Maximoff, Richard

Violist who has been a member of The Hampton (Rock) String Quartet (HSQ) which has carved a niche for itself as an ensemble that specializes in classical arrangements of Christmas carols and rock songs, for over twenty years.

Their debut album was 1986’s What If Mozart Wrote “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, followed by What If Mozart Wrote “Born To Be Wild”, What If Mozart Wrote “Roll Over Beethoven”, and What If Mozart Wrote “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”. They have recorded on and off ever since, re-emerging in 1993 with Sympathy for the Devil, and in the new millennium with HSQ Does Christmas Again, HSQ Rides Again, and 2005’s Take No Prisoners.

Maximoff grew up in Texas and attended Julliard, then joined The Pierre Boulez Contemporary Ensemble. He has the distinction of having played The White House twice, during the Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon administrations, and as a member of HSQ, has performed for the Queen of England. His classical forays include Amy Beach’s “Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op. 67” and Arthur Foote’s “Piano Quintet in A Minor, Op. 38”.

He has recorded, either as a member of HSQ or as a solo artist, with a wide variety of artists and groups, including Patti Austin, George Benson, The Brecker Brothers, John Denver, Deodato, Dave Grusin, Janis Ian, Eddie Kendricks, Chaka Khan, Ben E. King, Earl Klugh, Cyndi Lauper, Herbie Mann, Jimmy McGriff, Meco, *NSynch, Leon Redbone, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, Britney Spears, and Tom Waits. Richard has also been active in television and film, including 1978’s The Wiz.

As recently as 2007, The Hampton Rock String Quartet performed at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, entertaining its audience with a generous helping of Led Zeppelin covers like “Heartbreaker”, “The Immigrant Song” and “Stairway to Heaven”.

Frank Sinatra recordings
That’s What God Looks Like To Me (Stan Irvin/Lan O’Kun)
Reprise RPS 49233 (XNY2101S) (US 45)

Theme from “New York, New York” (Fred Ebb/John Kander)
Reprise RPS49233 (XNY 2103 S) (US 45)

Sources:

Maximoff, Richard

Navigation