Richard Reed Parry (born October 4, 1977) is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, best known as a core member of the
Grammy Award-winning
indie rock band
Arcade Fire, where he plays a wide variety of instruments, often switching between guitar, double bass, drums,
celesta, keyboards, and
accordion. He is also a member of the
Bell Orchestre, in which he primarily plays double bass and is the de facto producer. He occasionally performs as drummer and backup singer with
Little Scream. He was also formerly a member of the band the New International Standards, with
Tim Kingsbury and
Jeremy Gara. His first work for Orchestra, entitled
For Heart, Breath and Orchestra was recorded by the
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, on their 2011 album
From Here on Out alongside pieces by
Jonny Greenwood and
Nico Muhly. He has also written commissioned works for
Kronos Quartet, yMusic and
Bryce Dessner, and his chamber works also have been performed by the Calder Quartet and Warhol Dervish. Parry appeared at each night of the 2012
All Tomorrow's Parties festival, mounting a "moving surround sound sci-fi composition for bicycles and boomboxes" entitled
Drones/Revelations, as well as performing songs with a folk trio called
Quiet River of Dust, and as part of a chamber music ensemble performing Parry's
Music for Heart and Breath. The lineup included
Owen Pallett,
Nico Muhly,
Bryce Dessner,
Aaron Dessner, Gaspar Claus,
Nadia Sirota, Kyle Resnick, and Dave Nelson. A long-time core member of
Arcade Fire, he co-produced and collaborated on the debut
EP,
Arcade Fire, before the first lineup of the band fell apart. Helping to reform and recreate the band, Parry brought in Bell Orchestre bandmate
Sarah Neufeld, and New International Standards bandmates,
Tim Kingsbury and
Jeremy Gara. He has also made musical contributions to albums by
The National,
Little Scream,
Sufjan Stevens,
The Unicorns and
Islands. On the latter's critically acclaimed 2006 album
Return to the Sea, he played several instruments, sang background vocals and arranged strings. Parry has also performed in a cover band called Phi Slamma Jamma along with
Arcade Fire bandmates
Will Butler,
Jeremy Gara, and
Tim Kingsbury. The group performed at the 2011
POP Montreal Festival as well as the 2012
Crossing Brooklyn Ferry Festival.