___
As Little Jim learned that he had a terminal form of cancer, he began to think about the future. He thought about his youngest son's desire to have a career in music as a drummer. Playing the pedal-steel guitar himself, he fully understood how tough it could be, even for a drummer as talented as Scooter was, to establish a steady career as a musician in a small South Georgia town. Knowing that Scooter was determined to be a professional musician, Little Jim decided that he needed to help him with his dreams.
Little Jim took his pedal-steel guitar to a local music shop and he traded it in for a keyboard. When he returned home with the keyboard, he told Scooter that he wanted him to learn how to play it, so that he could then begin to write his own music and produce his own CD. Scooter told his dad that he would try, but it was not until after Little Jim had passed away in 1999 that Scooter had learned enough to begin to compose music.
Skip ahead a couple of years and Scooter was still working on making that CD. Scooter had found a guitarist who transposed what he was playing on the keyboard to the guitar. Scooter loved the sound, so he made a demo CD of two of his songs.
One night while Scooter was listening to the demo in his van, a woman approached him and asked him what was playing in his stereo. He explained that it was the demo of a CD that he was working on. She told him that although it wasn't the kind of music that would normally capture her attention, she thought it was beautiful. Scooter thanked her for her interest, handed her the demo and then drove away.
A few nights later, Scooter's phone rang. The woman on the other end of the line began to tell him that she was the woman he gave the demo to in the parking lot. She told Scooter that she had a son with Autism. She went on to explain that her son was prone to uncontrollable temper-tantrums out of frustration, due to his inability to talk or communicate effectively. She said, "I want you to know that your music put an end to a three-hour tantrum when nothing else could." If Scooter's determination ever wavered, it was renewed that night.
Scooter then asked a long time friend and guitarist, Chris Morant, if he would be interested in working on the project with him. Chris, who had lost his own mother to cancer in 1996, accepted the invitation. It wasn't long before Chris was also writing music, which fit in beautifully with that of Scooter's. The pair then recruited a bass player, by the name of Giancarlo diMino, and together they completed their CD.
The band formed in 2002 and released its first album entitled Stasis at the end of the year. In early 2003 the Afterstation album Stasis was chosen by WCTV Channel 6 in Tallahassee, FL to be played along with their Doppler Weather Radar. In addition to being featured daily on the tv station, the Cd was played, almost in its entirety,for several years, on a nightly basis on the WCTV radio station.
In 2003, rhythm guitarist, Ashley Eubanks, joined the band. Afterstation performed in select venues throughout south Georgia for the remainder of the year.
In 2004 the band's bass player, Giancarlo diMino, relocated, making it impossible to keep the band together.
The remaining band members decided not to push to find a bass player for their band. They simply went back to writing new music as they waited for a new bass player to find them.
With the addition of Brian Bookman on bass, the band is ready to start on a new album and simply pick up where they left off. With most of the music already written, you can expect a new album to be released in the near future. ____Afterstation: Stasis / Price - Morant - diMino Album Description : To pinpoint a particular influence is difficult. The album opens with Afterstation. A trancey, blue piece that brings to mind a smoke filled room in some distant land. This other worldly vibe floats throughout and is the common thread that binds each track. Strong melodies especially Staples in Time and March of Midday are abundant, yet tastefully placed. The heartfelt tributes of Little Jim's Lullaby and Everywhere I Go, along with the Spanish seasonings of Fiesta del Sol, coexist beautifully. The album's masterpiece title has to go to Transitions. This subtle, epic, dynamic piece will get you every time. A wonderful contrast indeed. Strong themes, soulful performances and an almost naive feeling of discovery fill this eloquent sonic landscape.
Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / Black ocean
