My family was very musically diverse. I grew up around various genre.. from
my fathers Irish tenors, my sisters opera and classical music, my
grandmothers gospel, and my mother loved Johnny Mathis, & Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, even my brother recorded his version of Harry Belafontes - Scarlet Ribbon. I will finally admit it, I used to mess around with his drum kit.
I think I was the original dancing baby.
I discovered a love for music at age 5, when my father gave me a harmonica, and you would have thought I discovered gold. Guess what was under my pillow at night?
I eventually moved to a recorder, then on to the ukulele. It was that
instrument that altered my musical focus.
Growing up Catholic in Cleveland, Ohio during the days of folk music, I
started playing a folk guitar about the time Catholic churches were doing
folk masses, and at age 12, I formed my own choir, so to speak, to lead
the congregation in the new charismatic hymns.
Unfortunately, my mother died just as I turned 13 and before I graduated
from the parochial school I was attending. But in her memory every guitar
I have owned since carries her initials (Melmo).
In high school, I went electric and kinda rock. I was in several bands as lead, rhythm, or bass guitarist. Did I mention that somewhere in there I picked up the bass guitar?
My love for music and the creation of it led me in my middle teens to
perform before who ever would let me, from senior citizens homes to jam
sessions in Wade park. At 15 or 16, my band got to open for some of
Clevelands signed artists, who opened for major label artists.
It was music that led me to a long and very enjoyable career in
broadcasting, right out of high school as a DJ, Reporter, to Program & Music
Director at several radio stations across the U.S. (1970 - 1997).
Today, I own two internet radio stations, completed the recording
engineering course from the Audio Institute of America, owned by Mr. Richard
Miller, musician, label owner and former engineer to the Beatles.. and other
groups. I also serve as a music judge and critic for Make .. A .. Star.com and
SizzleFizzle.com, two online music services, I am an associate member of The
Recording Academy (Memphis Chapter), Associate member of the Audio Engineering Society, a former A&R for a now closed indie label. Member of the International Association for Music Education (ISME), and The Blues Foundation, Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association.
I also produce a weekly Hip-Hop show for a radio station network in France,
which is broadcast to over 90 stations throughout that country.
For the most part my guitar playing is recreational. Although I have Melmo
13 and 14 (pictured), I have adopted computer generated music, my band in a box, that still allows me to share my musical ideas, which I thank Myspace for allowing me the opportunity to do.
By the way, I was granted the title of ..Sir.. in 2001 by Elite Titles in the
U.K.
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