Dr. Richard McLendon is an American composer, arranger, and educator. He was born in Troy, Alabama on July 9, 1953. His music compositions have been honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and by the Percussive Arts Society. Dr. McLendon is an Educational Artist for Innovative Percussion, Inc. based in Nashville, TN.
His philosophy as a composer is defined as being a flexible collaborator by composing music that is evocative and satisfies the film director’s story and vision. There is pride in a focused effort to compose the very best music for a film, video game, or media project. All projects are important and a professional working relationship is highly valued. McLendon has been privately vetted by orchestrator and film/video game composer, Penka Kouneva.
Current Project & Latest Film
As of June 2018, McLendon is collaborating on a new and original musical. He recently signed a Non Disclosure Agreement with a 5-year term.
His latest film project was a non-theatrical release for The John Philip Sousa Foundation. Completed in December of 2017, “National Programs & Projects of The John Philip Sousa Foundation” is a documentary short that examines the various awards promoted and presented by the foundation. The awards are presented to exceptionally significant bands found in middle school, junior high school, high school, university, military, and adult community bands.
Recent Influences
He has attended film music seminars presented by film composer George S. Clinton, Peter Golub, Director of the Sundance Film Festival Music Program, film composer Don Davis, multiple Oscar-nominated composer Thomas Newman, and several other established film composers. He has been privately vetted and coached by Hollywood orchestrator and film/video game composer, Penka Kouneva.
McLendon has also attended video game seminars presented by award-winning composers Marty O’Donnell, Penka Kouneva, Austin Wintory, and other established video game composers. He has also attended a lengthy conducting session given by Oscar-nominated film composer, David Newman.
He gained valuable insight by observing Tom Provost‘s screenwriting classes and by chatting with the writers in attendance. Provost is a graduate professor of screenwriting at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. He has been an actor and was in a recurring role on Steven Spielberg’s SeaQuest 2032. He has edited short films and features, and edited and produced award-winning promos for the WB and Bravo Television Networks. During this time he was hired to adapt a script for Morgan Freeman’s production company, Revelations Entertainment. The screenplay, nominated for an Edgar Award in 2001, was for the film Under Suspicion (2000).
McLendon has observed Mark Stolaroff‘s directing classes and talked with directors in attendance. Stolaroff is an independent producer and a founding partner of Antic Pictures. Stolaroff, and award-winning writer/director, Henry Barrial’s previous feature, The House That Jack Built, which premiered in the 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival, played theatrically in 2015, and is now streaming on Netflix. Stolaroff has extensive production experience on several low budget features and shorts, including production management of the Academy Award-winning short film My Mother Dreams The Satan’s Disciples in New York (1998).
Memberships & Honors
The American Society of Composers, Authors, & Publishers The Society of Composers & Lyricists Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society in Music
Music & Education Degrees
B.S. in Education, Jacksonville State University (AL)
M.M. in Performance, University of Louisiana in Lafayette
Ed. Specialist in Music Education, Troy University (AL)
Ed.D. in Education Leadership, Argosy University in Sarasota, FL (Part of his doctoral research took place in southwestern Siberia in the industrial city of Novokuznetsk, Russia.)
Education Career Highlights
During his 34-years as a music educator, Dr. McLendon’s performing ensembles toured most of the United States, eastern Canada, most of western and central Europe, and the countries of Ecuador and Colombia, South America. At his first public school job in 1979-80, the Murray High School Band in Murray, KY was invited to perform in the 1980 Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Also on 1980, the band was recognized by the National Band Association as one of the top bands in the United States and performed at their National Convention in Knoxville, TN. McLendon also had a second group in Knoxville, the Enterprise High School Band from Enterprise, AL, that he was also writing for and consulting.
In 1983, Dr. McLendon’s entire 32-piece percussion ensemble for the Pride of Cincinnati Drum & Bugle Corps was honored to have jazz artist Chuck Mangione visit their rehearsal. Mangione’s album Journey to a Rainbow (Columbia Records, 1983), had just been released. After a jam session with the group, Mangione asked if the percussion ensemble could accompany him for a performance at his wife’s graduation reception at the University of Cincinnati the next day. Of course, happily accepted the invitation and the ensemble accompanied Mangione on several of his well-known songs.
In 1995, McLendon was recognized by Georgia Governor Zell Miller and the Georgia General Assembly for his teaching and musical accomplishments when his students from Moultrie, GA became the state’s first high school band program to perform in the Republic of Ireland. In 1998, and his students performed 16 concerts in 8 European countries. In 1999, an invitation from the mayor of Maastricht brought his students to perform in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. All of these performances were televised.
Some of the many nationally televised parades that McLendon’s ensembles have performed in include the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Parade, the 2006 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA, the 2001 and the 2008 Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, DC, and the Thanksgiving Day Parades in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. He has presented percussion clinics at regional universities, state music conventions, and in South America.
Personal Performance Experience
Dr. McLendon has performed in All-State and District honor bands during his high school years, as well as high school and university marching band, symphonic band, orchestra, a capella choir, brass choir, percussion ensembles, and faculty ensembles. His experiences also include university and community orchestras in operatic performances (Don Giovanni, Amahl and The Night Visitors, etc.) and in musicals (Oklahoma, The King & I, Grease, etc.). He performed with several members of the Atlanta Symphony in community performances of Handel’s Messiah. His experiences include playing in rock ‘n roll bands and in a jazz trio. He also performed in competitive drum & bugle corps while in high school and college.
Dr. McLendon is a published author and has been an Eagle Scout since 1967.
