Mike Burke : Electric guitars, b-vox
Marshall St. Clair: Basses, b-vox
Dennis DeMorro: Drums
Jon Light: Pedal Steel, Lap Steel, Dobro
Alumni:
Pete Kazaleh: Electric guitars
Mace Vitale: Bass
Eric Lichter: Multi-instrumentalist, Studio
Steve Combs: Bass
Steve Pastore: Drums
Steve Burr: Electric Guitars
Dennis Cote' Drums
Harry King: Piano, B-3
Crit Harmon: Producer/Engineer
Dick Neal: El. Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, co-production.
Mark Mirando: Piano
John Holt: Co-Writer, Ac. Guitar, vocal.
They don't need no stinking badges.
Influences
Arts and The Humanities~ Musicians, Poets, Writers, Artists: The lists are way too long to complete. But off of the top of my head and being truthful about the people that upon "impact" are those to whom I have reflected on for inspiration consistently for reasons both obvious and unexplainable.
Musically speaking: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen,
Elvis Presley w/ Scotty Moore, D.J Fontana & Bill Black, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello and Co, Pete Townshend, Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, The Band, The Kinks, Patti Smith, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen,
Widespread Panic, Ray Charles, Jay Farrar/Son Volt, Jeff Tweedy/Wilco, Justin Currie/Del Amitri, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, The Sawtelles, Joe Henry, CCR, Bob Seger, MC5, Grand Funk Railroad, Roy Orbison, Free, The Doors, The Beatles, David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Karen Dalton, Stax/Volt Records, Hi-Records, Sun Records, The Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Skip James, Ruth Brown, Memphis Slim, Steve Marriott, U2, Pink Floyd, Merle Haggard, Los Lobos, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Nils Lofgren, Big Country/Stuart Adamson, Curtis Mayfield, The Clash, Mark Lanegan, Paul Weller, Steve Earle, Alejandro Escovedo, Cowboy Junkies, Steve Miller, Dan Fogelberg, Marc Bolan & T-Rex, Belafonte, Neil Diamond. br>
Ian's essential Jazz artists list: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster, Johnny Dodds, Natty Dominique, Elvin Jones, Jo Jones, Hot Lips Page, Big Joe Turner, Bud Scott, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Joe Henry, Lester Young, Andy Kirk, Bennie Moten, Billie Holiday, Jesse Stone, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea/RTF, McCoy Tyner, Monk, Mingus, MJQ, Andy Bey, Dexter Gordon, Frank Sinatra, Etta Jones, Phineas Newborn, Red Garland, Horace Silver, Jimmy Cobb, Jay McShann, Fletcher Henderson, Pete Johnson, Harry James, Glenn Miller, Erroll Garner, Zoot Sims, Vinnie Dean, Al Cohn , Tony Scott, Stan Kenton, George and Ira Gershwin.
The Writers and Poets: Sam Shepard, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, John Steinbeck, Rainer Maria Rilke, James Baldwin, Eldridge Cleaver, Larry McMurtry, Ted Hughes, William S. Burroughs, Geoffrey Hill, Arthur Miller, Luis Cernuda, A.J. Cronin, Shel Silverstein, James Joyce, Dr. Suess, Jack Kerouac, Robert Burns, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Lamb, John Keats, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, Henry Carey, Harold Bell Wright, Noam Chomsky, Naomi Wolf, Jimmy Carter, Charles Bukowski, Hunter S. Thompson, William Shakespeare.
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Sounds Like
A telephone ringing when you are lonely-
A typewriter that you bought at a tag sale-
A footstep that echoes your own-
A cold drink on a hot day-
A hot drink on a cold day-
A look your dog or cat gives you when you wake up-
A lumber yard-
A midnight drive-
A morning cup of coffee-
A morning cup of tea-
A morning-
A mourning-
A mooring-
Amore-
A More-
Singer/Songwriter/Poet/ and Painter, Ian Charles was born in his Auntie Lil's front sitting room in London, England during the revolution of the mid-60's. By the mid-70's had come and after traveling almost as gypsies for 10 years. His family settled in America in a one- time small country town on the eastern seabord. A creative irish family, he discovered music at a very early age due to his parents love of the arts. Most family time was spent reading, and listening to music. He was consumed by the sounds of the best AM radio and the earliest days of FM radio along with a very diverse record collection. His father was into Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, Country, and early pre- Beatles Rock-n-Roll. His mother was into Folk, Country, Classical and World Music. His older brother was into Rock-n-Roll. This world was life-changing for Ian who while sharing a room with his brother and living in a small house made all of this music swirl around his developing creative universe. Ian joined his first band at 14 and by the time he finished high school. He was writing his own songs and playing in three different bands. Playing drums in one, singing in another and being the songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in his first all original band.
After spending due time in Los Angeles, Memphis, Nashville and New York City developing his songwriting chops, learning the ropes and working on his own sound by playing in a variety of bands from Garage/CowPunk to Ambient/Electronic. He discovered a melodic style which was born from the delta blues and rockabilly. There was a distinct power to a simple melody with a powerful lyric. He made his way through Memphis again. But, this time as a solo performer. He wanted to feel the rhythm of the area. He indulged deeply in the musical history of the region, The "crossroads". The bumps, twists and turns in the music business provided Ian with all of his answers as to where he wanted his direction to go and exactly what he heard as a "sound" His sound.
