Jeffrey was born in Munich, Germany in 1970 to a professional ballet-dancer (mother) and a successful American songwriter and entertainer (father) and is fluent in both written and spoken German and English. He grew up surrounded by music and soon developed a strong love for it. At an early age he got his first guitar, learned his first songs, and started performing at school-events and private parties.
Jeffrey started to gain recognition in his pre-teens when he made his first official live appearance in Munich, for a football club's Junior League Christmas Party, in front of 500 people. He concentrated all his efforts on getting booked again, practicing daily on his guitar, playing and singing. He was hired for community events, advertising and balls. In 1983 Jeffrey sang for the German movie production "Blut und Ehre" (Blood and Honor).
Although he continued to perform solo, in 1985 Jeffrey joined his first band, the "Los Tornados", as their youngest member. The band had just reformed and Jeffrey joined as a guitarist also singing harmonies, they performed covers of German songs from the sixties and seventies. He was given a solo spot playing and singing Rock 'n' Roll and popular British hits of the era. The band performed at a variety of venues throughout Munich and Southern Bavaria.
In 1987 Jeffrey teamed up with musician friends (Eric Thöner & Ralph Bojen) he had met at Trade School to form the studio band "The Congress", writing mainly soul, funk and disco songs, also radio-advertising jingles. Jeffrey played rhythm guitar, sang harmonies and also co-wrote the music, this was the first project that involved him in production.
In 1989 he was introduced to the sound of new style country music and began to write his own songs that showed a marked country influence. He left Germany for the U.S. for the first time in 1991, to learn more about the country he always felt bonded to, as well as about the music. Living in Dallas, Texas for six months and then in Syracuse, New York for further six months showed him the country music of the South and the rock music of the North. Whilst in New York he played two original songs live on a local radio station and performed at various venues in Syracuse. Jeffrey continued to write a number of folk and country- influenced songs on this trip.
In 1992 he returned to Germany with his songs and decided to promote "New American Music" - the new style of Country Music. He began touring solo again, singing covers and some of his own material. Jeffrey was among the first musicians to introduce this kind of music to Germany and he started to build a reputation as a country performer. Whilst touring he met "The Patty Burns Band" and was invited to join them as a guitarist, later becoming the band leader and sharing the lead vocalist position with Patty Burns. He often made guest appearances with other musicians as part of duo and trio acts and as a guitarist and vocalist with other bands.
In 1993 Jeffrey formed his own Country-Rock band "Jeffrey Backus & Gundust". Still performing mainly covers, they toured all over Germany and Austria. He still performed solo and his reputation as a top country performer spread. He appeared in Radio interviews for "Radio Trausnitz" and "Radio Gong", was featured in Newspaper articles for both Local and National press and was a favorite at Country Festivals. The Band played at the German Country Music Fan Fair in 1995, received an encouraging response from the media, and are featured in the Video "Highlights of the Fan Fair 1995". Jeffrey and the band recorded the album "Bits and Pieces" as a promotional demo in 1994.
In 1993 he met the Heavy Metal band "Sarepta". He co-wrote the song "So Close" with the lead singer, Manuel Hippel. This was featured on their CD "Mind Wipe" which was recorded in 1995. During 1993/1994 "The Congress" recorded their album "Good Old Friends", a selection of their best music as a showcase for friends and family. By now Jeffrey had tried rock and roll, soul, funk, disco, country and folk music and felt at ease with all of these styles, importing a little of each into the other.
In 1996 Jeffrey decided he had to go to Nashville - Music City, USA - to pursue his music career and permanently left Germany for Nashville. He arrived in New York in July and played at The Eagle Hotel, Leroy, NY. He purchased a motor home, taking the opportunity to travel through America and Canada for a few months. Jeffrey arrived in Nashville in October 1996 and started performing on a weekly basis at the "Hall of Fame Lounge". He also joined the Friday and Saturday night band playing at "Paul's Country Club" and took part in several talent contests including the Opryland Talent show held at the Acuff Theatre. He also appeared at Open-Mic and writer's nights singing his original songs.
