Don Beuke - Nickname: "Kramer"
Lead Vocals, Harmonica, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, Song Writer
Favorite Musicians & Influences: Beatles, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Delerious, Dire Straits, Doobie Brothers, Ray Charles.
Favorite People: Jesus Christ, and my family, + NBF.
Favorite Instruments: Guitar & Piano
email Don: DonBeuke@carpediemmusic.com
Ralph Jesperson - Nickname: "Howard"
Vocals, Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Mixing Specialist
Favorite Musicians & Influences: Kansas (esp. Kerry Livgren), YES, IONA
Favorite People: Norwegian Batchelor Farmers, the People of Russia.
Favorite Instrument: Kazoo
Russ Zora - Nickname: "BongoMon"
Drummer, Percussion, Vocals
Favorite Musicians: Bob Dylan, Buddy Rich, Ginger Baker
Favorite People: Jesus Christ and My Wife
Troy Vincent - Nickname: "Tony"
Bass Guitar, Keyboards
Favorite Musicians: Cranberries, Sarah Brightman, Lynard Skynard
Favorite People: My Pastor - Jason & My Dad
Favorite Instruments: Violin, Cello, Bass Guitar
Favorite Food: Little Caesar's Pepperoni Pizza with Extra Cheese
Influences
The band was influenced by the greats such as: Beatles, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Delerious, Dire Straits, Doobie Brothers, Ray Charles, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Kansas (esp. Kerry Livgren), YES, IONA, Buddy Rich, Ginger Baker, Cranberries, Sarah Brightman, Lynard Skynard.
I would like to say we started while studying music composition at Oxford University where all of the band members received their PhD in Music Composition and majored in guitar, keyboards and vocals. Obviously, such credentials would fully meet the approval of the listener, other musicians, and even the media ha, ha (another story).
However, we were given the path less chosen and least impressive.
After, 30+ years of silent songwriting and composing guitar folk ballads from Indy, Fayetteville, Pittsburgh, LA, Houston and now Bartlesville, OK; I began looking in 2002 for someone to record my songs. Being both rhythm and vocal challenged, I met a few obstacles; no duh! NO ONE WAS INTERESTED in recording me. At the same time, an acquaintance Ralph Howard Jesperson from Phoenix also living in Bartlesville, OK, was recently divorced and decided to take some of the profit in selling his house and buy high quality Rolland recording equipment. However, he had no one to record. So, this is how Ralph and Don started by helping each other when no one else would.
In 6 quick months, I composed and Ralph recorded our first CD, Instrumental Vol. 1 in 2003. I performed rhythm guitar and harmonica, Ralph lead and keyboards and Troy Vincent bass and keyboards.
Troy, a friend of both Ralph Howard and I, was interested in learning bass and we needed a bass player. Troys impressive credentials are but not limited to; Crones disease, panic attacks, OCD, amazing bass player and friend. In a few short months of playing bass, he was on the first CD. He has been a solid contributor to our music when he remembers practice.
From May 2003- Dec 2004, we began and completed a CD of folk songs, Still before the Storm. After 6 months of editing, the Lord said to introduce this CD prior to the end of 2004. This is a prophetic allegory of our relationship with friends, acquaintances and mostly the Lord. The first song, As the Water Rises, released weeks before the Tsunami hit Indonesia, gives us insight into the relational side of this unprecedented disaster.
Russ Zora, our drummer, showed up at church and we discovered he rocks and has more than 2 decades of rock and R&B experience from the Boston to Pawtucket corridor. He fit perfect in what we were doing. Russ is the only cool guy in our group. Maybe than is why he is the only one married ponder, ponder, ponder that.
In 2004, the Holy Spirit downloaded more music to me, but He coined this music Seismic Blues for it shakes the soul. From Oct 04 thru March 05, I composed a pilot CD of these 10 R&B type songs. Now the band is learning and improving their parts. This maybe is the only CD where artists have engineered the vocals, guitar and keyboards using both modeling and sampling. So, hold on, will be released end of 2005. Some pilot
samples are available on our website.
The Carpe Diem Band Website
Email Don: DonBeuke@carpediemmusic.com
