Emil Richards started playing the xylophone at age six. He is a graduate of Julius Hart School of Music, now known as University of Connecticut, and Hillard College.

Emil Richards has recorded over 1350 film scores and performed with over 650 artists. Some of the artists that he has recorded and/or performed with include: Charlie Mingus, Ed Shaunghnessy, Ed Thigpen, Perry Como, Ray Charles, the George Shearing Quintet, the Paul Horn Quintet, Jimmy Witherspoon, the Shorty Rogers Big Band, Lennie Bruce, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle, Judy Garland, Sarah Vaughan, Doris Day, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Bing Crosby, and Frank Zappa.

Emil Richards also worked on film scores for Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein, Johnny Mandel, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Neal Hefti, Lalo Schifrin, Dave Grusin, Michel Legrand, Alex North, and Bill Conti.

With an avid interest in percussion instruments, Emil Richards has made extensive trips around the world collecting and studying these instruments with master players.

In 1993 and 1994, he donated his entire library of percussion books, along with a substantial number of his instrument collection to the PAS Museum in Lawton, Oklahoma. Emil Richards still possesses over 650 different percussion instruments in his current personal collection.

In 1999, Richards was appointed Hearing Officer at the Professional Musicians Union Local #47, Los Angeles. He is also a member of the PAS Board of Directors and Mister Holland's Opus Foundation.