Generations of Music

GUITARII · Post by **GUITARII** » Saturday Oct 16, 2004

I was thinking about my musical heritage the other day and it struck up some more curiosity. How many out there have a lot of musical talent throughout their family history?

Personally.... from my grandmother playing piano and singing around the house to my dad, two of his brothers and a few sisters playing everything from guitar to bass to banjo and piano.... and great vocals too! In fact my dad and his brothers still are jammin oldies with their band "The Rattlers".

I have several cousins both younger and older than me that either are or were in bands throughout the area and abroad.... two of which are pretty popular guitarists in the area and WILL rock you like a HURRICANE (wish I had their talent

) Everything ranging from oldies, classic rock and blues to punk, ska and metal.... even some religious!

I get the priveledge of playing in a band with 3 of my brothers...( well 1 brother by birth, a cousin in law and a cousin). I get the unique opportunity to have other family or "official family" members sit in from time to time to show off a little of their talent too. Family functions... one of the first things asked is "who's bringing their guitars?" (the first thing asked is "how much beer do we need?!"

) We just sit around and jam on the acoustics...

I had the opportunity to jam with a country band a few weeks ago from out Williamsport way called "Appalachian Nites" that absolutley rocked, country style, even though I'm not the biggest country fan!

They were awesome and they too were brothers and sister from a long line of musicians.... some that even had a little national recognition back in the 40's and 50's.

Sooooo, Brag 'em up! Let's hear about the families that rock in the area! I'm truly interested!

redawg · Post by **redawg** » Saturday Oct 16, 2004

Cool thread

My dad taught John (Facingwest) and me to play the guitar when we were about 11 or 12. My mom and grandfather can play a little guitar. My uncle was a bass player in a band years ago. My cousin can play bass and some guitar.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Saturday Oct 16, 2004

My Dad was a "hillbilly" flat-picker who played one-offs with a few national acts in the late 50's, my uncle Tim is a guitarist who's been in bands since his early teens and introduced me to "House of the Rising Sun" and the first minor chords I ever heard (cool!). Oddly, neither one ever showed me how to play a single note, that was all Johnny.----->JMS

daveb · Post by **daveb** » Saturday Oct 16, 2004

I have two older cousins that really got me into playing. My cousin Rick is a guitar and piano player. He has written tons of original material and shopped it around. He is currently building a home studio. He gave me my first amp. A 68 Fender Twin. Damn cool amp to start with. My cousin Trace was a drummer. He was killed by a drunk driver in January. We played together in a band in Clarion called Rockhopper for 4 years. He was a blast to hang with and I miss the hell out of him. My uncle Dick was a roadie for Hank Williams. Also kinda cool.

Mackovyak · Post by **Mackovyak** » Sunday Oct 17, 2004

My paternal Grandfather built a few instruments banjo's and other hand percussion stuff. He could play as well, though I really can't remember how well. I was pretty young.

My father was a pretty good rhythm guitarist throughout high school and college. Played in a band called the Vandrells (sp??). He still breaks out the craziest version of wipeout I've ever heard. Complete with kicking the amp and all. Someday maybe I'll be allowed to touch his equipment......

Old Gibson Saturn 2 x 10, Mint Condition
58' Sunburst Harmony, Mint Condition asie from the signatures by Dick Dale and Ted Nugent.
Early Early 60's Gretsch Hollowbody complete w/ Bigsby Tailpiece - Still has it in the original packing diaper and the original guitar cables.

My mom is a pretty good piano player still and used to be a wedding singer throughout college and early afterwards.

Our parents make us take piano lessons starting at age 7 if we wanted to do anything else extra-cirricular, so there wasn't really much of an arguement. The way it was.

My brother ended up being a decent guitar player in high school, but then gave it up. He occasionally picks it up once in a while, but nothing serious.

Me...I dabble.

esa · Post by **esa** » Monday Oct 18, 2004

You've summed me up already Dan! Being cousins and all. So repeating what he said about our grandparents.... My father is in the Rattlers. He was part of M&M (Country) Music Express, The Brothers in Christ which held several uncles and a great uncle. They are still around, but fewer members now. They play at church, at weddings, funerals, etc.
The brother-in-law and 3 cousins are in Beyond Reason. They were also in Relative Minor.
Felix and the Hurricanes are cousins.
The boyfriend has been in several bands from hard christian rock (yes, the death master rocked it out with Jesus...::sniggers:: ) to heavy metal to classic rock and semi country. His sister plays piano, drums a bit, and plays ::tries to think:: some kinda marching band instrument.
All of my family has ever played guitar or piano. Harmonicas, Flutes and Clarinets have been through out as well. Lots of good voices. All of us can hold a tune and most of us have been on stage to show it.

