by Greg Prato Although originally a classically trained guitarist, Richard Searles has been known to incorporate elements of such varied sounds as Celtic, Renaissance, and world music into his music that often results in a relaxing new age blend. Searles hails from Los Angeles, CA, but developed an interest in such exotic musical styles from his own personal travels through Great Britain, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Playing a beautifully hand-crafted Mattingly guitar, Searles has steadily issued albums since the late '80s, including such standout titles as 1986's A Christmas Gift, 1990's Earth Quest, 1992's Emerald Castles, and 1997's Scarborough Faire, among others.