There are a tremendous amount of friends that participated in the recordings that are posted on this page and I would like to thank each one of them.
Influences
Growing up moving all over the USA, I was able to listen to all kinds of music. From the early Sunday morning gospel at a Tent church on Rainier Avenue in Seattle after my paper route; to the TEX MEX sounds in Phoenix , to the Italians singing in the Streets on Providence, R. I. to the days after I left home (quite early) at Moratorium Day in Washington, D.C.
My parents house, either you listened to Jim Reeves and Tammy Wynette (my Mom) or Harry James and most of the other Big Bands (my Step-father) to my older Brother Bill and the Beatles and Stones, to my sister and the Top 40. I was influenced. After leaving home, I went to any and every Be-In Festival or Concert I could beg borrow or work my way into. I hitched across the country so many times, SF, Chicago, Portland, Boston, god you could go anywhere on your thumb and a couple of bucks. I could always find work and learned a lot of the basic of several Trades and Crafts.
I was caught as a runaway in '69 and sent to live with my Step Father in Honolulu. I was "subjected" to all the free concerts every weekend at the Waikiki Shell what a gas. I left the Island in '70 and migrated back to Seattle for a short while and found my thumb again.
I listened then and I listen today to everything I can get a chance to hear......
Ok.... I lot of folks have emailed me and left messages asking if I was or am a Street Musician or Busker. Yes, that was me and sometimes still me. Yes, that is me on the Mural of Street Musicians on the Second level of the Pike Place Market. I played Street Music here in Seattle for many years. I also Busked at the Square in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. , Venice Beach, California, Washington Square, NYC; and various other places around the Country. I did play the song "Frankie" about the Vietnam War. However, I did not write the song and do not have permission to play it any longer. Thanks for asking though.
As an activist,I spent a lot of my time learning production (on stage and off) and had to learn to operate a PA, and manage stage crews and work with Speakers and Artists...... I was a Chef (as a Straight job) for many years and apprenticed in French Cuisine and graduated into Fine Italian and beyond. I spent a year teaching culinary arts and finally got out.
I co-owned and operated Northern Stars Studio in Seattle and was blessed to work with and learn from Don "Dodger" Dodge (amazing FOH and recording engineer), Mark Newman (guitar tech extraordinare) and Tom Dierda (brilliant man). Thanks guys. RIP Tom. Norhern Stars I worked with, guided, and produced a lot of Folks (Local, National and International Artists) and a lot of them are my friends now here on my space.
Some of you may remember me as a Volunteer for Seattle Hempfest. I played the first one and played again my last year as a volunteer.
Lately, I have been producing Artists that I like and have built a number of Studios for Private Parties, Writing and working on new tunes, Soon to be released.
So thanks for stopping by and checking out my space.
Sounds Like
They say (and they will talk won't they) I sound like a lot of folks including Bruce (BRUUUCCEE), Mellencamp, Segar etc. but the most amazing remark was Gene Vincent and that does me great honor.
I strive to sound like me and I stress that to any artist that I work with. "Sound like yourself".
Hi Folks, I am Neal Storme, I am a Singer Songwriter, Guitarist, Producer, Event Coordinator and I have produced and co-produced for many NW Artists, Reggie Garrett and the Snake Oil Peddlers, Susan Harper, Cecil Berry, Mary Chinni, Greg Blanke, Billy Duane and the Creepers, Nate Breed, Humbolt Draw and many more. **** My name is one a number of CDs as an advisor and all around helpful Fellow, such as Staind and more.
"Poppies in Heaven" Tracy Arrington(tracyarrington.com)(Bass), Danny Zakos (drums) Charlie Lorme..(snare drum) Chucky Keys (Accordion), Pamela Darby (mandolin) and the Beautiful Background Vocals of Pamela Darby, Linda Lee, and Katrina Lorme.. and Neal on Guitar/Vocals/Whistler. This song is dedicated to my "Pop" and Ron Reichart. Recorded at Northern Stars Studios, Seattle, WA. Don Dodger" Dodge (Engineer). ****
"Wild Roses" is a story song. Neal Storme (guitar/vocals) and features Lari Peterson(Guitar), Sean Lahay (Keys), Steve O(Bass), Danny Zakos(drums), and a host of Background Vocals Recorded at Northern Stars Studios, Seattle,WA. Don "Dodger" Dodge (Engineer). Recorded at Northern Stars Studios, Seattle, WA. Don "Dodger" Dodge(Engineer). ****
"Tienamein Square" Neal Storme (Vocals/Guitar), Bryan Yates(Guitar), G. Valmont Thomas(Bass/OverdubVocals), Sam Sampson (drums) and Steve Camaron, Greg Blanke, Linda Lee, Deanne Chapman, Brenda Blanke, Rhoda Guntherson, and G. Valmont Thomas(Background Vocals). Recorded at Crow Studios, Seattle, WA John Nelson(Engineer). ****
"The were wrong" (Storme/Sapoznick), Neal Storme (Vocals, Guitars)
Greg Blanke (Harmonica), Artis the Spoonman (Spoons and Forks), and Engineered by Sean Lahay Dibble Street Studio. ****
Mastering by Mark Guenther at Seattle Disc Mastering seattlediscmastering.com
Hi Neal - Sounds real good :)Thanks so much for your friendship – I really appreciate it - Hope that you enjoy my music – Here’s my website – www.joe-calderone.com - If you get a chance please sign my Guestbook while you’re there - Have a great week – Joe
Hey Neal~Sorry this last year has been so tough on you~sounds like you are doing better, slowly but surely.... and hopefully this year will a much better one!
Hi Im going to be in your area soon. Im writing a new book about the people I meet on the road. We should throw a small party together. If you want to hang out ,message me at my other site here www. myspace. com/toohotforfizzle We dont read the messages at the circus site. There are too many there and hard to manage
In early October I wrote one of my latest songs called, “Wall Street Bail Out Blues.” Within four days of writing it, a video crew captured me playing it on the street at Seattle’s Pike Place Market and posted their video on YouTube. That video has now reached the attention of a writer for The Wall Street Journal who is writing an article about those who have written songs about our tough economic times. His article will be published this week and I’m excited to read it.
Who knows where this might lead? Call me an optimist but I have a feeling that this could mean that a few more seconds of that elusive fifteen minutes of fame might be coming my way.
It ain’t the cover of the Rolling Stone but it’s not every day that a writer from a major worldwide news outlet seeks me out to talk to me about my songwriting. That’s a huge validation of my efforts at staying true to my vision. I must be doing something right.