The best time? When the family has a party. There is beer and guitars a plenty! That one of the things I love most about my family. Music flows in our veins easier than blood does.

April · Post by **April** » Monday Oct 18, 2004

My Mom and several of her sisters used to sing at weddings, and My grandma played piano. I also have a younger aunt (Betsy Lansberry, also my mom's sister) who used to sing with a band called Honey Bomb with John Charney and Dom Peruso, if anyone remembers them. She is awesome. I have a cousin who sings and was in a band from Chambersburg for a short period of time. oddly enough I never did any singing till I was in my early 20's... never in Chorus or anything like that in school. I didn't do anything with music (aside from playing the saxophone in high school) till I hooked up with an ex-boyfriend and just for fun jammed with his band one night at practice. I ended up joining them and after that I had the "band bug" and now I can't imagine not singing. I remember the first time my parents ever heard me sing. my dad actually cried and was amazed that I was able to do it...they had never ever heard me sing before and had no idea I could or even had any interest in it. and honestly neither did I till I tried it. now I'm hooked.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Wednesday Oct 20, 2004

My Grandfather was a bandleader and trumpet player from the '30s into the early '70s. Some of you may remember his last band "4 He's and a She". Over the years, he sat in with a few names including Louis Armstrong. My Father was a performing concert pianist, so my childhood years were filled with anything from "You Are My Sunshine" to Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C#minor. Too bad, Dad quit playing when I was young, but Gramps was still jamming out at places like the Heidelberg well into his 60s. I started piano out of the crib then started trumpet at 4 and put on my first "concert" with the Duncansville Elementary School Band at 5.

On my Mother's side, I have a 60s vintage older cousin who was always horsetrading guitars and amps. Sure enough, I got interested, put down the trumpet and took up guitar. He never really learned to play that well, but he still has a Flying V and a Guild. He probably has an old Gibson or Silvertone amp stashed somewhere.

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Thursday Oct 21, 2004

Im the only one stupid enough in my family to choose this profession............

OMG my 420th post. Guess what im doing now!!!

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Thursday Oct 21, 2004

Are you mowing the grass, Bobby?

My father is the only one in my family who has persued music beyond a high school band or chorus. He's played in a number of local bands - most notably: Effigy (Rock n' Roll band based out of Tyrone in the 70's), County Line (Country band from the 80's) and Country Thunder (Country and Rock n' Roll band from the 90's)

DMFJ03 · Post by **DMFJ03** » Thursday Oct 21, 2004

My Gram, way...way, way, way, way, back in the day used to teach music, she could play over ten musical instruments, managed eight Big Bands, and was also a national champion dancer.

No one else in my family, that I know of, is musically inclined (as far as back dating goes) - so, I would have to say that she is the reason that my sister and I have some musical talent.

esa · Post by **esa** » Thursday Oct 21, 2004

::snickers:: Love the icon, Dan!

esa · Post by **esa** » Thursday Oct 21, 2004

Hurricane wrote:Im the only one stupid enough in my family to choose this profession............

OMG my 420th post. Guess what im doing now!!!

Slowly catching up to you.... ::sharks::

Banana Fandango · Post by **Banana Fandango** » Thursday Oct 21, 2004

my grandma would get drunk and sing....and then my grandpa would slap her, and her teeth would make this cool noise when they hit the floor. that was about the extent of my family's musical heritage.

GUITARII · Post by **GUITARII** » Thursday Oct 21, 2004

esa wrote:::snickers:: Love the icon, Dan!

Thanks... I wish it were bigger though! I mean the Avatar!

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Friday Oct 22, 2004

Banana Fandango wrote:my grandma would get drunk and sing....and then my grandpa would slap her, and her teeth would make this cool noise when they hit the floor. that was about the extent of my family's musical heritage.

ROFLSKATES!

ROCKPAGE

Generations of Music

Generations of Music

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