A gorgeous retrospective CD sung beautifully and sensitively by Richard-Charles Hoh, an actor and singer whose treasure trove of experiences in his long life spent on Broadway and stages throughout the world will thrill you with great music, and rich lyrics. Richard is a master of the American Musical Songbook.

When Dick sings I feel warm inside...and he gets better all the time. He makes me smile. Dick can sing to me anytime, anywhere, any place. I cuddle with 'Looking Back With Love' every night."
Dom DeLuise
Actor & Chef

A note from Richard-Charles Hoh:

Ten years ago I started thinking about this CD ….two years ago I started actively to work on it… mentally, that is….and at long last we started rehearsing, then recording it about eight months ago….and here it is, finally….MY LIFE IN SONG….(songs from my past and present that are special in my life, with notes as to why I chose them)…

So here's Richard's life according to song:

Click on song titles to hear samples

1.	WHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNG: Although this song sets up my CD, and my life at present, it does not reflect it with complete honesty. For one thing, I do NOT have my wallet (read MONEY) to keep my heart warm. But it is a rather wonderful idea. The main point is that I've been through many situations in my life, and now being 82, have become rather sophisticated -- but I still have that longing for the tender, more innocent days.
2.	THE LILAC TREE (PERSPICACITY): This is the first song I remember singing as a child. (Age 5, I think) It's very short, and very sweet. The Hoh Family Orchestra was formed, as I recall, when I was 7. EVERYONE sang, including my Dad and 7 brothers and sisters, and I was not considered special. My mother died that year. Six years later, my father died, and the four youngest of us went to St. Joseph's Home in Erie, Pa.
3.	THE GIRL NEXT DOOR: Judy, (Garland that is) sang this song in MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS back in the 40s, as The BOY Next Door, naturally, and I've loved it ever since, as I've always loved her. I did have a terrible crush on a little girl at a very early age, named Barbara Fish (I wonder if she remembers me?) but she didn't live next door.
4.	I LEFT MY HEART AT THE STAGE DOOR CANTEEN: Actually, it was the HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN. I was never in New York until after WW II. But I was very fortunate to be stationed in California for the first year of my army career (at 18) and managed to get to the Canteen many times, where I danced with Joan Leslie, Loretta Young, Merle Oberon and many others, and was lucky to witness performances by Eddie Cantor, Artur Rubenstein, and Danny Kaye…among others.
4b.	I'LL WALK ALONE: This is probably the most touching and personal song of the WW II years. All of us felt the need to connect with a substantial someone to come home to, and to be faithful to while we were separated.
5.	MY BUDDY: Actually, this is a World War I song, but it so typifies the close friendships that were made during those Army days.
6.	THE BALLAD OF THE SAD YOUNG MEN: Returning finally to civilian life, there was first of all a wild need to celebrate that we were still alive, which of course precipitated drinking, carousing, and wildness (thank God drugs were relatively unknown at that time). I think this song tells how we felt.
7.	IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU -- I FALL IN LOVE TOO EASILY: Besides going to Art School, and then switching to Drama School, I started singing with small bands, and these were two of my regular numbers. They also reflect my state of mind and emotions at the time.
8.	WHEN THE SUN COMES OUT: Another one of my nightclub songs -- which is a tribute to Judy Garland. When I was still in the Army in California, some of us soldiers were included in an invitation to Spike Jones home where Judy sang, and this was one of her songs.
9.	LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE: This was my first musical in New York, which played at the Orpheum Theater downtown. There followed two more shows of Rick Besoyan's: THE STUDENT GYPSY on Broadway, and BABES IN THE WOOD. Rick was a dear friend, and when Dom De Luise and I formed a comedy act, (Dick & Dom), Rick played our audition for the SHOWPLACE in Greenwich Village.
10.	WAKE UP SINGING: Dom and I both went on to do Rick's THE STUDENT GYPSY on Broadway. This was one of my songs that opened the second act, but as so often happens, was taken out, along with a number of other songs, when the dress rehearsal ran 3½ hours. I am proud finally to be able to sing it publicly.
11.	TOO LONG AT THE FAIR This song from a Billy Barnes Review really reflects the rather fast and loose life that took over my existence for a number of years before I woke up to an awareness of more important things. This included the period of my working on 62 cruises all over the world, as Singer (and Portrait painter on the side, resulting in adding 100 more portraits to my resume [see: http://www.freewebs.com/RCHOH]).
12.	LOST IN THE STARS: And then came the questioning period.
13.	TIE ME TO YOUR APRON STRINGS AGAIN: A pause for a moment to remember a lovely old song that was my father's favorite, which also pays homage to my mother, and obviously my Dad's mother.
14.	I DON'T WANT TO KNOW: When Dom and I played at the SHOWPLACE, our pianist was Jerry Herman, who was fantastic. When he first appeared as our accompanist, and told me he didn't read music, I was ready to cancel the show. However, as it turned out, he probably played the best show we had ever done. This song of Jerry's from DEAR WORLD speaks of the need, my need, for love.
15.	WHAT I DID FOR LOVE: I believe Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban wrote the definitive song as to why actors act, singers sing, and performers perform. And again, it's for that magic word, LOVE. Money can be great, but for me love is what makes life worth living.
16.	THIS IS ALL I ASK: At this stage of my life, I ask relatively little. Nostalgia plays a big role naturally, and as the song says…."as long as there's a song to sing, then I will stay younger than spring."
17.	SING NO SAD SONGS FOR ME: This song written by Cristina Rosetti, with music by Jim Wise is one of the few songs about the consideration of death and how one person thinks about it. It certainly struck a chord with me.
18.	I'M STILL HERE: Reflecting on what I presently feel, there's an attitude of bravado and fortitude and thankfulness in this song. Never having made much money, or a big name, I am lucky enough to have made a living in show biz, and managed to make it this far.
19.	I'LL BE HERE TOMORROW: Leave it to Jerry Herman to top the previous song and look to the future, as I do, with it all still going on…and on…and on…until….

