richard sing "The Girl Next Door" and to further explore his music: http://watchfiremusic.com/inspirationalsongoftheweek/ Sign up to receive the Inspirational Song of the Week here: http://watchfiremusic.fanbridge.com/

PS -- I wrote a blog post about Richard in 2008 called, "My Buddy": https://juliawade.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/my-buddy/