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"My first album release was "ZUIDER ZEE", in 1975 on CBS, Columbia Records. In 1978 I wrote and produced a single for Mercury Records called "Fold Out Girl". In 1979 DJM Records released a single in Europe only entitled "Supernatural" bw/"Long Distance Love." I would later reform as "Richard Orange and Zee." Then another personnel change took place that led to our being named simply "ZEE". Note: Zuider
Zee - original line up - John Bonar; Robert Hall; Kim Foreman; Richard
Orange.
I moved to England in 1984, and lived in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. I wrote extensively during this period, and it was during this time that I conceived "Hole In my heart" (All The Way To China) I wrote it in the bathtub, essentially, thinking of childhood imagery of how, if one began digging a hole in the U.S., hypothetically, one would come out on the other side in China. This is depicted in the Video for "Hole In My Heart" via a "Chinese manhole." While in England I also penned "Other Peoples Houses", also published by Dick James Music Ltd. (Elton John, Lennon/Mcartney's original publishing company). top column 2 |
"I was very humbled to be amongst such brilliant songwriters."
After returning to the states, I worked on another project with songwriter Parker Magee("Really Love To See You Tonight", "Nights Are Forever"), and I also sang on an audio book project of "The Time Machine" narrated by British actor Michael York. Another "cover" was done by Memphis artist Jimmy Davis, entitled "Over The Top" originally written for the Sly Stallone film of the same name, and slated to be recorded by ZZ Top. top column 3 |
Jimmy Davis got the song instead, when he was signed by the now infamous QMI Record label, begun by the originators of MTV. The song was a minor hit in Germany and still receives fairly regular airplay there and in surrounding areas. I would return to England in the early 90's in support of a single release there on A.I.R./EMI records "One Wrong Move", at which time I toured and did personal appearances on a limited basis in the U.K.
Time spent with Cyndi Lauper is fondly remembered. Richard & Cyndi spent time writing the track 'Paper Heart' whilst staying at the Mayflower hotel accross from John Lennon's "Strawberry Fields" on CentralPark West. I
would state my favorite influences to be those of what I consider to be
the great pop songwriters, Lennon/McCartney, David Bowie, XTC, Sting,
George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Adrian Belew, Todd Rundgren, Claude' Debussey,
and many more of the early and mid-80's British artist. rOrange.
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