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Thanks
Christian
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de
Whats going on? Ok so my debut album is coming out on JUNE 30th!!!!!! and I wanted to make sure and remind you to mark your calendars for the day! I'd really really appreciate if you'd pick one up....I promise you'll like it haha. You can get it on iTunes or CDBABY.com WOO!!! Dont be a stranger :)
Dear friends of the German Internet Radio Association,
This Friday, 27th March 2009 at 8. 00pm [EWT], we gonna present for the first time a complete show only in english.
The “AMERICAN NIGHT” with Skaterlady Chrissie
on
..www.g-i-r-a.de..
Our lively host won..t be alone in the studio, she will receive company, that is to say two Cowboy buddies: the german Countrysinger Gilbrecht from Berlin, also known as host on gira and furthermore Earl Marshall from Tampa/FL USA, also a never fameless Countrysinger.
Our listeners will get the chance, to ask the Cowboys questions during the Show, which will be responded directly on air. For this, you can join us in the Radio Chat.
To complete this awesome event, Chrissie and the buddies will bring a lot of american music, mainly Countrymusic and also a Live performance of Gilbrecht and Earl is intended.
This show will be re recorded by KMA Records (NBRN) Nashville/USA at a later date!
Hallo Jeffrey, na hier kann ich immerhin Deine Musik anhören! Hoffe Dir und Deiner Familie geht es gut, lass mal was von Dir hören und halt die Ohren steif. Liebe Grüße und weiterhin viel Spaß und Erfolg mit Deiner Musik! CARO
In den USA und vielen anderen Übersee-Ländern ist es nämlich Frühstückszeit, wenn ich On Air gehe und darum lade ich euch ein, mit mir und den Freunden in Übersee ein zünftiges deutsch-amerikanisches Frühstück zu erleben ... mit viel dufter Musik aus Amerika und Germany...
Add Kayla King the hotist new artist on Capital records listen to her single release sorry here first , get your free down load while your at her page tell her what you think about her I promise you will love her tell her kenny sent ya. www. myspace. com/kaylakingofficial
Please don't forget to publish your country music news and events to CountryHome Forum. Each news and event published to CountryHome Forum will go to my weekly newsletter with more than 30,000 readers.
Warm regards
Christian
CountryHome Magazine Editor Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany
Hey Jeff! How in the world are you guys? long time no hear from! We have such a darling video of Emmie Mae, we have to send you a copy! can't believe it has been almost a year! Remember I mentioned when I was there about writing a children's song, said maybe Red Umbrella something? Well you have to take a minute and listen to how it came out, definitely not childrens song, different though, let me know what you think. It is just me and Don, very acoustic recording for booking house concerts and acoustic gigs. Love to Jae and Emmie, Karen
Hi Jeffrey Backus, Hope your holiday season is spectacular!!
Wanted to remind you -- Take a minute to sign up for the FanClub. As a member, you'll be able to get LOTS of freebies including a free download of my new Christmas song. AND we'll be giving away a free mp3 player soon!
I started a big charity project named HelpCharity on August 1st, in order to raise money to support handicapped children in America and Germany. Would you like to help by donating autographed CDs, T-Shirts, Base-Caps, Guitars or personal items? For more information about HelpCharity visit: www. MySpace. com/HelpCharity or www. HelpCharity. info
Please help me to promote Country Music in Europe. You like to know how you can help me? Very easy, add me to your top buddy list here on MySpace and please publish all your News to CountryHome Forum here on MySpace and join my blog http://blog. myspace. com/christianlamitschka to keep yourself up to date.
Please send a note to your friends here on MySpace, that they're welcome to join my Buddy List to keep me up to date. .. You have a CD and would love to read a review about it at CountryHome Magazine, than feel free and send it to me.
Christian
CountryHome Magazine Editor Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany www. CountryHome. de
hi jeff, long time no write!! remember me? your cousin from the states?? how are things going?? i know its been forever since i wrote to you!! anyway, a long time ago you mentioned in an email that you were into geneology about our family...are there any websites??
