How I got started: As a kid in the
’50s, I started with accordion,
and tried drums. But I found I
could get gigs playing keys. In
high school, I loved Ray Manzarek,
bought a Rhodes Piano Bass,
and stayed employed by replacing
two players. I gigged for
nearly ten years until burnout set
in. I quit for 18 years to raise a
family and get an education. In ’98
I joined a company
garage band as a
Christmas party gag. It
rekindled the fire. I built
a recording studio in the
house, started acquiring
gear, and hooked
up with some local
musicians.
Band: Temple, Texasbased
Touch of Class is a great
cover band playing ’60s and ’70s
standards. The whole band is my
age, equally experienced, and
almost impossible to stump. We
play everything from Iron Butterfly
to Patsy Cline. On Sunday mornings,
my wife and I run a praise
team at our church.
Influences: The Rascals, the
Doors, Three Dog Night, and
Tower of Power. I also think Bruce
Hornsby is the best.
I play because: It’s fun. I was
born to do this. I’ve been
successful in business and academics
but still think of myself as
a displaced musician.
Tower Of Power,Back to Oakland
(Warner Bros, Wea)
Weekend warrior Kirk Fischer admires the legendary horn-based soul band Tower of Power. “My favorite
organ solo of all time is Chester Thompson’s tour de force, ‘Squib Cakes,’ on the album Back to Oakland
from 1974,” he says.
Go
See
Check out these
keyboard-heavy acts,
on tour this month.
Marcia Ball
marciaball.com
Amanda Palmer
amandapalmer.net
Booker T.
bookert.com
Black Eyed Peas
blackeyedpeas.com
Metric
ilovemetric.com