Ham Musicians

[n7zsd]

It seems there are quite a few hams who are also musicians of some sort. I wouldn't mind hearing about your talents, bands, types of music you like to play, and what instruments you play.

For me, I play rhythm guitar and bass guitar. I am in a band called "Installer" and we play country, rock, pop, and blues. We've been together for about a year now, and are finally making some money playing weddings, parties, and the occasional bar scene. We don't take any money home though, we save it for equipment and we just bought a nice enclosed trailer to haul the gear with.

There are seven of us in the band, that's alot I know, but we have alot of fun at it. We are working on some original stuff and hope to be able to sell some as downloads on the net. Anyone know how to go about doing this?

Anyway, that's my story....how 'bout yours?

[WB2WIK]

I play keyboards but it was never a real career.

However, it did help pay my way through college! That was back in 1970-1974 which was an interesting time in pop music. The Beatles just broke up, Chicago was big and a 7-piece band wasn't so large because a lot of bands were trying to use horns as well as guitars, keyboards and drums (like Chicago).

We formed a band called Everyman and booked a lot of gigs in the NYC area, including those blessed "permanent" gigs where we could play the same place every Friday and Saturday nights and didn't have to move all the gear. Since I had a Hammond B-3 and a 200 lb Leslie system, that was a wonderful thing.

I was never good enough to make a living at it, but being in a band was sure a chick magnet. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

If I had it to do over again, I'd change a lot of stuff. I'd practice more, get better, write more and try to go pro.

Oh well, too late now. But if you have the passion for it, don't wait until it's too late.

WB2WIK/6

[K0HWY]

I lead and play trombone is a 1940s swing band. You can check out 2 of our numbers at The Bruce Long Orchestra (http://www.myspace.com/thebrucelongorchestra)

Recently, I've been tinkering with the idea of doing some vocal stuff (independent of the band)
Bruce (http://www.myspace.com/smokeybear20252)

[n7zsd]

Quote[/b] (K0HWY @ Sep. 07 2007,21:29)]I lead and play trombone is a 1940s swing band. You can check out 2 of our numbers at The Bruce Long Orchestra (http://www.myspace.com/thebrucelongorchestra)

Recently, I've been tinkering with the idea of doing some vocal stuff (independent of the band)
Bruce (http://www.myspace.com/smokeybear20252)
I see you are a classic country buff as well. Nice vocals. I do "I walk the line" as well, but I have one of the band members pound on my back to get the Johnny Cash waver in my voice. It's fun, and the crowd likes it, but I am not a very good singer. I can sound a little like Cash though...

Nice work, good luck on your endeavors.

[w5klb]

Ax Grinder - Gee tar picker.

My very first Guitar was a Martin Dreadnought copy my mother brought for my Dad from Sears. He could play, but everything he played was in D. He could sing, but you would be better off finding something to stick in your ears! Anyway, he gave the guitar to me for obvious reasons. I was only 6 years old at the time.

During my hitch in the Navy, I played with a group of guys around the smaller lesser known taverns and bars in the Chicago-land area. We were pretty good but all we got was free drinks (I stuck with soda). It was fun with the ladies and we would see a good bar room blitz every so often. It was something to do for some very bored sailors on liberty.

I've had my Taylor 12 string guitar for a while. It was brought in Arlington Heights, IL. Still enjoy playing for family and friends.

[WS2L]

I play Bass Guitar, Keyboards and use midi foot pedals to play keyboard parts with my feet. To see the whole story and pictures of some of my equipment go to Dave's Myspace Page (http://www.myspace.com/dirknj)

[N8UZE]

Clarinet in local concert band. Our performances are ala "Boston Pops" music, i.e. a combination ranging from classical to movie music to folk to holiday music.

[N3ATS]

Guitar here. Mostly blues influenced stuff. Presently I am trying to record an instrumental piece I've been toying with for ten years.

I am laying down the tracks in Audacity to hopefully get something together.

100% amateur with little or no talent. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[K8MHZ]

I haven't played in years and now my 14 year old daughter is taking guitar lessons. Wow, I can't believe how much I have forgotten and how little my fingers work after such a long hiatus.

I used to play in a little garage band that went by several names. We could never agree on one so we made them up as we went. My favorites were 'Toxic Wanda' and 'Fanatic Fun Addicts'.

I still have my 1978 Gibson Les Paul Anniverary Issue electric guitar and a small Marshall practice amp. A 50 watt solid state amp. Nowhere close to what a tube type Marshall sounds like but is quite adequate for my needs.

I know several hams in our area that are musicians and actively play. Not bad, either, I must admit.

Has anyone ever heard 'QRS' by Hindsight? That song was obviously written by a ham. And don't forget the Ham Band. I have an autographed CD from them.

Fun stuff.

[K0HWY]

Quote[/b] (n7zsd @ Sep. 08 2007,00:24)]I see you are a classic country buff as well. #Nice vocals. #I do "I walk the line" as well, but I have one of the band members pound on my back to get the Johnny Cash waver in my voice. #It's fun, and the crowd likes it, but I am not a very good singer. #I can sound a little like Cash though...

