<\/p>\n
Ken Richards has made some rewarding decisions.<\/p>\n
At the age of 13, he picked up a guitar. At the age of 38, he picked up a paint brush. He could not have known that these interests would eventually earn him the admiration of much of the local arts community.<\/p>\n
Since 1985, Richards has been singer and guitarist with the local Grateful Dead tribute band Pearly Baker Band. And in 1991, during one of his biannual visits to Mykonos, Greece, he was inspired to capture the beauty he saw on the island through art. To date, the New Bedford resident has sold more than 400 paintings of scenes from around the world, from Padanaram to Paris.<\/p>\n
Mike Mahoney of Dartmouth is also a singer and guitarist with the Pearly Baker Band. He and Richards have been musical cohorts since 1974.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe music of the Grateful Dead is about bringing the joy, and that\u2019s what Kenny does,\u201d he says. \u201cHe\u2019s a very intuitive player. His influences include Jerry Garcia, Frank Zappa, Mark Knopfler, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. He doesn\u2019t rely on formula, he plays what the moment calls for.\u201d<\/p>\n
A 1970 graduate of New Bedford High School, Richards boasts degrees from UMass Dartmouth in biology and sociology. Since 2002, he has been married to his \u201cmuse,\u201d Donna Harris, an internationally accomplished vocalist he occasionally performs with at local venues such as Cork Wine & Tapas, and the Rose Alley Ale House.<\/p>\n
Pearly Baker currently performs acoustically each Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Pour Farm at 780 Purchase St. in downtown. Richards\u2019 paintings will be featured at Cork in downtown New Bedford on Nov. 29 from 1 to 5 p.m.<\/p>\n