Background
Dyer-Bennet, Richard was born on October 6, 1913 in Leicester, England. Son of Richard Stewart and Miriam Wolcott (Clapp) D.-B. came to the United States, 1925, naturalized, 1935.
Dyer-Bennet, Richard was born on October 6, 1913 in Leicester, England. Son of Richard Stewart and Miriam Wolcott (Clapp) D.-B. came to the United States, 1925, naturalized, 1935.
Student, University California, 1932-1935; vocal studies with Gertrude Beckman, 1934-1941; vocal studies with Gertrude Beckman, Cornelius L. Reid, from 1968; guitar instruction with Jose Rey De La Torre, 1943-1946.
During his peak performance years, he gave 50 concerts a year. He recorded extensively for many labels, and eventually founded his own, Dyer-Bennet Records, and recorded in his own living room. The albums he recorded on his own label have been re-released on Civil Defense by Smithsonian Folkways.
The Civil Defense Richard Dyer-Bennet 1 includes a biographical essay written by Dyer-Bennet"s daughter, Bonnie, which highlights his progressive politics and his battle with a debilitating stroke in later life (he taught himself to play harp one-handed so that he could continue to perform and teach).
A biography - Richard Dyer-Bennet: The Last Minstrel - by Paul O Jenkins was published in December 2009 by the University Press of Mississippi. 1980: The Odyssey on YouTube.
Married Elizabeth Hoar Pepper, June 1936 (divorced). Children: Ellen, Eunice. Married Melvene Ipcar, June 1942.
Children: Bonnie, Brooke.
