the appletons

Music:

Member Since: 6/9/2008
Band Website: www.theappletons.com"www.theappletons.com
Band Members: Jeannette (Vocals), Uly Perez (Lead Guitar), Chris Garza (Bass), Markus Law (Drums), and Carlos Ramirez (Rhythm Guitar).

Uly
As a boy, there were many records lying around. Mom had pop, soul and r&b records. My dad loved listening to classical, folk, and world and Latin music. My two brothers always played their rock. Granted this was the 70s, so there was the occasional 8-track cassette. A record that stood out was The Beatles’ 62 to 70 Best of. The Beatles changed the way I listened to music. We had a beat up piano in the garage and an abandoned classical guitar in the closet. I played around with both until the guitar won outright. By this point, I sought out guitar driven music. There were the many music phases: rock, metal, alternative, new wave, classical, flamenco, and jazz. Naturally I was in bands that reflected my current phase trying to take something from every style of music into my own playing style. Listening to music; finding innovation in music as well as hearing familiarity, allows me to remain on my musical journey.

Jeannette
As a child, I can remember sitting in on one of dad’s jam sessions in our garage, picking up a tambourine, and feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness. At home, I sang with the encouragement from my older sister. Singing always made me happy because it made others happy. It was a few years later that I realized that music would become my escape from my reality
At the age of five, I joined my grade school’s Folkloric dance group. Rehearsal was held after school everyday for an hour and I never missed a day. I eventually became the lead dancer of the group. I danced and performed for 7 years. Dancing was really the only time in my young life that I remember being completely happy.
Middle school came and went without much incident. However, it was during these difficult transitional years that my musical influences determined my identity, a sullen, morose and rebellious identity.
In high school, I starred in a few plays, which gave the opportunity to show off my singing abilities and a chance to be on stage. Center stage has always felt like home to me, even with the butterflies in my stomach. I knew then there was more to me than I could figure out for myself. What started off as goofing around singing with a garage band led me to embark on my first band as a lead vocalist “The Feather Field”. The Feather Field was a short-lived project but also the first steps to something greater. I was 17 years old in the summer of 1993 when I was introduced to songwriter/composer Carlos Ramirez. Carlos and I met and established a strong friendship and a great love for his music, which then set forth The Appletons.

Chris
My love for music started when I was 4 years old while going with my mom to Toys R’ Us in Cerritos, CA. I noticed a record shop next to the toy store (yes, they were called record shops in the 70s) I, being young and excessively naive had the idea of asking my dear mother to purchase a new record that I could play on my trusty ol' Bugs Bunny plastic record player. She was rather reluctant to go in knowing that they didn't carry the inventory that would normally suit one so young like me, but she grudgingly gave in. As we entered the store, my innocent eyes noticed there were no children's records. No Sesame St, no Walt Disney....WTF??? As I continued to walk the aisles of unfamiliar vinyl, I was drawn to the vastness of cover art and came up with my own interpretation(s) of what type of music might be contained inside.... man was I wrong. I finally made a decision and picked what I thought was a fairly nice record. The cover art was colorful and with a name like Kiss, how could one go wrong? When the needle touch that vinyl, my musical soul (as well as Bugs Bunny's) were no longer innocent but, opened to a whole new world of sound. From that moment on, I knew what would fill my heart as well as give me a place to express myself. I wanted to create music.
Since then, my musical journey has evolved and has brought me wonderful experiences and lifelong friends. To this day, I still crank up that old Kiss record and rock out!

Markus
Markus grew up listening to everything from the Jazz Crusaders to the Beatles and Bob Marley. His father was a big influence in his musical growth. Music was played in the house daily. Whether it was Jazz greats like Miles Davis and Art Blakey, or Motown greats like the Temptations and Stevie Wonder, the consistent influences nurtured Markus’ love for music. Dad constantly encouraged him to look deep into music for its soul and rhythm. Markus’ other drum inspiration came from watching numerous rock drummers on TV. He spent countless hours studying and imitating the mannerisms and movements of many rock drummer greats. In his younger years, Markus performed as a drum line drummer competing all over Southern California. His skills as a drummer and performer intensified once he learned to play jazz. Still competing, Markus used his skills to win constant awards with his skillful and entertaining drumming. Although jazz blues and gospel are his roots, he has always had an intense love for rock! Markus has loved classic rock bands like the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Doors and Dylan, as well as Hard Rock, Metal and Alternative bands like Aerosmith, Metallica, and Weezer. Markus has played professionally for years as a performer with great style and a technique unlike any other. He is always ready to lay down a beat and entertain the crowd with skill, power, and stage presence.

Carlos
Music has been ever present in my life as far as recollection can invite my memory. My mother’s love for music in Mexico was evident in her constant sing-along at home. Romantic songs embraced our daily lives and such melodies have been visiting my writing moments ever since. Our family gatherings consisted of numerous guitars pulling my curiosity to boleros and The Beatles. My brother’s years as a drummer introduced me to the world of distortion and the endless possibilities of musical instruments via collaboration and expression. From the first chords taught to me by my cousins and the early attempts at rock n’ roll in my teenage years, music has become a joyful shadow that travels with me at all times. I would like to take full credit for the song-writing passion engulfing me, but the reality is that my sister has proven to be the master writer of the family. My continuous love for different musical styles is the sole result of my experience as a high school teacher in Los Angles. As an educator, giving back to my community has brought me to the proximity of young minds that have taught me more about life experiences than some great writers. My inspiration comes from the many biographies that become part of my life for short and long periods of time. Some of the departures into my moments of creativity have been inspired by the many laughs and tears shared with all those who have become dear friends and to whom my biggest gratitude remains unexpressed.

Influences:

The Beatles, U2, Radiohead, The Cardigans, Pink Floyd, Queen, The Smiths, Lush, The Pixies, Julieta Venegas, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, 10,000 Maniacs, The Cranberries, Rush, Black Sabbath, Miles Davis, Jimmy Hendrix, The Doors, Neil Young, John Coltrane, Three Dog Night, Joy Division, Cachao, Charles Mingus, Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians, Fiona Apple, New Order, Bossa Nova, New Wave, Jazz, Blues, Boleros, Country, Electronica, Rock....
Sounds Like: Alternative urban rock.
Record Label: Rize High Records
Type of Label: Indie