Bona was born into a family of musicians, which
enabled him to start learning music from a young age. His grandfather was a
singer (griot) andpercussionist, and his mother was a singer. At 4
years old, he started to play the balafon. At the age of 5, he began
performing at his village church. Not being wealthy, Bona made many of his own
instruments: including flutes and guitars (with
cords strung over an old motorcycle tank).
His talent was quickly noticed, and he was often
invited to perform at festivals and ceremonies. Bona began learning to play the
guitar at age 11, and in 1980 aged just 13, he assembled his first ensemble for
a French jazz club in Douala.[1] The
owner befriended him and helped him discover jazz music and, notably including Jaco
Pastorius in particular, whose work inspired
Bona to switch his focus to the electric bass.
Bona emigrated to Germany at
the age of 22 to study music in Düsseldorf,[1] soon
relocating to France, where he furthered his studies in
music.
Whilst in France, he regularly played in various jazz
clubs, sometimes with players such as Manu Dibango, Salif Keita, Jacques Higelin and Didier
Lockwood.
In 1995, Richard left France and established himself
in New York, where he still lives and works.
There he has had stints with artists like Larry Coryell,Michael and Randy
Brecker, Mike
Stern,
and Steve Gadd.
In 1998, Richard was the Musical Director on Harry
Belafonte's European Tour.
His first solo album, Scenes from My Life, was
released in 1999. He has also been prominently featured in Jaco
Pastorius Big Band albums, as well as many
other albums by various top-tier jazz musicians.
In 2005 Bona released his fourth album Tiki, which included a
collaboration with John Legend on
one track, entitled "Please Don't Stop."
He currently holds a professorship of music at New York University
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