Joel
@joelschick
4Following
4Followers
Novato, CA USA
Joined Apr 4, 2007
I grew up in Chicago in the 50s. In the mid-60s, I sang with and wrote for Gorilla Danish, an R&B party and bar band.
I spent the next 35 years as an illustrator specializing in Muppets and other funny material for kids (see samples at familygorilla.com). During these years I consumed music from all genres and times and places--but I made none. Until the old band reunited for a CD session in 2002--the experience jump-started the music engine that had been gathering dust in the garage of my mind.
I started writing songs again--this time with benefit of a deeper and broader knowledge of musical styles. I got a guitar, and I learned how to make it talk. Actually, that's Bruce Springsteen; I learned how to make mine sound more like a cat about to spit up a hair ball.
I play solo gigs, and I get to play harmonica behind some great musicians on both coasts. And I record my songs like a man with no pressing deadlines: I sing all the harmonies, play all the instruments. Take all the blame.
The songs range from blues and gospel to honky tonk and big city R&B. From '30s jazz to '40s standards to '50s doo wop to '60s rock. I seem to love everything. And when I fall in love with a genre, I just have to write in that style. Some of the songs are funny; some are satirical; some parodic; some dead serious. All are loving homage to the popular and folk music of the Tin Pan Alley/ Brill Building era.
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"May your life be filled with hope and dreams, bringing you nothing but peace, love, and happiness in all that you do!" :-)