VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

mcm · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 9:10 am Post subject:

It is fun to read these posts - it would be very fun to see a jam session at a future VO meet-up! We had one at my house last year, with my family, Moe's family and DB all playing. There are pix in the archives somewhere.

I don't do any jamming with my classical guitar though. I need to get out more.

Christopher French · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject:

Let's see. . .music. . .music. . .ah yes. . .well, for starters I played Clarinet in my high school band (I still have the clarinet, too). Secondly, I played bass guitar for a rock band called Magus in the mid 90s when I was in the Navy and lived in DC. Third, I took vocal lessons and sang in "The Chamber Singers Ensemble" when I was in college (supposedly, I'm a tenor). Since college, I haven't done much except sing in the shower.

Laugh

_________________
Christopher G. French

"The only limitations we truly have are the ones we place on ourselves." -Attributed to Donald Trump

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject:

Mother was a piano teacher - so I's had my lessons. Have the scars to prove it. Played the tenor drum in the marching band, the bass fiddle and the violin in middle school and early high school. Sang in a girl's chorus. Then the music stopped. I can still read music. And I still have my violin, but there are some sort of mites in my voilin case and every time I take it out to rekindle the musical fires, the bow needs to be re-haired. Time to get a new case I think.

My brother is a world class musician - French Horn. Now principal horn for the Bavarian Radio Orchestra. He's real good - understatement....

Mother still teaches piano lessons at 81 and I had a chance to listen to 4 of her students since I've been here. She still has it.
_________________
Playing for a living...
www.voiceover-talent.com
YouTube Channel: http://youtube.com/connieterwilliger

ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:24 pm Post subject:

As can be gleaned from most of my posts here, I am a musician and music lover. Dad was a doo-wop singer and songwriter back in Noo Yawk, and played a few clubs around Lawn Guyland in the 60s. He had a 1964 Gibson Firebird that I later had restored, and am now the owner of [now and again he tries to get his hand around the neck to chord, but finds it tough...he's always singing and whistling] Evidently he cut a demo for Musicor Records (Gene Pitney's label) way back when, but of course nuthin'....

I play acoustic and electric bass, guitars, drums, keyboards, and recorder. I have a cello but have it re-tuned in 4ths like a bass. [In college I used to play the music school's Moog Series III synthesizer....the "Switched-On Bach" model. A behemoth with tons of knobs, switches, plugs, jacks, wires, lights....god it was beautiful...even used to sleep in the electronic music lab with this huge beast and make all sorts of weird sounds!! Laugh

]

In addition to my comedy band Power Salad (http://thefump.com/artist.php?id=11), I've been a working professional musician since 1982; my first "big" gig after cutting my teeth in the jazz clubs was backing up Rosemary Clooney, and later did a lot of summer stock with past-prime celebs as well as visiting artists doing their own shows (played bass for Jerry Vale, Steve Allen, Bowzer, The Platters, Rich Little, Robert Goulet, Shari Lewis, Four Lads, Four Aces, Debbie Reynolds. Florence Henderson, tons more).

In the field of jazz I backed up many visiting artists with the college band, including Mike Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Red Rodney, Dr Billy Taylor, Richie Cole, Mel Torme, and more. With the professional Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, I backed up Lew Soloff (BS&T), Jiggs Whigham, Carl Fontana (Kenton band), and more. Recorded 2 LPs with the college band and part of a CD with another college group (brought in as a "ringer").

In the tuxedo trenches I played with many Cleveland wedding and all-occasion bands over the years, and was musical director for top showband Special Blend (http://www.specialproductions.net/special_blend/special_blend.html - I'm still sort of in the videos, and did the audio recordings and much of the musical arranging)

Since moving to Wilmington in 2006 I haven't found a single gig, but that's primarily because I've been concentrating on VO, after so many years in music I actually feel calmer and less stressed building a VO career over a music career.

In addition to playing and recording music, my record collection is one of my joys...lots of Beatles and rock/pop, lots of comedy, lots of jazz, also lots of collectibles (a weakness Smile

), many formats and speeds.

Suppose the whole artistic/creative thing is in play here, lots of us as VOs are basically creative people, am sure a lot of you get the same pleasure out of music in whatever form, either playing and/or listening.

Play on!
_________________
Chris Mezzolesta, Voice Talent
800.356.5519 www.voiceatile.com

audio'connell · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:42 am Post subject:

<--World renowned finger snapper.

As in: "you there, pick that up for me this instant!"

Ack, some people don't appreciate the musical arts.
_________________
- Peter
audioconnell Voice Over Talent
Your friendly, neighborhood voice over talent

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:52 am Post subject:

ooo - ooo - me too! When I was producing video, I was a great finger snapper - as in "make the edit here!" Probably irritating as heck for the editor...
_________________
Playing for a living...
www.voiceover-talent.com
YouTube Channel: http://youtube.com/connieterwilliger

Moe Egan · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:58 am Post subject:

This is really interesting to read how many musical folks we have here. I figure someone's got to be in the audience applauding, so I accept that as my musical function...well, that and breeding musicians. I have three kids, between them there are 2 guitar players - both electric and acoustic , 1 electric bass player, 1 Clarinetist, 1 tenor sax player, 3 pianists, 1 trumpet player, 2 violinists.

I remember as a kid going over to a friend's house who's siblings all played music and thought I want a house full of music when I grow up. Professor Randy Pausch would be happy, that's one childhood dream I've had come true. Smile

_________________
Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~

JeffK · T-Shirt Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 276 Location: Oz

WOW, there's no doubt there be plenty of talented people hanging out here! Music is tops in my family too. My dad had a band "Smiling John and the Yellow Dixie Jackets" and hosted a radio program in Nashville back in the 40s. Santa delivered my first drum kit when I was 7 and I started bass 5 years later but came back to the drums played in every kind of band from gospel to punk and have since retired.

I be stylin' at 12!

Oldest daughter plays flute and clarinet in Texas Tech band (that OU game was painful last night!) Have a son that plays guitar http://www.myspace.com/auburnskiesmusic(check out Seasons)Next son plays sax, flute, clarinet and oboe. Number 3 son plays violin and youngest daughter started piano. Music is such a gift! Thanks for letting me share!

Cheers,
jjk

steveanthony · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

Playing bass guitar in a rock band paid my way through my first year of college back in the mid 70's. It was also the reason I only got through a year of college then . . . making decent money, living in a fraternity, attending too many parties and not enough classes. I still play a bit . . . mostly six-string blues.

The Freshman · Guest

Drums, from 4yrs old to 30yrs almost everyday and occasionally since then to now. Tooooooo many bands to remember. I started with Yardbirds and Cream records and recently gigged a few Godsmack and Nine Inch Nails tunes with my baby boy's garage band. I honestly thought I could make a living doing that until my daughter was born. I realized quickly that the lifestyle and family life would not mix. Been Dad ever since!