My
musical influences from the early days, came from listening to
50's/early 60's DooWop groups singing HARMONY.
I loved the years of 1957 - 1963; for listening to AM radio;
( just before MOTOWN really kicked in and The BEATLES arrived with the
British Invasion.)
ARTISTS like..............
Frankie Lymon, Platters, Castells, Hollywood Flames, The Crests,
Dion & the Belmonts, Skyliners, Danny & the Juniors, The Students,
Little Joey & The Flips, Del Vikings, Flamingos, Dovells, The Tymes,
Drifters, The Diamonds, The Velvets and The Impressions.
I dissected and studied the musical arrangements of the hit songs by
Gene Pitney, Bobby Vee, The Brothers 4, Little Anthony and the
Imperials,
Kingston Trio, The Limeliters, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka, Sam Cooke,
Johnny Burnette, Tommy Edwards, Roy Orbison, Carole King and
Del Shannon.
60's influences:
ALL BRITISH INVASION BANDS
from 64'-65'. BEATLES, Stones, Yardbirds, The Who, Searchers, Zombies,
Moody Blues, Dave Clark 5, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Cliff Richard,
The Kinks, Peter & Gordon, Chad & Jeremy and Eric Burdon & The Animals.
ALL 60's MOTOWN ARTIST
(loved them Funk Brothers tracks)
Temptations, Four Tops, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Supremes, Marvin
Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Martha & the Vandellas, Mary Wells, Jackson 5,
David Ruffin, Jimmy Ruffin, Contours, Brenda Holloway, Tammi Terrell,
Marvelettes and The Originals.
More 1960's:
BRIAN WILSON & THE BEACH BOYS had the best "feel good" hit records EVER,
with the "Wrecking Crew" session players.
I also
loved the harmonies, songwriting and musicianship of THE ASSOCIATION,
California Surf Music, Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons, Frank Sinatra,
Carole King, Elvis, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, Mama's & Papa's,
Jimmy Webb, Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond, The Young Rascals, Everly
Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel, (early) Bee Gees, and the "Wall of Sound"
groups of Phil Spector; (Ronettes, Crystals, Darlene Love, Bobby Sheen,
Sonny Charles/The Checkmates Ltd., The Walker Brothers, Righteous
Brothers and Sonny & Cher).
Still MORE 60's influences included;
Arthur Lee and LOVE, The Byrds, Turtles, Iron Butterfly, Sly & The
Family Stone, Lovin' Spoonful, Buffalo Springfield, James Brown, CREAM,
Junior Walker & The All-Stars.
70's / 80's "What is hip" era:
Marvin Gaye, Delfonics, Tower of Power, Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears,
Tierra, GQ, Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Barry White, LTD, Stylistics,
Dramatics, Smokey Robinson, Commodores, 3 Dog Night, Electric Light
Orchestra,, Santana, America, Malo, The Jacksons, Seals & Crofts, Paul
McCartney & Wings, The Carpenters, Chic, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, War,
Raydio, Earth, Wind & Fire, George Benson, Spinners, England Dan/John
Ford Coley, Teddy Pendergrass w/Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, Rick
James, Bee Gees, Dan Fogelberg, Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins.
The 50's, 60's, 70's & early 80's decades, influenced my style as a
performing musician, prior to the advent of 80's MTV and modern popular
Artists; who have since produced 3 MORE decades of brilliant
recordings.
A native of Los
Angeles, Ed has performed an impressive road schedule, directing
bands and conducting ensembles in the U.S., Japan, Brazil, the
Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan & Costa Rica. He has acted as Music
Director & pianist for The Paul Robi and Zola Taylor Platters on U.S.
tours and numerous Asian and South American tribute concerts.
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