to TV programs, and from international fairs to banquets, receptions, and weddings. The group's instrumentation included accordions, bass, cello, clarinet, percussion, and tambura. Richard himself played the hourglass-shaped drum called a dumbeg (a.k.a. darabuka, derbeke), the large double-headed drum called a tŭpan (aka tâpan, davul, daouli -- it is played with sticks), tambourine, and kashikler (Turkish spoons).

Of Richard Unciano, Donna Tripp recalls, "I took lessons for a year with Richard when he was teaching at Veselo Selo back in the 1980s and I thoroughly respected his knowledge and dancing skill. Many, many years ago after Koroyar had been performing at the old Laguna Folkdancer's festival. I was standing around talking with Dick Crum. Dick asked about the guy, dressed all in black, who was dancing, according to Dick,an absolutely perfect version of a Bulgarian dance that Dick knew well. Did I know him? Well, it was Richard, and I took Dick over to meet him as soon as the dance concluded. The two men spent the next hour talking over in a corner of the gym. Dick was teaching at the festival that year."

Loren Lichty writes, "Richard grew up in a neighborhood in Hollywood that had a very high Armenian population. He was adopted by his neighbors as a member of their community. As a result, Richard grew up listening to Armenian music, and learning Armenian dances from his neighbors and friends. This is what sparked Richard's interest in Balkan and Near Eastern music and dance. In order to share the things he had learned