Richard Galliano began learning piano and accordion at the age of 4 from his father Lucien Galliano, himself an accordionist and teacher. Particularly gifted, he quickly entered the Nice Conservatory, which at the time was directed by organist Pierre Cochereau. There he took lessons in harmony, counterpoint and trombone.
He came to Paris in 1975 and met Claude Nougaro, who was his friend, accordionist and conductor until 1983.
The author and the composer found each other. They understood each other wonderfully.
From this close collaboration were to emerge many songs that have become part of the heritage of French song. The second crucial meeting took place in 1980 with the Argentine composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla.
Astor strongly encouraged him to create the French "New Musette" as he had invented the Argentine "New Tango" itself.
During his long and prolific career, Richard Galliano recorded more than 50 albums under his name.
He also collaborated with an impressive number of renowned artists and musicians, including Chet Baker, Eddy Louiss, Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Serge Reggiani, Claude Nougaro, Barbara, Juliette Greco, as well as Nigel Kennedy and various orchestras.
During his world tours he has performed in the most prestigious theaters, including Lincoln Center in New York, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Accademia Santa Cécilia in Rome,Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris or Théâtre Marinsky in Saint Petersburg.
In 1997 Richard Galliano was awarded a "Victoire de la Musique Jazz" for his album New York Tango.
In 2009 he was appointed Officer and in 2011 Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters. In 2010 he received the "SACEM Prize for the best pedagogical work for the accordion method", which he and his father Lucien Galliano realized in the Lemoine publishing house.
In 2010 he recorded a Bach album with Deutsche Grammophon, which sold a record 70,000 copies.
He won the "Victoire de la Musique Classique" in 2014 and also received the "Best Composer of the Year 2014" award.
He recorded classical repertoire with increasing frequency and recorded a new
Album in 2016, this time dedicated to the work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
In 2016, he also released a new quartet album "New Jazz Musette", released under the Italian label Ponderosa music & art, thirty years after the album Spleen, which introduced the musical concept "New Jazz Musette" in 1985. In 2016 he was promoted to Officer of the National Order of Merit by former French President François Hollande.