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Richard Flohil is a Canadian publicist, writer and promoter. He currently lives in Toronto, ON.

Born in 1934 in England, Richard immigrated to Canada in April of 1957 and later obtained his citizenship. Flohil began his work in publications as an editor for Canadian Woodworker, Electrical Contracting & Maintenance, Furniture & Furnishings Daily, and Industrial Sales Promotion trade magazines.

In 1970, Richard Flohil started his publicity company Richard Flohil & Associates which he still owns and operates. The company handles a variety of music industry clients, including record companies, events, concert tours, and individual artists. David McPherson,[http://books.google.ca/books?id=M8dH1tUkFNgC&pg=PA88&dq=Richard+Flohil+articles&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7yM-Ud-vDKq40gHN9oGIDQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Richard%20Flohil%20articles&f=false "

Previously, he has done publicity work for k.d. lang, Colin James, The Irish Descendants, Laura Smith, James Keelaghan, Downchild Blues Band (39 years), Serena Ryder (Isadora Records), Roxanne Potvin (Alert Records), Justin Rutledge, Evolver Records (Stacey Earle, Sarah Jane Morris projects) and NorthernBlues/Borealis Records (Gordon Lightfoot tribute project). Over the years, he as also been involved in tour publicity for artists Nana Mouskouri, Eric Idle, Billy Connolly, David Crosby, Ian Tyson, James Keelaghan, Martyn Joseph, Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart, Matt Andersen, and Kate Reid.

Currently, Richard works as a publicist for Stony Plain Records (1980-present), Loreena McKennitt (1989 - present), Paul Reddick, Shakaura S’Aida, Treasa Levasseur, Ariana Gillis, Matt Andersen, Andrea Ramolo and Cindy Doire (Scarlett Jane), Jay Aymar, David Baxter, The Parachute Club, Jadea Kelly, and Alejandra Ribera.

Richard currently promotes a number of shows annually at Hugh’s Room, The Rivoli, and The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, as well as the Shenkman Arts Centre in Ottawa and Hamilton Place Studio Theatre in Hamilton, ON. Most notable shows in the past would be Muddy Waters, Ry Cooder, Miles Davis, Stephane Grappelli, Benny Goodman, John Prine, k.d. Lang, B.B. King, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and Leon Redbone.

An avid writer, he has written sleeve notes, speeches, biographies and is currently working on releasing his book.

Richard is also known as a public speaker and does guest lectures at both Toronto music industry schools, Trebas and the Harris Institute for the Arts. He has acted as a keynote speaker and panelist at dozens of industry events both nationally and internationally. He was, briefly, a radio DJ (Q107 Toronto), and is frequently heard/seen on radio and TV doing interviews.

Behind the scenes, He is involved in many music committees and boards. He is a member of Juno Awards blues and roots/traditional committees, board member of Ontario Council of Folk Festivals, former board member of Toronto Blues Society (but currently member of programming committee)

Awards
Richard has received several industry awards for his service as a folk, roots and blues publicist, writer and promoter.

Casby Music Award: Special Achievement Award, 1990 Porcupine Awards Hall of Fame, 1999 Toronto Blues Society Blues Booster of the Year Award, 2006 Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award, 2006 SOCAN Special Achievement Award, 2009 International Blues Foundation “Keeping the Blues Alive” Publicist of the year award, 2010

Sources: http://torontobluessociety.com/2005/11/veteran-music-promoter-richard-flohil-to-be-honoured-with-blues-booster-award/ (Blues Booster) http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-151547432.html (Estelle Klein Award) http://www.notinhalloffame.com/blogs/live-music-head/296-richard-flohil (Interview with Richard) http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/the-record (The Record) http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/words-music (Words & Music) http://books.google.ca/books?id=M8dH1tUkFNgC&pg=PA88&lpg=PA88&dq=Richard+Flohil+articles&source=bl&ots=Y2BrSF_Cwy&sig=8Roj_zOWAXtnBD8UPBwn__F6MJs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kCM-UfOcC-PO0QGrtoFo&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q=Richard%20Flohil%20articles&f=false (Book Article - David McPherson about Richards life)