04/16/2024

Richard Horowitz, January 6, 1949 – April 13, 2024

Richard Horowitz passed away Saturday, April 13 in Marrakech, in the company of Sussan Deyhim, his life and creative partner, at the age of 75. Richard was battling Parkinson’s disease for the past several years, and Sussan relocated him for Los Angeles to Morocco, his spiritual home, for care and comfort in the company of friends.

We had the honor of working with Richard on a reissue of Eros in Arabia via Freedom to Spend, originally released in 1981 under the name Drahcir Ztiworoh (read it backwards). While Eros is an innovative, otherworldly album, it was just one thread in an incredible tapestry of music he was a part of. richard studied under La Monte Young, recorded and toured extensively with Jon Hassell, collaborated with Ryuchi Sakamoto on film work, and founded the Gnaoua Music Festival in Mogador. His travels in Northern Africa introduced him to the Ney cane flute, and to Brion Gysin and Paul Bowles, the latter whom mentored Richard over decades of correspondence.

Richard’s collaboration with Sussan was perhaps the most magical and prolific. Their 1986 album Desert Equations: Azax Attra is perhaps the pinnacle of Crammed Disc’s untouchable Made to Measure series, and represents an undeniable culmination of creativity and admiration shared between the two musicians.

At first skeptical of our interest in Eros in Arabia, Richard was so incredibly kind and inquisitive after we finally met in NYC at a favorite Tribeca restaurant so many years ago. He perfectly understood our place and intention, and embraced and enabled our efforts. It was always a lovely, learning experience getting time with him in New York and Los Angeles, and becoming close with Sussan in the process.

We will miss your presence in this physical realm, Richard. Now you are all around us, reborn in the ultimate dimension. Thank you for the incredible gift of music, and allowing us to share ~