MEET
THE BAND |
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Click here to see Todd singing the National Anthem at Fenway Park on June 27, 2004 |
GARY JOHNS - LEAD GUITAR & VOCALS |
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Gary brings his life into every moment he plays...always a new approach, reflecting the day. He spends quite a bit of time mountain biking (day and night rides) and has found the physical demands of the JAM to be very similar to climbing the hill... warm up, rhythm and breath into the climb... and fly down hill. |
STEVE ROBBINS - GUITAR & VOCALS |
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| Steve originally caught the music bug when free guitar lessons were offered at his college dorm cafeteria. Several years and two jobs later it was time to head west to California and study full time @ Musicians Institute in Hollywood. After graduating from school the dream of being a full time musician faded to the reality of a much needed paycheck. Core was formed to play music with friends without the burden of making it a career. Steve would like to thank Susan for her endless support in keeping the dream alive. |
TOM ATKINS - BASS & VOCALS |
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| Everything you ever wanted to know about Tom Atkins. Born in Brooklyn in the early 60s, Tom left New York in 1991, spending five years in Seattle before landing in Los Angeles - where he plans "to stay forever!" He picked up the guitar as a teenager and played rhythm guitar in several bands in the San Fernando Valley in the late 90s, most notably in 'Stunt Road'. When a bass vacancy appeared in an all-instrumental local band called 'KUSH', Tom gave up the guitar and decided to give the bass a try. He ended up really enjoying playing bass - and spent several years in 'KUSH' until it imploded. Tom hooked up with 'CORE' in March, 2004 - and has never looked back! His favorite musical artists include Todd Rundgren, Billy Joel, The Grateful Dead, and Phish. His biggest bass influences are the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh and Phish's Mike Gordon. Tom lives in Los Angeles with his lovely girlfriend and her daughter. By day, he is a debt recovery specialist and computer network guru. When the work day is over, he indulges in motorcycling, hiking, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Disneyland - and heavy doses of San Francisco's KFOG (www.kfog.com) and LA's Indie 103.1, (www.indie1031.com). |
PAUL COLBERT - DRUMS & LEAD VOCALS |
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| Paul's earliest aspirations of becoming a musician came while growing up in Riverside, CA, smog capital of the world. "I remember air-drumming to the great motown songs I'd hear in the back seat of my mother's stationwagon. I'd often sing along with the Four Tops and Temptations while trying to memorize the drum parts. The biggest bolt of inspiration came when I heard a kid not much older than me belt out 'I Want You Back' over and over. I was hooked. "My sister and I pleaded with our parents to take us to see the Jackson 5 at the Forum in 1972. I can't remember hearing a note of the concert over the screaming girls, but it was an unforgettable first concert experience. After that show, there was no way anyone could stop me from singing. I became addicted to the radio and listened to every kind of music I could; Rock, Pop, Soul, whatever I could get close to. I was always strumming my tennis racket, or drumming on the table with my fork and spoon. When mom played Stevie Wonder's "Talking Book" album, I was mesmerized. Who knew a blind man could play drums and sing at the same time?!? "I was eternally jealous when the neighbor's kid got a drum kit. "He's younger than I am! It's not fair." That was the only thing I asked for as a Christmas gift for 3 years, but my father -- who had his fill of my dinner table solos -- would have no part of it. Luckily, the neighbors took a lot of vacations, and frequently asked me to water their plants. I glady accepted and spent entire days on playing their son's drums." Paul has never stopped singing. He's held countless steering wheel and shower head concerts. But the drumming thing became a reality in the late '90s. "I discovered electronic drums. I picked up a kit and found they were perfect for apartment living. I could play as long as I wanted with the headphones. I taught myself by playing along with hundreds of my favorite songs." After helping form Longball (which eventually became Core) Paul started playing the electronic kit at several clubs in the L.A. area. The gig with Core led to a stint with a second group called the Recession (with bassist Simon Watkins, keyboardist Charles Saltzman and guitarist Jason Meyers) out of Culver City. The Recession played mostly rock and R&B covers, sprinkled with a few originals. Paul sang lead on about half of the Recession's songs. Now Paul spends most of his time playing and singing with Core. "Maybe one day we'll add "I Want You Back" to our repertoire and everything will come full circle!" |
ARMAND HERRERA - PERCUSSION |
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| Staten Island native, Armand has a broad range of experience as a pedagogue, composer, and performing artist. Percussion has taken him to seven countries and sixteen states performing with symphony orchestras, opera companies, and wind, percussion, and chamber ensembles such as the Perth Amboy Symphony Orchestra, Raritan Symphony Orchestra, and Opera Jersey City. As a percussion soloist, Armand has been heard on Staten Island public radio and performed in an array of venues such as the JERSEY GIRLS Composers League Conference, the Eastern Bigbone Workshop, the International Conga and Euphonium Conference, and the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy. Armands's compact disc "I'm In LA Now!" and original compositions are available from Metal Detector Publications, and his research is scheduled to be published in the New Jersey Notes Journal and the Percussive Arts Society Online Research Journal. Armand received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Mail In University and both a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance from The Sure I'm A Smart Guy U. He is currently on the music faculty of Wandering Sheep Drum Core where he teaches studio lessons, directs the percussion ensemble, and teaches courses in percussion methods, music appreciation, and music literature. "Interpretively, the works presented were performed superbly and consistent with their contact, showing great imagination....most admirable....this guy has really developed good chops! |
STEVE DEMPSEY - KEYBOARDS & VOCALS |
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The list continues........who will be next? |