By STEVE DUNFEY, InDepthNH.org
“Music flows through our lives. Whether it is hot jazz, cool soul, the flare of military brass, or the
driving beat of rock and roll, music touches us. It motivates, soothes, inspires. It connects us as
individuals, groups and communities as we share in the power of its sound. Music is woven into
our culture and our history. It tells our stories and captures our emotions in ways that few other
mediums can. Music speaks to us, through the riff of a guitar or the haunting call of a bugle at
sunset. A community without music is missing part of its heart.”
The above statement is by Cuzin Richard Smith of Portsmouth. It defines his career as owner of
Cuzin Richard Entertainment and Modern Records. The 73 year old Smith is also the leader
behind the Harbor Arts Museum. He has served on 15 boards and committees and has made
forays into local and state politics.
Originally from Lebanon, New Hampshire, Richard was turned on to music by his mother Grace.
She was into jazz and classical music. Grace also loved art and she opened Modern Records in
Lebanon. His dad Nate was very political and interested in socialism during the McCarthy era.
He consistently fought for human rights. Richard got his interest in politics from his parents. In
1970 he protested the Vietnam war. He also protested the construction of the Seabrook Nuclear
Power Plant by occupying the construction site with 1,445 other “brave souls”.
After spending a year in Hawaii, Richard attended the University of New Hampshire. He got into
WUNH radio which launched his career in music. He also got married to Kathy Legere and he
has a 36 year old daughter named Ashley. He also got the nickname Cuzin (pronounced cousin)
from a cousin of his named Gary Goodman.
So in 1976 Cuzin Richard got his start booking entertainment at his office on 93 High Street in
Portsmouth known as CREA. Representing all styles of music, “our connections with top
comedians guarantee hilarity. And we offer a wide range of specialty acts, from spell-binding
magicians to caricature artists, jugglers and much more. Headliners we have worked with
include Diana Krall, The Cars and Dizzy Gillespie. A few artists on our roster we have worked
with since day 1 and we have added new ones to our roster of musicians of different genres
along the way. We are connected with local, regional and national artists depending on the type
of event.”
CREA produces entertainment for weddings, festivals, fundraisers and community events.
Providing New England with the finest in live entertainment for almost 50 years. “At the
Portsmouth CREA office I have reopened my mother’s Modern Records Shop. I can engage in
conversation with customers and I love it! My family, friends, clients and the New Hampshire
community all chipped in.”
Richard has an engaging personality that blends well with his customers. Engaging but not
pushy and with a great sense of humor and affability. He often asks them if they would like to
hear and then play it on the stereo.
And he has other interests besides music and entertainment. He once ran for the office of state
representative. An independent Democrat, he initially lost by ten votes. Following a recount he
lost by four votes. But he is still active in the Democratic Party as he tries to get more young
people involved in politics.
Richard’s service to the community has been recognized by the Portsmouth Rotary. He just won
the Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow Service award for all his efforts in the community. He spent
many years with them including two years on their board. At that time he lined up speakers to
address the Rotary.
“That was great. Everybody was involved in our community 100 percent. Nobody made any
money. I loved it. It was absolutely fantastic. They did nothing political. It was all about
community. I was surprised and honored to get the Paul Harris award. I am very proud to get it.”
Richard was co-chair of Portsmouth’s Pierce Island Committee for ten years. The Island is 27
acres large and owned by the city of Portsmouth. “We cleaned up trails and made it a safe place
for people to go. Nature there is number one. It was my favorite commission to serve on and it
played a role in the city.”
Harbor Arts Jazz Night is another creation of Richard. “I spent 20 years as president. All of the
board members were very proactive. Bob Marchewka was vice president.” The jazz night
brought in national headliners such as Arturo Sandoval and Brad Mehldau at the Music Hall.
Richard organized the Portsmouth Jazz Festival when it was produced on Ceres Street. It is
now the Seacoast Jazz Festival held at the Prescott Park every August. For a while it was
named the Tommy Gallant Jazz Festival.Gallant was a respected piano player and jazz activist
in the Seacoast. “Tommy was a great player with the piano. It was of the highest quality. No
question about it, Tommy only played with the best,”says Richard.
In the past, Richard has been involved in many other organizations. They include the WUNH
radio board of directors, the Portsmouth Blues Festival, the Black History Trail, Seacoast
Anti-Pollution League, the Clamshell Alliance, Co-Founder of First Night Portsmouth, and the
Save Our Schools Committee.
Stop by the CREA/Modern Records office in downtown Portsmouth and get the full Cuzin
Richard treatment…