Editing Terry Riley (section)

==Life==
Riley was born in [[Colfax, California]] on June 24, 1935,<ref name="AllMusic"/> and grew up in [[Redding, California]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Christman |first1=Laura |title=Back to his roots: Music pioneer Terry Riley returns for Redding concert |url=https://archive.redding.com/news/back-to-his-roots-music-pioneer-terry-riley-returns-for-redding-concert-ep-299576668-353858821.html/ |website=[[Redding Record Searchlight]] |access-date=September 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903215201/https://archive.redding.com/news/back-to-his-roots-music-pioneer-terry-riley-returns-for-redding-concert-ep-299576668-353858821.html/ |archive-date=September 3, 2023 |language=en |date=June 19, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1950s, he began performing as a solo pianist and studied composition at [[San Francisco State University]], the [[San Francisco Conservatory]], and the [[University of California, Berkeley]], studying with [[Seymour Shifrin]] and [[Robert Erickson]]. He befriended composer [[La Monte Young]], whose earliest [[minimalist]] compositions using sustained tones were an influence; together, Young and Riley performed Riley's improvisatory composition ''Concert for Two Pianists and Tape Recorders'' in 1959–60.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=La Monte |title=Notes on The Theatre of Eternal Music and The Tortoise, His Dreams and Journeys |url=http://www.melafoundation.org/theatre.pdf |website=MELA Foundation |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> Riley later became involved in the experimental [[San Francisco Tape Music Center]], working with [[Morton Subotnick]], [[Steve Reich]], [[Pauline Oliveros]], and [[Ramón Sender (composer)|Ramon Sender]]. Throughout the 1960s, he also traveled frequently in Europe, taking in musical influences and supporting himself by playing in [[piano bar]]s. He also performed briefly with the [[Theatre of Eternal Music]] in New York in 1965-1966.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

His most influential teacher was [[Pandit Pran Nath]] (1918–1996), a master of Indian classical voice who also taught La Monte Young, [[Marian Zazeela]], and [[Michael Harrison (musician)|Michael Harrison]]. Riley made numerous trips to India over the course of their association to study and accompany him on [[tabla]], [[Tanpura|tambura]], and voice. In 1971 he joined the [[Mills College]] faculty to teach Indian classical music. Riley also cites [[John Cage]] and "the really great [[chamber music]] groups of [[John Coltrane]] and [[Miles Davis]], [[Charles Mingus]], [[Bill Evans]], and [[Gil Evans]]" as influences on his work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluefat.com/0912/Terry_Riley2.htm |title=Like a Rainbow in Curved Air: Terry Riley|website=Bluefat.com}}</ref> He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Music at [[Chapman University]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1247&context=press_releases|title=Commencement Ceremonies Spotlight Musicmakers, Newsmakers on May 19|publisher=Chapman University|accessdate=22 April 2025}}</ref>

Around 1980, Riley began his long-lasting association with the [[Kronos Quartet]] when he met their founder [[David Harrington (musician)|David Harrington]] while at Mills. Throughout his career, Riley composed 13 [[string quartet]]s for the ensemble, in addition to other works. He wrote his first orchestral piece, ''Jade Palace'', in 1991, and has continued to pursue that avenue, with several commissioned orchestral compositions following. He is also currently performing and teaching both as an Indian [[raga]] vocalist and as a solo pianist.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Riley continues to perform live, and was part of the [[All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)|All Tomorrow's Parties]] festival in May 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spin.com/2011/05/10-best-moments-all-tomorrows-parties/|title=The 10 Best Moments Of All Tomorrow's Parties|newspaper=Spin |date=16 May 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Terry Riley 85.jpg|thumb|Riley at the [[Great American Music Hall]], San Francisco, 1985]]