Composer/Songwriter
Percy Bady grew up surrounded by gospel, thanks largely to the fact his father was a minister. Since he was six years old, Percy expressed his feelings through music, especially in church. Playing the piano and later organ and keyboards, Percy found another passion in writing music, which has...
Paul Nelson was playing guitar behind his friend and musical hero, Johnny Winter, when a friendship developed. The two became musical partners, wrote songs and gigged together over the years. When Johnny had difficulty getting sober, it was Paul who stepped up to help his friend during a...
Don McLean walked into the House of Music in New Rochelle, New York as a kid dreaming of owning a Martin Guitar. When he finally owned one, that instrument assisted him in writing several hit songs. The rock and roll anthem "American Pie" and "Vincent" were both written on his Martin, as were...
Mike Post wrote many hit television theme songs including "Law & Order," "Hill Street Blues," and the "Rockford Files." His theme for the show "Greatest American Hero" was also a number one hit song on the Billboard charts. Behind this amazing list of accomplishments is a rock and roll...
Chan Romaro played an important part in pop music in the late 1950s and early 60s when he blended his Mexican and Native American roots with rock and roll. He wrote and recorded several songs during those early years including the classic "Hippy Hippy Shake," which was later recorded by several...
Christopher Weait attended Potsdam's music program in the late 1950s, the same time as John O'Reilly and Sandy Feldstein. After teaching music and playing in many orchestras, Christopher began to compose. He published a book, one of the first, on double reed making and soon wrote method books and...
Jim Swearingen began composing for his students. He soon realized his music was not only helping students learn to play, but was also encouraging them since the music was similar to popular music the students heard on the radio. Soon his work got the attention of Barnhouse Music, which has...
John Durrill has enjoyed a long and successful career in music, which ranged from performing to songwriting! In 1963, he was a member of the rock band The Five Americans, which enjoyed several hit records including Western Union and I See the Light. John later joined the instrumental band The...
John Kay was an original member of the rock band Steppenwolf, whose hit song “Born to be Wild” helped redefine hard rock in the 1960s. The band enjoyed several other hits including “Magic Carpet Ride” and a dozen top albums. John has been closely associated with the music products industry going...
Emma Lou Diemer has written classical, choral, and even hymns based organ music during her long and successful career as a composer. Her music has been published by over 40 different music publishers over the years, including several that requested she write method books and beginner music, which...