Johnny + Band in Locust Grove, VA

SEEKING

ABOUT

ROCK LEAD SINGER NEEDED FOR DEMO WORK!

* * * * WARNING REGARDING VIDEO #2 * * * *

PLEASE, SOME MAY FIND THE SECOND VIDEO LACKING IN GOOD TASTE OR SLIGHTLY OFFENSIVE.

IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO ''''ROCK AND ROLL ANTICS'''', THEN PLEASE REFRAIN FROM WATCHING THIS. RESPECT!

The video is intended to represent both my playing and FUN.

It is also available to be seen by anyone on be, the general public, so it should be acceptable here as well.

 I am a writer of both music and lyrics for songs that span a very broad range of musical styles, but I have been a mainstream Los Angeles rocker for many decades. I spent most of my life in L.A. as a pro player.

I played with the Baltimore Symphony orchestra when I was ten years old, and toured from the time I was 17 all the way up to 62. I played over 20 nights a month for many many many years.

Here are 3 of my favorite (Claims to Fame).

1) I was the youngest student to ever start studying at Peabody Conservatory. (At that time). I was 5.

2) I was the very first "Union" Synth player in CA in the early 70's.
The Union didn't like me or recognize synth as an instrument.
I convinced them otherwise.
We were gigging a lot. They found out and they wanted dues from me. I told them that if they wanted my dues, then they had better say what my dues were for, and what instrument I played to earn the money to pay those dues. LOL. We fought for a little while. I won.

In truth, we all knew the future. One guy like me with an army of synths could wipe out a legion of Union orchestra players. (dues)
I can.

3) I was in the opening act of the first LED ZEP tour, Baltimore, '69.
Vanilla Fudge was the headliner. I was a puppy with wide eyes!

I am an accomplished guitarist, keyboard player, bass player and drummer and taught all of them for 6 years in L.A.

I have recorded in every major recording studio in California.

The Record Plant, both north and south. His Masters Wheels, Wally Heiders, Different Fur Trading Company, Motown Records, Sound City, Golden State Recorders where Sinatra recorded.

I have worked with and recorded with Peter McIan, from Men at Work, Pat Benetar, Mr. Mister and more.

Roy Halee from Simon & Garfunkel, Dave Clark Five, The Lovin’ Spoonful, the Yardbirds and more.

Norman Dayron from Michael Bloomfield, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and more.

Elliot Mazer from The Byrds, The Tubes, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Band, Janis Joplin, and the Rolling Stones.

John Ryan from Styx, Vince Gill, Pure Prairie League, and Santana.

Don Smith. Tom Petty and way tooooooo many people to list here! RIP, my good friends.

There is a bit of my resume. My fingers still work quite well.
My songs are still right there in the pocket, so to speak.

NOW >>>>>>>>>>> Y O U !!!!

What I am seeking is a lead vocalist/tenor to sing on
songs/demos that are already in the can, finished, ...
except for the vocals.

The proof here is in the pudding. When you hear the material, no discourse around the quality of the material or its commercial appeal will be necessary.

On other words, I have some very strong material. I should after writing songs for over 40 years.

I do apologize in advance for not posting any audio of the songs.

It is never a good idea for any professional musician or songwriter to post their new unreleased original material on any online format prior to its completion, even if the songs are copyrighted, which they are. At which point we talk, I can give you the rundown on the material. Worry not.

Now, here is what I am looking for.

"Unique" "Style" "Character" "Tone" "Control" "Edge" "Conviction" "FUN"

(side note: I had a major label, one time, push a singer on me that sounded like Phil Collins. Oh, he looked killer, and/but......
he sounded like Phil Collins. Needless to say.....it didn't happen)

I do not use autotune, (ever) so if you are pitchy, forget it.
Besides.... would you autotune David Lee Roth? Well, maybe now you would.
(sorry Dave) LOL! I love Dave. Make no mistake.

