The Little Green Group is the internet home for Peter Seaton and includes my music projects and an extended bio. I am combining my drumming and songwriting skills on this site. I am currently the drummer for the live band: the Gary Dunes Band.
My love for music and recording covers alot of ground; from rock to jazz, traditional and non traditional . It began listening to my parents records of Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong and lots of records from NYC swing era. My Mom and Dad's family's were born and raised in Queens/Brooklyn N.Y. area I heard Gene Krupa's playing on Benny Goodman recordings . NYC swing band records played Saturday mornings in our home. I first saw Buddy Rich around 1974 or so when my brother Billy, my father and I went to a club on the north side of Syracuse called "The Mark 4" or something. It was on North State St. by Crouse Hinds. I was so completely thrilled seeing how great he was.
I've spent the better part of my teens practicing in my parents porch, in my neighbors' barns; and any place that would tolerate my beats/loud pounding!. "Can you play somewhere else?" was a familiar phrase I heard as a teen ager. How could "I" even think about music as an avocation? My determination played out.
I eventually was able to keep a beat well enough to join a "band". I played polkas. My first band was at 14; The Matchmen; and then the George Mazur Trio. I practiced alot. I worked as a drummer as often as I could be hired. Listened and practiced all the time I could. Recorded 100's of songs with Frank Stepanek. I played gigs and party's all over central New York. I watched 805 to listen to Frank Briggs. I watched and listened to Earl Hamilton of the New York Flyers. Alecstar. Mr EDD. I've had so many friends and associates help me along my way. Gary Hall who played with "Mr. EDD" was my roomate for a while in the early 1980's. We started home recording original ideas with a cassette recorder. Played with "Blue Steel" from Utica NY. Worked for many years through Music Star Talent Agency out of Binghamton NY. I played and traveled over-the-road full-time roughly speaking from 1980-1985.
This was a time when drummers could play at a "lounge" in a Sheraton, Holiday Inn or Hilton 5-7 nights a week.
After reaching a plateau; I started taking lessons again with John Dixon; who studied at Potsdam State/Crane School of Music. He taught me to reach my "spaz" point and study rudiments. He was instrumental to me as a coach and mentor musically speaking.
After a time, John suggested O..C. C. I eventually enrolled at Onondaga Community College and studied music theory with Frank Mosher; continued drum set lessons with Larry Luttinger and graduated with an A.A S. degree in 1988. Years of playing drums and percussion as a sideman is great and exciting to me. After recording with Frank Stepanek for many years in his studio. I wanted to learn how to write and play my ideas. I felt a much greater pull towards songwriting. I worked with Steve Schaad in the early 1990's on midi sequencing; he sold me a sequencing keyboard back in about 1991 from Onondaga music. Frank Stepanek and I recorded my first songs that were recorded "sequence" style. Carl Patzer, Frank Stepanek and I recorded a song called "Flying High" that had airplay on 88.3 Waer in Syracuse on New Age morning. Chris Jones taught me sequencing with his sampling keyboards and introduced me to Pro Tools software.
Carl Patzer wrote beautiful new age music pieces that really captured my imagination. He and I wrote a few albums worth of material together using sequencing keyboards. I really enjoy the process of writing. Frank and I produced a few albums worth of material that he and I did.
We sequenced a measure at a time. Some live some written midi. Currently, Tom Witkowski and I are sequencing live parts for the GDB using his Roland x-6 workstation. We are gradually expanding our live sound experience.
I have been using all Apple hardware; G5; a "hybrid" drum set: Roland V-drums Td-12 set, ddrum triggers, 9-ply mohogany shells with mylar type mesh heads. Roland td-11 hi-hat trigger, pintech electronic cymbals, concert cast drums. Roland spd-s sampling pad. Software includes Logic, Garageband, Band in a box. Presonus preamps. Logic has been my main tool for writing, and producing. So much fun!!
All of the titles are composed by the little green group.
Cheers
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
its the rainy days that make the sunny ones brighter.....its the darkest, just before the dawn. trust is earned , now it will be more difficult for you to believe in it........ but you've always had a good sense of you.......
we both have or are suffering a great loss........ we both will come thru on the other side......
i have more time these days...let me know if your heading to the ymca any time soon!
let me know if there's anything i can do........ and my thoughts and prayers are with you.......
The next time you play at Wacky Wyatt's let me know, my friends with Jim and I have gone there a couple times and love it. I'd love to see you play, I only remember you bangin on those drums in the porch of your house!
I know the feeling sweetie. I have been sick for 1wk plus. Can't wait to get back to it. At least it is warm out. (just wish I had the energy to do something) Love to you and the family. Tell Julie to call me when she gets a min. You too. would love to catch up soon. Have a wonderful sunny day. Love Elaine
Happy Day Sir... and your lovely family... Miss you guys, working to much and right now only one car working for 2... Brad has been great, picking me up from work at odd hours. Can't wait to get that car fixed or a new one. Love you.... miss you too. Call me !
hey, I didn't send the last one to you love.... how are you? Miss you guys, been down and out with the flu for a week... wow, haven't been this sick in years. Tell Julieanne to give me a call. Miss you guys. Love me...:)
