Laszlo Halasz, conductor for New York's City Center Opera company, tutored Richards and advised him to aim for a career on stage.
However, after he was moved to the chorus he turned his focus to more commercial activities, with his first hotel date being a 35-week stay in St. Louis.
He also sang in road companies of Folies Bergere and Streets of Paris and in night clubs in New York City.
[2] Richards was drafted into the U. S. Army on December 8, 1941, and he sang in a service production of Winged Victory for 22 months.
There an aunt of Burton Lane, composer of the music for Finian's Rainbow, saw his performance, leading to his role in that play.