Dave was never the greatest of singers.
He WAS one of the greatest frontmen / stylist / attitudenist EVER! I've had the pleasure of having a short but interesting discussion with Dave and his bouncer Tiny in the bathroom at the Starwood on how on how "stimulating" it can be prior to a show.
This was during Dave's....he didn't do drugs period.

And you gotta love Sammy as well, at least I sure hope so!
But they sure did get a lot of mileage out of that "rivalry". LOL!
"Which Van Halen is Better"? When we all knew the answer.
There WAS no better. For either of them. They were both top flight, A+++++++ frontmen who both have my greatest respect.

Moving on,....in truth, I am not looking for just a singer. I need a guy with pipes that knows 'how to sell a song'.

This could be anywhere between Steve Perry and Steven Tyler. Really clean, like Mickey Thomas/Starship or Bobby Kimball/Toto to really grungy/gritty/Rod Stewart/Kim Carnes.....

Hopefully somewhere in-between.

I need 'Tude', tone and conviction.

Also, range up to a high D.

Knowledge of basic triadic chord structure,... essential, as you will be doing most of the harmonies as well, ....already defined.
I know the notes. You sing them. LOL. If I could sing it, I would!!

All melodies and lyrics are already written and pretty much in cement. I am flexible to a small degree, but I have a tried and true reputation for knowing my stuff. Trust me on this.

The direction is mainstream commercial hard rock/rock.

3 minute rock jewels.

I have had the pleasure and honor to work with some of the very best singers in the world in my bands, including Mark Dixon, who replaced Brad Delp in the band "Boston" for a short stint when Brad refused to tour. (He changed his mind).

As well as Mark Boals, who sang with Yngwie Malmsteen.

I am NOT looking for a heavy metal screamer for this material.

I am looking for a tenor that knows his craft. I want a guy that understands and listens to the directions of a good qualified producer. Me.

What kind of vocalist am I looking for? Here you go.....

John Waite = Bad English - The Babys

(At one point, a label was trying to put us together to see how it would work, but I lived in L.A., and he was in New York, so it just would have been too challenging back then)

LOL! Not so much now. I am in Locust Grove, and my drummer is in Laguna Beach, CA. Hey, it's a modern beautiful world.

Spencer Davis on Gimme Some Lovin'

(Why a song so old? Because he kicks royal youknowwhatinski in that song, and what he did in Blind Faith was some seriously magnificent singing)

Brian Adams

John Rzeznik = Goo Goo Dolls

Todd Rundgren = Utopia

You get the idea!

And

If you have read this, and wish to submit your own demo, then please just shoot me an email. Glad to listen to all submissions, with a reply.

I can pay $25 per live audition requested by me to cover travel expenses, as well as $100 per recorded song, upon completion.

We can take it from there, after a 3-5 tune demo.

I realize that this won't make you rich, but, let's take it one step at a time, and get you on the songs to see how it flys.

You will only be recording "a demo".

I have an ample home demo studio, and we will record here on a Tascam Model 24.

Now, in that I am sure that many members of this site would prefer to hear or see "something" as a representation, I figured I'd show you the last fun "LIVE" project I did.

I retired from touring at 60, but I still wanted to play out a bit, but I didn't want to put another band together.

Running a rock band is like herding cats.

So, a bunch of my buds and I got together and did an AC/DC thing because Craigslist was starting a mini be TV series, and they wanted to do a battle of the bands.

So, we did a promo video clip, which is presented here as well as the Battle of the Bands shoot.

It was a blast, so we decided to do a few gigs, as Bon Johnson.
My favorite show we did was a private party for Tito Jackson's birthday. It was wild. He hired us and a Guns and Roses band for the party. Way cool!!!

If nothing else, I thought that the videos would make you laugh, and I say....

Laugh with me, laugh at me, .....I do not care.

Just laugh deep, hard, and as often as possible!!

Laughing is good for the heart and the spirit.

So is music.

Lastly, thanks for wading through this.

Enjoy the Music!!!!!!!!!!

Screen name:

Jolly Rocker

Member since:

Sep 26 2022

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years together:

60

Gigs played:

Over 100

Age:

72 years

EQUIPMENT

LOL!

MUSIC