Bryan has been touring and recording as a member of FOGHAT since 1999, was elected to the Board of Governors of the Florida Chapter of NARAS (www.grammy.com) in 2007 and maintains a busy schedule in his home based Protools Studio as a freelance engineer producing, recording, mixing and mastering a variety of artists. But this is just what he has been up to lately!
Ok, let's go back a bit ..keep going...a little farther...there you are , 1975! Well, I'm in Pittsburgh, attending some classes at Univ. of Pittsburgh and playing the club scene in the tri-state area with several bands when 3 friends and I got together and formed "Wild Cherry". Actually it was a reformation as the band had been a popular local act for some time lead by guitarist vocalist Bob Parrissi. We became a successful local act and while recording a self produced album in Cleveland, OH had a chance meeting with a local rep with the newly formed Sweet City label - an EPIC Records imprint - and they happened to dig our track PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC. It was released in 1976 and headed on up to number 1 on the charts as well as winning an Americam Music Award and garnering 2 Grammy nominations. We toured with some of the greatest funk acts of the 70s, most notably, AWB, The Isley Bros., The Commodores, The Jackson 5 and dozens more. I stayed with the group through 3 albums but departed over musical and personal differences with Bob and management. I continued gigging in Pgh with some incredible bands, Airborne, T Dice, The Silencers but was unable to secure any label interest ...so when the going gets tough the tough go to Florida for some sun and fun. I headed to Daytona Beach, Fl for a vacation and have been in Fla. for 20+ years now.
While attending a benefit concert at DBCC , the local community college, I met the man that would become a friend and partner for many years, Bob Greenlee. Bob was a multi-talented musician, arranger, songwriter, producer, bandleader and owner of King Snake Records. King Snake specialized in Blues and Roots music and over the years I engineered over 100 of Bob's productions for a variety of labels including our own. Some are pictured in the photo to the left. We also performed live together in the Blues big band MIDNIGHT CREEPERS which was comprised of many of our session musicians. At this time I also had a quartet named BLUE HOUSE and while performing in this band I met the man that would alter my career and life and set me on the path I am on today. That man was Lonesome Dave Peverett, Foghat's lead singer, who became my best friend, band mate and a constant inspiration to me to this day. He passed away in the year 2000 , a heartbreaking event for his family and all that knew him. I owe my fortunate meeting of Dave to two good friends, Stephen Dees (Hall and Oates, Novo Combo, Bandees) and the great Pat Travers. They brought Dave to one of our shows where we were playing many old Excello blues songs, as it turned out a style both Dave and I loved, and we hit it off as friends.
If you have read this far..thankyou ..and I think I'll continue the story in a BLOG so as not to run this front page too long...to be continued.
BB
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