Richard A. Cheri lives with his wife, Cynthia, in Montz, Louisiana, near his place of birth, New Orleans.  Richard has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Science in Teaching Mathematics.  Formerly an adjunct professor of theology at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, mathematics professor at St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana, on the faculty at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, and retired high school teacher as of May 2018, Richard presently is an adjunct professor of mathematics at Loyola University in New Orleans.  Richard also serves as the Director of Liturgy and Music at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, the coordinating director of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Gospel Choir, and Executive Director of the Lyke Foundation which sponsors the Archbishop James Patterson Lyke Liturgical Conference.  He has toured with the Moses Hogan Chorale and is a composer, arranger, and producer with World Library Publications and GIA Publications.  Richard was presented the National Pastoral Musician of the Year award in 2021.