Richard Alan Berk was born in San Francisco on May 22nd 1939. A professional drummer by age 14 he had already experienced playing with the likes of Billie Holiday, Anita O'Day, and Art Pepper before moving east to study with Alan Dawson at Boston's Berklee School of Music in 1958. He eventually became a part of the New York City jazz scene and worked with Nick Brignola, Ted Curson-Bill Barron, Charles Mingus, Walter Bishop,Jr, Freddie Hubbard, Mose Allison, and Monty Alexander.

Moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and began do some gigs with Gabor Szabo and George Duke, and record with Milt Jackson. He played regularly with Cal Tjader from 1969 through 1975 and toured Japan with Georgie Auld. Movie buffs should note he played drums on the soundtrack of New York, New York, and also participated as an actor. In the latter capacity his credits also include the films: "Raging Bull" and "Scarface"and on TV he appeared in "Hogan's Heroes", "Emergency" and "It takes a Thief".