| Born in Morgantown, WV in 1925, this youngest son of immigrant Italian parents grew up in an environment that encouraged his love of music. He began playing the mandolin at an early age and shortly afterwards, the violin. He became a proficient extroversive child who enjoyed performances in acting and music.
Richard met Don Knotts in seventh grade and immediately bonded with him through their mutual knack of entertaining people. Don was a comedian ventriloquist and Richard the straight man playing the mandolin, violin and later the banjo. In high school they teamed up with Jarvis Eldred, a handsome and talented dancer, singer who played the piano, guitar and the musical saw. Together they sang in harmony and became popular in the community, known as the “Radio Three,” (Don, Jarvis and Ritchie). |
| While in high school Richard became involved in classical violin, playing in a string quartet and in the WVa University symphony orchestra by invitation. He became a leading tuba player in the high school band and upon graduation from high school was offered three scholarships; one in violin at WVa University, one in drama at Carnegie tech in Pittsburg, PA and one in band at New York University. World War II and the draft suddenly ended all his past aspirations. |
| Born in Morgantown, WV in 1925, this youngest son of immigrant Italian parents grew up in an environment that encouraged his love of music. He began playing the mandolin at an early age and shortly afterwards, the violin. He became a proficient extroversive child who enjoyed performances in acting and music.
Richard met Don Knotts in seventh grade and immediately bonded with him through their mutual knack of entertaining people. Don was a comedian ventriloquist and Richard the straight man playing the mandolin, violin and later the banjo. In high school they teamed up with Jarvis Eldred, a handsome and talented dancer, singer who played the piano, guitar and the musical saw. Together they sang in harmony and became popular in the community, known as the “Radio Three,” (Don, Jarvis and Ritchie). |
| While in high school Richard became involved in classical violin, playing in a string quartet and in the WVa University symphony orchestra by invitation. He became a leading tuba player in the high school band and upon graduation from high school was offered three scholarships; one in violin at WVa University, one in drama at Carnegie tech in Pittsburg, PA and one in band at New York University. World War II and the draft suddenly ended all his past aspirations. |
| The US Army Medical Corp led him to pursue his chosen profession of medicine. In the practice of medicine he became interested in research and studying inherited temperaments as originally described by Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine, over two thousand years ago. This gave him an insight to his own mixture of the four basic temperaments and the various phases of his life. This explained such phases as the extrovertive traits revealed while growing up with Don Knotts and the introvertive qualities revealed in his interest in classical music and the practice of medicine. His extrovertive qualities were awakened while practicing medicine when he began playing the banjo as a hobby and for relaxation.Richard became seriously interested in playing the banjo after becoming personal friends with leading banjoists such as Eddy Peabody, Eddie Collins and Father Joseph Dustin. Ultimately he was recognized as an accomplished banjo soloist and made several recordings. “Now that I am older and more reflective,” says Dr. Ferrara, “my temperament mix is revealed in my interests in the meaning and purpose of life.” A study of the wisdom of the ages and spirituality ultimately led to his writing and publishing a book entitled The Deck of Life, Playing The Cards You’re Dealt, available on this website.. |
In the past three years Dr. Ferrara’s life has been spared from near death experiences on five different occasions. “During the past year of convalescence at the age of 86, I was inspired to arrange and record my banjo legacy entitled “Banjo Love and Classics” certain old time tunes not often heard on the banjo,” says Dr. Ferrara with a warm smile. “I hope you enjoy it and all my banjo recordings. I believe they represent the summation of my lifetime of music and musical memories.” |