Hi there, and welcome to my MySpace page. I'm glad you dropped by. I'm not a big blogger and not really "into" the whole MySpace thing, but see this is an outlet for my former trumpet playing antics without trashing my regular website GaryBadger.com.
This MySpace page is dedicated to the "semi-professional" life that I once had as a trumpet player. It's not my life story or a reflection on my life lessons or values. Why would I plonk all of that on MySpace? Instead this is simply a record of the fun that I used to have playing trumpet.
Like many trumpet players I started very young, playing cornet in school and brass bands. In my high school years I played trumpet and flugelhorn in various stage bands and combos. I also appeared on Channel 9's New Faces Show in 1983, performing the Chuck Mangione hit "Feels So Good".
After high school and into my working life I joined Summerhouse, an originals rock band playing in the Sydney pub scene. Most of the sound samples on this page are from Summerhouse, from demo tape sessions that we recorded in 1987 and 1990. The photographs on this page are also from Summerhouse performances. The band played regularly in Sydney inner-city pubs, at one time enjoying a residency at King Arthur's Court, King's Cross. Highlights included a Christmas Eve gig at Selina's (Coogee Bay Hotel) and two tours of the Queensland Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. Playing in Summerhouse was an incredible experience in terms of creativity, fun (on and off stage), and learning those all-important life lessons.
I left Summerhouse in 1991, and kept my horns in their cases for 6 years. Now living in Jabiru NT I oiled up the trumpet valves again and joined Crocodile Tears, another originals band. With Crocodile Tears I played a number of gigs in the Top End of Australia, and recorded an album entitled "Seal Pup Grill". One of the sound samples on this page is a mix of some of my better trumpet solos, including a very rough slide trumpet line!
After returning to Sydney in 1998 I allowed my horns to again gather dust (or at least the cases gathered dust) until early this year, when I started playing again. I celebrated my 40th birthday with the purchase of a new flugelhorn, and my passion has been reignited again. I don't envisage any more recordings or stage photos, but I am having fun playing in my living room.
My musical tastes are quite mixed and varied, primarily because my trumpet playing styles are mixed and varied. I love listening to jazz (especially jazz trumpet), with Chuck Mangione, James Morrison, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis amongst my favourites. But in a throw back to my rock band days I also love rock music, especially Australian rock. Favourites include Midnight Oil and Hunters & Collectors.
And that's my MySpace story!
Cheers,
