SEEKING
Band to Join.ABOUT
I have been an "almost life-long" musician. I took piano lessons at the age of 8 and continued for almost 10 years, and I have been playing piano/keyboard off and on ever since. I have also performed in high school and college marching and concert bands as a drummer/mallet percussionist. While in high school, I have also played drums, piano, and synthesizer for the school's Jazz-Rock ensemble "Sealed in Sounds, Ltd."; and I was selected for Susquehanna Valley Band and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 8 Band as a mallet percussionist. Besides playing piano/keyboard in my spare time at home, I have also played guitar on occasion. I enjoy playing old mellotron selections from the Moody Blues, including "The Voyage" which was one of Mike Pinder's most popular creations during his tenure with the band.
In addition, I am an accomplished singer as I have performed karaoke for over 20 years (off and on). My most memorable karaoke performance was a contest aboard a Caribbean cruise ship in 2007, where I finished as one of the 10 finalists performing the Moody Blues hit "Nights in White Satin". At the end of the performance, a fellow passenger handed me a referral for a talent agent out of Nashville (to my surprise).
Although I have not performed any gigs in terms of rock bands, I have come close on 3 occasions, including an audition for the classic rock cover band "Mulch, Sweat, & Shears", who performs regularly at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Ironically, I am a part-time cast member there which is how I became acquainted with this band.
In the "real world", I am a software engineer for a company in Tampa, FL with 20 years of industrial experience spanning back to several companies in New Jersey (hence my karaoke stage name "Jersey Johnny B") and Orlando, FL. I also have a wife, two kids, and four dogs (all small) who keep me busy as well.
- Screen name:
- john539382
- Member since:
- Jul 11 2013
- Active over 1 month ago
- Years playing music:
- 35
- Gigs played:
- Under 10
- Available to gig:
- 2-3 nights a week
- Most available:
- Nights
Influences
The Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, Crosby Stills & Nash, Neil Young, America, Genesis, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Yes, Led Zeppelin, and Antigone Rising (featuring two members who attended the same university I attended).
Instrument experience:
- Vocalist:
- Advanced
- Other Percussion:
- Advanced
- Keyboard:
- Advanced
- Piano:
- Advanced
- Background Singer:
- Advanced
- Drums:
- Moderate
- Rhythm Guitar:
- Beginner
- Acoustic Guitar:
- Beginner
EQUIPMENT
The only equipment I have at this time is a Yamaha YPG-625 electric piano which consists of many sounds from a variety of musical instruments along with sound effects. This instrument has the look, sound, and feel of a mellotron given its orchestral sound potential, which may explain why I have been playing a lot of the old Moody Blues songs on it.
