CBC Music is searching for the best new artist, and with any luck, they'll find him right in our own backyard.
Todd Richard is a contestant in the web and radio-driven contest, Searchlight, which opened to voting this Monday and will run until Apr. 6. And while Richard may seem new to a few CBC listeners, he's garnered plenty of fans in his hometown of Harrison Hot Springs. He also earned plenty of support during a run on the CMT hit show, Big in a Small Town, making it to the top six from a total of 30 contestants.
Richard was nominated for seven BC Country Music Awards in 2012, and has shared the stage with Dwight Yoakum, Dierks Bentley, Gord Bamford and Randy Bachman. He's got a music video (Life's About People), and three singles to his credit from his debut album Journey On. That album received a CCMA nomination for producer Bart McKay, and many country fans in this area will have heard Richard singing his original music and the many community events he has helped support, and even helped plan. He's one of the heavyweights behind Harrison's Bands on the Beach event every summer, and helps out with the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Harrison.
Richard is currently preparing to head into the studio with award-winning producer Tom McKillip. They’ve meticulously chosen a hand-full of well-crafted songs – written by the best of the best – and they are confident that this material is the perfect showcase for Todd’s warm, resonant voice and engaging performance chops.
Fans of Richard can support him by going online to CBC's website. You can vote up to 10 times a day, until Apr. 6.