Composer/Songwriter
Dr. John became the unofficial ambassador of New Orleans music by showcasing the mystic and voodoo rich traditions of southern Louisiana, which has become the backdrop to many Mardi Gras celebrations over the years. As a soloist and bandleader, he recorded million selling albums that have produced...
Jason Miles is the musician and composer who took advantage of the developing synthesizer technology in the 1970s and 80s to create unique sounds for such artists as Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin. In the 1980s, Jason played an important role within New York recording studios by...
Guitar Shorty was born in Houston with the name David Kearney, but found fame with his nickname in the blues world beginning in the 1950s. He grew up in Florida, where he began playing gigs as a teenager. After working with the Ray Charles band and Walter Johnson, Shorty released his first...
Bobby Watson grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and remembers dreaming of buying a new saxophone at the local music store. An early gig with drummer Art Blakey began Bobby on his career as a noted jazz musician, which has included forming his own award winning band and playing with such artists as Joe...
Graham Nash has been an outspoken advocate for music education, especially with regards to programs that provide instruments to young students. He has often mocked the thinking that allows school budget cuts to affect the music programs. As a result, Graham has worked with NAMM on raising the...
Geoff Downes has seen the curve in technology throughout his musical career. Commonly known as a member of The Buggles, Geoff's successful musical career took off when he incorporated the changes of pro-audio and technology within his music. "Video Killed the Radio Star" not only catapulted the...
Obie Bermudez is the Grammy winning singer and songwriter from Puerto Rico who combined his passion for lyrics with his interest in musical instruments. His first album, Locales, released in 1998 showcased his own songwriting skills. His recordings also have always contained more instruments and...
Frank Simes was born in Tokyo, Japan and began studying guitar at the age of ten. During his fascinating career in music Frank has played guitar with the likes of Mick Jagger and Stevie Nicks; been a songwriter for Surreal McCoys, David Lee Roth and The Whizz Kidds as well as serving as musical...
Will Champlin grew up in a very musical family, his father Ben is the songwriter and founding member of the band Chicago. Will studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and launched his musical career as a songwriter. In 2010 he won a Grammy for writing the song “Ordinary...
Jon Anderson is best known as a founding member of the band Yes. His musicianship, arranging and songwriting helped catapult the band to international fame with hit records and sold out performances around the world. The band has had a remarkable ability to re-create itself over the years for a...