Richard Taylor Nash (born January 26, 1928) is an American jazz trombonist most associated with the swing and big band genres.
He began playing brass instruments at ten. He became more interested in this after his parents died, and he was sent to Kurn Hattin Homes for Children in Vermont. At Kurn Hattin Homes, the first instruments he studied were the trumpet and bugle. His first professional work came in 1947 with bands like that of Tex Beneke. After time in the United States Army, where he served and played for a band, he joined Billy May's band. Later he became a first-call studio musician in Los Angeles, California. He was composer, conductor Henry Mancini's favorite trombonist, and was featured soloist on several Mancini soundtracks, beginning with Mr. Lucky and Peter Gunn. Nash's trombone is featured on the Theme From Hatari! from the soundtrack for the John Wayne film (1962), Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961), and The Days of Wine and Roses . In 1959 he played bass trombone on Art Pepper + Eleven – Modern Jazz Classics.