Nice work, good luck on your endeavors.
Thanks Craig. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I've met quite a number of musicians on the air. In fact, a good friend of mine is a professor of music at a local college.

Several folks have mentioned it, and I've noticed it myself; musicians do seem to have a natural ability when it comes to sending code. From what I've seen, their rhythms seem to be very precise.

[kb2vxa]

I can't play a note but I must mention a good friend and local ham Al Rando W2NCH. He's a master at the keyboards and plays local gigs in any style you can imagine.

BTW, he's quite the talker and can time out 2M FM simplex. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[kf4vgx]

Nice topic ,brings back quite a few fond memories. I played drums in my early years 14 to 25 .
The band was called the " Country Showmen ",
in later years it became the " Country Gentleman".
A little beach music and plenty of country http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif .

[NL7W]

Quote[/b] (kb2vxa @ Sep. 08 2007,15:38)]I can't play a note but I must mention a good friend and local ham Al Rando W2NCH. He's a master at the keyboards and plays local gigs in any style you can imagine.

BTW, he's quite the talker and can time out 2M FM simplex. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Morse code is the only music I'm able to play, although I would have loved to learn guitar, both acoustic and electric, when I was a teen.

Music, and the ability to play, are wonderful gifts from God!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[KB9YCO]

Quote[/b] ]We are working on some original stuff and hope to be able to sell some as downloads on the net. Anyone know how to go about doing this?

(Normally I would say "if you have to ask...) But, as long as everything you have is original, and copyrighted properly of course, I Tunes and similar sites are the new boon for independent musicians since the music industry is in chaos due to the advent of computers and 'file-sharing' and the like. YouTube is also getting quite a bit of attention these days and there are plenty of people putting their music on there for anyone and everyone to see and hear. Those are only a few of the options available, but certainly the more recognizable at least in terms of name recognition and popularity.
I sang in a band for a few years but it has been some time ago, though I still write and play keyboard on my own I have gotten much more into writing and trying to interest others in doing the music, sort of a Bernie Taupin type (though not nearly as successful) and it seems to be gaining some traction.
Best of luck with the band, and I'm sure anyone that has had success in the industry would tell you that all you can do is keep trying, those that tire out after a short time or a few rejections never make it. You have to believe it to make it.

[N2RJ]

I played:

Guitar
Cuatro
Steel pan

I currently haven't played any of those instruments in years though.

[N8UZE]

Quote[/b] (K0HWY @ Sep. 08 2007,19:30)]Quote[/b] (n7zsd @ Sep. 08 2007,00:24)]I see you are a classic country buff as well. #Nice vocals. #I do "I walk the line" as well, but I have one of the band members pound on my back to get the Johnny Cash waver in my voice. #It's fun, and the crowd likes it, but I am not a very good singer. #I can sound a little like Cash though...

Nice work, good luck on your endeavors.
Thanks Craig. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I've met quite a number of musicians on the air. In fact, a good friend of mine is a professor of music at a local college.

Several folks have mentioned it, and I've noticed it myself; musicians do seem to have a natural ability when it comes to sending code. From what I've seen, their rhythms seem to be very precise.
Sending: yes. Learning: no

At least not for me. Although I did get my 20wpm, it took longer than average for me to get there, based on the figures published in "Morse Code: The Essential Language"

[K0HWY]

Quote[/b] (N8UZE @ Sep. 08 2007,19:56)]Sending: yes. #Learning: no

At least not for me. #Although I did get my 20wpm, it took longer than average for me to get there, based on the figures published in "Morse Code: #The Essential Language"
The professor I mentioned can't do 20 wpm. In fact, it sounded like he was right around 10 wpm when I had a QSO with him on 40 (yah, big DX contact http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) But, his accuracy is second to none.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[n7zsd]

Quote[/b] (N8UZE @ Sep. 08 2007,17:56)]Quote[/b] (K0HWY @ Sep. 08 2007,19:30)]Quote[/b] (n7zsd @ Sep. 08 2007,00:24)]I see you are a classic country buff as well. #Nice vocals. #I do "I walk the line" as well, but I have one of the band members pound on my back to get the Johnny Cash waver in my voice. #It's fun, and the crowd likes it, but I am not a very good singer. #I can sound a little like Cash though...

Nice work, good luck on your endeavors.
Thanks Craig. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I've met quite a number of musicians on the air. In fact, a good friend of mine is a professor of music at a local college.

Several folks have mentioned it, and I've noticed it myself; musicians do seem to have a natural ability when it comes to sending code. From what I've seen, their rhythms seem to be very precise.
Sending: yes. #Learning: no

At least not for me. #Although I did get my 20wpm, it took longer than average for me to get there, based on the figures published in "Morse Code: #The Essential Language"
For me, learning and sending Morse Code came very easy. Even building up sending speed has been no biggie. It's the receiving part I have trouble with...
But my wife says I don't listen anyway! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif