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Greg Caldwell - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar Bill Terry - Steel Guitar Mike Matoska - Bass, Vocals Lori Henderson - Backup Vocals Vinnie 'Bean' Garbanzo - Fiddle, Lead Guitar
Influences
George Strait-
Garth Brooks-
Alan Jackson-
George Jones-
Elvis Presley
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The Men Behind the Music
Greg Caldwell
Lead vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Greg Caldwell is a name which is growing rapidly in Central Texas in country music circles and among Texas Music lovers. Greg and his band play live venues and private parties through central Texas and Oklahoma. They crank out country covers from the 50's right up through the present with an emphasis on the last twenty years and modern country. But the highlight of the show is when Greg starts on his own original tunes. Of course the type of show will varies based on preferences of the venue or private function. This is the perfect band for functions requiring country covers with the option of some original Texas Music. Greg has opened for acts such as Brian White, Wade Hayes, Hal Ketchum, and Zona Jones. With over 100 yrs of combined experience, Greg's band never fails to deliver quality music. The bus is loaded with all of the PA equipment and lights necessary to perform in most locations and settings, and the performance can be tailored to the event as background music or a full blown show.
Greg has just recently released his first CD “TEXAS TALKIN” on August 28, 2008.
This is what they are saying:
“Talk about burning up a poll, Greg Caldwell’s fans came through in a big way chalking up one of the largest totals on record at Austin Music City. In a relatively short time, Caldwell has amassed a huge fan base and it only goes to prove that if you have the talent, they’ll get behind you. The Texas artist’s entry into the music business was somewhat unconventional, brought about by an injury he received that knocked him out of the competition for awhile. “Actually, the whole thing only came together due to an injury I had during track, which put me on the sidelines for the season and left me with idle time. It was the best injury I ever had” Caldwell stated. Afterwards, he put a small band together and they traveled throughout central Oklahoma playing venues and contests where they could.
After graduating from the University of Texas, Caldwell went to Phoenix for graduate school where he got some experience in a recording studio. Caldwell says about the time in Arizona, “Phoenix was nice, but I couldn't wait to get back to Texas, so back I came to discover my career.”
In 2001, Caldwell decided to officially “get serious” about his music career and began playing open mike nights around Austin and opening for other bands while steadily building a very loyal and very large fan base and at the same time becoming a respected member of the Texas music community of artists. Everyone that Caldwell has worked with in the past speaks highly of him and thoroughly enjoys working with both he and his group, Code West.
The main advantage Greg Caldwell has is that he doesn’t sound like anybody else. He’s got a smooth as bourbon voice that is not limited or rangy and he picks his material very carefully. While thousands of people got to hear “Drive Her Out Of My Mind” on the poll last month, you need to check out his other songs as well. “Man Down”, “Texas Talkin’”, “You Didn’t Hear It From Me,” “Big Tractor,” all killer songs and after listening you’ll see why stations all over the country are adding him to the play list. For more on Greg Caldwell go to www.gregcaldwell.com or www.myspace.com/gregcaldwellandcodewest to hear more and see an artist that is definitely a fast rising star on the Texas Music scene.”
Quoted from www.austinmusiccity.com
Greg has nearly 45,000 friends on his Myspace website. He has been listed in the TOP ARTISTS on Myspace. Greg has been selected as “Artist of the Month” by the following websites, www.mctmg.com, www.austinmusiccity.com, www.myspace.com/countrymusicrocksazz. “Artist of the week” at www.myspace.com/cowboysandcowgirlsrule and Nominated for “Artist of the Month” at tossmmusic.com and www.rowdynites.com
Believe it or not, my first performance was in front of 10,000 people at the Oklahoma State FFA convention. What a break in to the music business! The convention had announced to all the chapters that they were going to be opening with live music, so a few fellow members and I put together a little band called The Four Boys Band and we were selected to open the show. We opened the convention with 2 songs and I was hooked. I knew that one day I wanted to do a lot of singing. Actually, the whole thing only came together due to an injury I had during track, which put me on the sidelines for the season and left me with idle time. It was the best injury I ever had.