While working a day job in April of 1994, he met his first legitimate manager Colin Shaw and began compiling a handful of demos and LIVE in studio outtakes that would become his debut release in March of 1995 entitled, "...TO THOSE WHO WAIT". His mostly LIVE-In-Studio recordings gained him some northeast regional airplay mostly with the song, Wild Oats. After touring with a thrown together band aptly titled, IAN CHARLES BAND (ICB) to promote the album he began writing new songs which would become his follow-up, LONG HILL ROAD. Released in January 1998. A stunning balance between Rock and Acoustic songs. The record gained him an even larger regional fan base. At this time, he was listening heavily to old traditional folk and blues records, rockabilly, country and as always, Bob Dylan. His songwriting changed drastically to a more stripped down Alt-Country style and a more metaphoric, poetic lyrical style. He began working with a producer for the first time. The Boston based, Crit Harmon (Martin Sexton, Mary Gauthier, Jess Klein, etc.) brought a more arranged commercial style to his songwriting with the undeniable influences of the Delta Blues, Gospel and "Nashville Sound" Country recordings. His first true breakthrough came though with the resulting CD. His 3rd, WISHING STREET. Released in February 2000. Gaining him national airplay with several of the songs from WISHING STREET. Particularly a song about broken hearted lost love called, HEAVENS' KEY. This song won Ian his first national award in songwriting from the internet based, dMusic.com network. Who awarded Ian with an internet Grammy for "Best Country Song". In the beginning of 2001, Ian met up with Staci Broski from 7th Row Music/Kansas City. Working initially as a booking agent, Staci's commitment to the promotion and overall success of Wishing Street and bringing Ian's music to a larger audience helped establish Ian a deep fan base throughout the mid-west. After almost endless touring for WISHING STREET then subsequently releasing a LIVE Solo Acoustic EP, LIVE At THE PUPPETHOUSE THEATRE in 2002. He performed upwards of 300 plus solo acoustic concerts worldwide.
In 2003 after almost constant touring, through the advice of a lifelong friend, Ian retreated to the village of Woodstock, NY to reflect on his travels, get some rest, develop a new batch of songs and reconnect with his love for painting and writing poetry. After a short time he brought the various songs, images and words he had in his head, into DIRT FLOOR STUDIOS with a longtime collaborative musician/engineer and friend, Eric Lichter. These songs became his 4th full length Solo CD, MINUTES FROM MIDNIGHT. Released in March 2004. While doing some additional recording he met a like-minded recording engineer/guitarist from Minnesota named, Mike Burke. Working on post-production with Ian on MFM, and building a working relationship that still continues today. Mike was working a side-gig as guitarist with some musicians that complimented Ian's songs and most recent songwriting. So in 2006 Bassist; Marshall St. Clair, Drummer; Dennis DeMorro, Mike Burke on Guitar, Jon Light on Pedal Steel and Ian. Began recording a large body of new songs. But then, after basic tracks were recorded. Ian decided he would put the project on a short hiatus to continue writing more songs. Feeling that his ideas were not complete. This resulted in a wellspring of creative activity. Ian began to work again with paint, brush and canvas. Painting feverishly on impulse. A body of work developed quickly. When not painting, Ian also began to compile a first book of poetry, "FOR PARKER & OTHER TREES" (2008/Bell Hand) and also took on the role of PRODUCER for the debut album project by his friend and fellow singer/songwriter, JOHN HOLT with his band at the time, GENEROUS THIEF entitled, NO REST(2006) . The project with John and his band, his painting, and his poetry each inspired Ian's own songwriting in ways multi-dimensional. More so than ever before. Resulting in a vastly developed collection of songs with an increasingly strong emphasis on poetic lyricism. This collection of tunes will begin recording soon.
But until then, the hiatus from the 2006 album project with his band worked well for the songs they had recorded. So, now here we are in 2008 after revisiting the work. The upcoming 6th Ian Charles CD entitled, BORN RIGHT INSIDE will be out in the early days of summer. With many, many shows to follow. A milestone of "crossroads" Roots/Alternative Rock/ Folk. Some would call it "Americana". Ian refers to it as simply "good music". Inspired by the people, music and art of the modern world to help us all find our way through to new beginnings. While dancing and thinking along the way.
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"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"
So wonderful to hear from you! You have such an incredible sound- I'm very happy that Staci sent me your way. All the best of luck and success to you...
LIVE At the BLACKSHEEP RANCH 2008 House Concert Series
Held at: 121 Ironworks Rd. Clinton, CT 06413 THE HOME OF Andrew and Suzanne Wallach
Sponsored by The Art of Making Music
show begins at 5:00pm All shows on Saturday, rain date, Sunday
SATURDAY JUNE 7 TH 2008 Seth Adam & Mike Lasala
Katura Burgess (tentative)
This show is a most see, you will not want to miss this one
The ultra talented singer songwriter, Mr. Mike Lasala of New Haven, CT will be performing along with Thee incredible Seth Adam. This will be an evening of power acoustic! Story telling songs by two of Connecticut’s most sought after singer songwriters.
A rich and truly deep page of life and music you've got here - I look forward to digging in. Really enjoyed listening to "waitin' too long". And a house party in Stonington (though a Sold out one) - would love to know more
Your presence is a present to the world. You’re unique and one of a kind. Your life can be what you want it to be. Take the days just one at a time. Count your blessings, not your troubles. You’ll make it through whatever comes along. Within you are so many answers. Understand, have courage, be strong. Don’t put limits on yourself. So many dreams
