User:Richard Boote

Richard Boote (born 1952) nurtured his entrepreneurial spirit as Entertainments Chairman at the University of East Anglia (where he took joint honours in Economics and Sociology). He pursued his ambitions in the music industry by touring the World for some 5 years with major bands including The Who, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Abba and Little Feat, subsequently managing various artists himself including The Yachts, who enjoyed considerable success in the USA. He established Strongroom in 1985 and, in 1990, in order to concentrate fully on developing it, gave up managing racing driver Damon Hill, having steered his career from motorbikes to Formula 3. Richard pioneered the ‘new look’ studio with natural light and Jamie Reid artwork – at the time a radical move away from the then predominant ‘stone and hessian’ look. He was instrumental in setting up the UK Studio Accord (the professional body for recording studios) which has since been affiliated to the APRS (Association of Professional Recording Services) and was Chairman of the Accord during it’s formative years from 1994-1996. In February 2006 Richard purchased Sir George Martin’s Air Studios from Chrysalis Group and Pioneer. Richard is also Founder and Life President of Strongroom Cricket Club, which wins matches most Saturdays in the summer at it’s Highgate Woods home.