Our little band entered a contest or two and played several venues in central Oklahoma. We even played in the bar where it is rumored that Garth Brooks bought the song, "Friends in Low Places". Eventually the decision of college vs. the band came and I headed south chasing warmer weather, a college education, and of course, beautiful Texas women. After college I headed straight to graduate school for a quick year and a half in Phoenix, where I did a little singing in the studio. Phoenix was nice, but I couldn't wait to get back to Texas, so back I came to discover my career.
In 2001, with a finance career firmly established, I decided it was time to seriously pursue music. After spending a few months singing and playing
'open mic' nights around Austin, I eventually helped found a band. We went
by the name of "Greg Caldwell and Texas Tradition". We got lucky and
played a lot right from the start because we were fortunate enough to open
for another local band in bars all over the Austin area.
Currently, I feel very privileged to be playing with the guys in Code West. I am very excited about the project and look forward to a lot of serious pickin' and grinnin' in Central Texas.
Mike Matoska
Bass/Vocals
Mike was born and raised in central Texas in a musical family. His dad, 2 brothers and 2 sisters had a band in the 40s 50s and early 60s. His brother has been the steel guitar player and manager for Tracy Byrd since the early 90s, and is still with Tracy to this day. Mike started playing drums at the age of 12 in his uncles band and also began to pick up the guitar and bass at that time. As a junior in high school, Mike teamed up with a cousin and some friends to start a band called The Country Edition. Originally the goal was to play at high schools, but when high school came to an end it turned professional. They went on to play gigs in Texas, New Mexico, Louisianan, and Oklahoma. After that, Mike joined some friends to help create the Country Road Band, which continued to play together into the 80s. Eventually, the Country Road Band added a few new members from the old Debonairs and formed the Lonesome Dove Band.
The Lonesome Dove Band opened for more than 30 national acts until Mikes brother, the drummer, and the soundman all went with national acts in the early 90s. At that point, Mike continued to play with various local bands and did a lot of studio projects. Currently, he feels very fortunate to be a part of Greg Caldwell and Code West. He believes Greg has a lot of talent in this project and that it will be here for a long time.
The Men Behind the Music
Bill Terry
Steel Guitar
Bill comes from a background in Rock and Roll, with early influences like the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Cream, and later expanding his musical interests to include the Allman Brothers, Steely Dan, Larry Carlton, B.B King, Little Feat and many others.
He grew up Fort Worth, TX, and in the early 80's also started playing country western in a lot of the clubs around town. Enamored with the sound of the pedal steel, he picked up a ShoBud Pro I pedal steel guitar as a side interest in about 1985. He became totally absorbed with learning to play that challenging instrument over the next few years, and started really appreciating the music of Ray Price, Bob Wills, Johnny Paycheck and of course other traditional Texas artists, like Johnny Bush and Gary Stewart. He worked with a host of local North Texas bands during this time as a multi-instrumentalist doubling on guitar and pedal steel.
Relocating to Central Texas in the mid 90's, a hotbed of capable guitarists, he found work as a steel guitarist a lot easier to come by and focused on that instrument exclusively for the next few years. Since that time he's become established in the Austin 'musician's network' and stays busy with many established Austin area bands and artists, such as Dane Sterling, Dave Jorgenson, Sunny Sweeney, Jim Stringer and the AM Band, Ricky Calmbach, Cory Morrow, Jerry Sires, and of course Greg Caldwell.
Favorite quote (with credit to Jim Stringer): "There's only one band in Austin, and everybody plays in it."
John Williford
Lead Guitar/Vocals
John Williford was born and raised in Austin, Texas. He started playing guitar in 1968 and got his first performing experience playing gospel at church before being asked to join Country Edition by classmate Mike Matoska in 1973. The Country Edition played all over Texas and neighboring states, including opening stints for acts such as Moe Bandy, Gary Stewart, Red Stewart, Red Stegall, Jana Jae (of "Hee-Haw") fame and many others.
John continued to play with a variety of local country, blues and rock bands between 1977 and 1984, when he was once again asked by Matoska to join Country Road Band. He left the Country Road Band in 1988 to join the US Army and finish college with a degree in Electronics, after which he pursued a career in Copier Repair and Sales.
Always yearning to return to live music, John answered an ad in the Austin Chronicle in early 2006 which was that of a 5-Piece Country Band seeking a Lead Guitarist. He went to the audition for Greg Caldwell and Code West and unbeknownst to him, the band included his old friend and band mate Mike Matoska. The audition went well and he's been performing with them ever since. This year has also seen the completion of a home recording studio, Lost Pines Music, which is located in Red Rock, where John lives with his wife Janet, who helps him run things. John has also written and produced the music for two original musical productions with EASY Theatre of Austin and Bastrop including "Dance Café " which premiered in the summer of 2006.
