Alan

Bio:

Alan has had a varied career in entertainment, arts, media and education as a writer, composer, musician, artist, director, actor, and journalist. Highlights of his career include: - Writer and composer of book/music/lyrics for 6 produced stage musicals including Sudbury: Images Above/Patterns Below commissioned by the City of Sudbury and the Sudbury Theatre Centre for their centennial celebrations. His musicals have been produced by theatre companies in Ontario as well as in the US in North Carolina, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. He has composed the film score for “Sari” as well as incidental music for a dozen stage productions. - In the mid-80’s Alan returned to playing lounge and dining piano and has been the featured pianist in lounges and restaurants from Toronto to London to his current home in Centre Wellington. During this time he formed Bryn Myrddin Music and Eclectic Sound Productions – to date producing 7 CDs of original music including piano, vocal and instrumental recordings. - In 1993, Alan teamed up with guitarist Jim Schrock to form the piano-guitar duo Argue & Schrock. As well as playing lounges and private gigs, they turned their attention to producing a series of successful cabaret shows including Remember the 50’s and the annual Toast of the Towns at the Fergus Grand Theatre. - Director/performer during a thirty year stage/film career which, in part, included productions by the Sudbury Theatre Centre, Kawartha Summer Festival, Mark Enterprises Productions, Kingston Summer Theatre, St. Lawrence Summer Playhouse, and Bucksaw Hollow Theatre for Children. Lead/principal/actor categories of performance in a variety of Canadian and U.S. television and film productions. A partial list includes Goosebumps, Mimic, Street Legal, War of the Worlds, Princess of Tombosa, and Patre Nostrum. Over the years he has appeared as principle performer in dozens of National Canadian and US television commercials. - In a parallel career Alan’s watercolours and drawings have been exhibited in a variety of Ontario juried art shows and exhibitions and are in private collections here and in the US. He was one of the two illustrators for the series Canada: Growth of a Nation published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside. - Director of audio production, designer for corporate events, and freelance writer for documentary and industrial films with The Syndicon Group, London, Ontario. Alan lives in Centre Wellington were he continues to free-lance, primarily as an artist, composer, and musician.

Member Since:

November 18, 2007

Influences:

When you walk through the door of your 50th year in the entertainment industry the influence numbers are well beyond this space. When your interest in music is eclectic – the numbers rise exponentially to the thousands. Still, there are those friends and acquaintances that have mentored, inspired, encouraged and shared in the original creative process and their names belong here with a deep gratitude that they have been such an intricate part of this journey in music. Ottawa pianists Wilf Stebner and Cliff Trip who so encouraged my start in the late 50’s. Alex (Ragtime) Reid and so many of the other early CTL (Canadian Talent Library) musicians who filtered through my radio days in the 70’s, many becoming close acquaintances and mentors along the way. Canadian conductor/composer/arranger John Fenwick who never stopped raising the bar as he patiently mentored in composition and form – a friendship dearly missed. New York conductor/pianist/arranger Peter Daniels, who offered so many giving and informal late evenings of rewrites and chord progression discussions when he was up here on tour. His sister singer Rita McGratton and her husband bassist Jack McGratton – close friends and collaborators in the Kingston days. And certainly as high as anyone on my list – J.D. (Jim) Schrock my good friend and collaborator for so many years who rekindled my passion for writing music.

Record Label:

Brynn Myrrdin Music