Orchestrated, Recorded and Mixed at
Link Recording Studios, NYC
by PETER LINK

"Received your CD! It's a wonderfully personal statement, without at all being self-centered or self-important. The little personal details, like the falsetto "Mary" or the laughter and the "oh dear" at the end of that one, are charming and endearing. Your program notes added some insight and filler, but frankly, I think the pieces stand on their own, without need for explanation.

I was genuinely impressed by how fresh your voice sounds-are you really 82? Amazing! Your diction, and your way with words and phrasing, make you a paradigm for Sinatra, and not the other way around!

Anyway: Congratulations on a fine recording. And to your collaborators as well… everything was on a first rate, fully professional level. Thanks for sharing it with us."

"While still under the effect of your exceptional "Look Back", I wanted to let you know how profoundly I was moved by it I had no favorite - each song has its own nostalgia-provoking consequence.

I am truly impressed by your breath control - and RANGE - those high notes - WHEW. And your articulation - I got every word!!

So what can I say about your heartfelt production? I'm overwhelmed. I never expected to be so affected - REALLY. I love it!! You should be so very proud to have to your credit such a listenable-to-all-ages accomplishment, particularly for those of our generation

Lastly, I think you certainly don't sound your 82 years!!

No, wait ---- there's more. Thank YOU for such an absolutely delicious (that word comes to mind) TREAT. I'm reminded of my favorite quote by Goethe: 'Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius power and magic in it'. That's the word --- there's MAGIC in it. May I have a like result for my dream."

"I finally got around to listening to your CD and it is nothing short of amazing! I knew little of your life and what little you cover in the CD text is fascinating. You have a beautiful singing voice and I very much like that you put such care into picking songs that talked about you and your life. I hope you are very proud of your work. I'd imagine that it took a lot of time and effort to do this. Please know that in my opinion in was more than worth it.

Congratulations on a life well led, and one that you are continuing to do so!"

Richard-Charles Hoh began his show business career at age 7 as one of 8 brothers and sisters (and a father) comprising the HOH FAMILY ORCHESTRA in Pennsylvania. He received his BFA in Drama at Goodman Theatre, Art Institute of Chicago. Summer and Winter Stock and TV shows brought him to New York City where he was the winner of the Garry Moore Talent Search at CBS- TV.

Following two years with Dom DeLuise as half of the DICK & DOM Comedy Act, Broadway saw Richard in TOVARICH and THE STUDENT GYPSY, as well as Off-Broadway shows, including 2 ½ years as Captain Jim in LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE.

Thirteen years of entertaining on Cruise Ships also gave Richard the opportunity to exercise his talents as a Portrait Painter, having over 350 to his credit (including Maureen Stapleton, Marian Mercer, Ruth Buzzi, etc.), and Richard performed both on ship and off as a nightclub entertainer resulting in two LP Albums, GATHER YE ROSEBUDS and THESE SONGS I LOVE.

Richard's new CD release, RICHARD-CHARLES HOH: LOOKING BACK WITH LOVE - MY LIFE IN SONG conceived and recorded at the venerable age of 82, represents a lifetime of artistic highlights thus far…