Richard D. Johnson is a renowned jazz pianist, composer, and educator whose dynamic career spans over 90 countries as a former U.S. Musical Ambassador for the State Department. He has performed with legends such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, and Stevie Wonder, and has released eight albums as a leader, including his latest projects No Voy a Parar and Warm Embrace. A Yamaha-endorsed artist, Johnson is the founder and CEO of AFAR Music, a Chicago-based label, and currently serves as Associate Jazz Professor at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. His work as an artist, educator, and global jazz ambassador reflects a lifelong commitment to using music as a force for connection, education, and cultural exchange.