by Bradley TorreanoA gifted songwriter that has garnered much respect in the underground, folk singer Richard Julian demonstrates a talent for strong melodies and his own distinct sound. Born in Arden, Delaware, Julian became a classically trained pianist at a young age and found himself writing his own songs in his early teens. A planned move to Los Angeles got him as far as Las Vegas, where he became a keyboard player for several big name cocktail singers. After spending a year in the town, he moved to New York City and managed to score a recording contract within a few months of arriving. Releasing a self-titled debut on Blackbird/Sire, Julian got his name out nationally and received some good notices. But the following year's Smash Palace was a more varied effort, showcasing his talents for orchestrating many different instruments at once. An excellent effort, it still didn't make much of a financial difference and his label left him before 2000. Still playing live and working on new material, Good Life arrived in 2002 and coincided with a cover of the first album's "Young and Free" by Art Garfunkel.