Lori Henderson
Rythm Guitar/Vocals
Lori was born into a family full of music. Her father put himself though college by playing bass, and her mother played piano. At an early age, Lori’s grandmother taught her harmonies and she and her sister, Amanda, began the Cadillac Cowgirls. They performed country music at Jamborees around central Texas with their grandmother playing piano and fiddle. Lori was 7 at this time, and her sister 5. In 1996 Lori and her sister entered into The Factr’y 2nds, formed by Keith Bryson and Hal Brown. The folk band performed all over central Texas. In 1999, Lori entered the Austin music scene. She’s sung with many bands including The Beamers, Wallstreet and The Grooves. In 2001 she was fortunate enough to perform at SXSW with former Colombia recording artist Gary Steir. She got her first taste of touring with him and fell in love. “I knew when I traveled with Gary that that was it for me. I was hooked!” In 2003 she went back to singing with her sister, and they formed The Henderson Sisters, with their good friend Josh Dossett. The acoustic folk group performed around central Texas. Amongst their sets they performed songs written by Lori, her sister Amanda, and Josh. The band drifted apart in 2006. Currently Lori is performing with Greg Caldwell and Code West. “I’m excited to get back to my roots. I love country music and it is a joy to be able to sing with a group of people as talented and as nice as Greg and the group. I can’t wait to see where the road leads!”
Vinnie ‘Bean’ Garbonzo
Fiddle/Lead Guitar
Vinnie was born in New York City at 9:00 pm (show time) on a hot summer night, Vinnie started playing rock & roll guitar and bass in local New York bands. In high school, Vinnie took up violin after hearing the music of Stephane Grappelli, Vassar Clements and Papa John Creach. Vinnie attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, majoring in classical violin. While in Flagstaff, he performed with the local band, “Lee’s Ferry” playing fiddle, lead guitar, bass guitar and singing both lead and harmony.
After college, Vinnie moved to the California coast where he performed with: Lacy J. Dalton’s “The Dalton Gang’, fiddle legends Dave Stogner and Joe Holly, producer/guitarist Pete Anderson as well as performing at numerous club engagements, county fairs and music festivals.
Next music took Vinnie to Carson City, Nevada where he toured and performed on the casino circuit throughout Nevada with bandleaders; Phil Harris, Laura St. Romaine and Herb McQuay. After a series of tours that took Vinnie to Hawaii, Alaska, Atlanta, Georgia and the Southeastern United States, Vinnie settled down with a ‘house gig’ at the infamous and historic Jim’s Place in Clovis, California performing five nights a week for three years.
In 1999, Vinnie ‘Bean’ Garbonzo made Austin, Texas his permanent home. Since then he has produced CDs for numerous local artists, including Gray Gregson’s ‘Live in Austin’ and Rare Dog’s ‘Texas Backroads’. His unique guitar, violin and mandolin talents are evident on both these products.
In addition to his studio and production work, Vinnie continues to appear live with various Texas and regional artists including; Nashville recording artist Robin English, legendary Rusty Wier, Greg Caldwell, Pauline Reese and Bobby Boyd. Throughout his career, Vinnie has appeared and performed with acts such as; Travis Tritt, Colin Raye, Pete Anderson, Willie Nelson, Los Lonely Boys, Chicago, Exile, the Bellamy Brothers, W.C. Clack, The Guess Who, Eddie Gordon, Bruce Conte, Tower of Power, and Double Trouble.
Vinnie’s versatility as a utility man includes his musical expertise playing both electric and acoustic guitar, electric bass, fiddle/violin and mandolin. This unique mixture makes Vinnie a great commodity and a valuable asset to any professional music team.
I THINK YOUR GREAT, I LIKE YOUR MUSIC, SO NO PROBLEM, I,LL VOTE FOR YOU, I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED WEEKN, TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK'<br /><br />THERESA'
Hey Mr Greg I hope you having great and fun weekend, I saw you have great tme in Beaumont, I'm happy for you, I hope many of great shows comes for you along the road, keep bringing us great music...Hugz
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