... the 2012 Namm show...looky-loos , gear, the masses. Reconnecting relationships.
Had to tell my story, which I've never really told.
There was no school of rock or blues. Hard knocks and paying your dues. There were the jazz and classical schools. North Texas State, New England Conservatory, Berklee, Juilliard...and just listening...Beethoven, Mozart, Stravinsky, et al. By the way, their record deal was to be commissioned by a monarchy. Just like the majors, they had fame, women, the fast lane. Most got screwed in the end.
Looking at the years 70-79... were quite remarkable, amazing really. Spirit, Wizard, Buddy Miles, Three Dog Night, Blues Image, Iron Butterfly, Mike Pinera, Larry Rheinhart, Allman Brothers, Willie D, Duane Hitchings, BB King, Johnny Winter, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Maxxann, Seatrain, Thad Jones Mel Lewis Big Band, George Russell, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Chambers Brothers, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Tommy Bolin, Dr John, John Lennon, Bad Company, Al Kooper, King James Version (parts became Skynyrd) Carmine Appice, Jimmy Haslip, Max Middleton, Tim Bogert, Verdine White, Mark Stein, Phil Brown, Billy Preston, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Michael Des Barre, Glenn Hughes, Steve Perry, Bonnie Bramlett, Mike Finnigan, Dallas Taylor, Chocolate Perry, Bonnie Pointer, Rufus, Diana Ross, Stephen Stills, Steve Marriott, Ian McClagan, Small Faces, Bandit, Phil Lynott, Mickey Finn, Ian Wallace, Belushi, Akroid, Chase, and sometimes Deniro, Third Power, Tee Garden and Van Winkle , Ricky Nelson, and Hendrix. Any combination...Played, jammed, recorded, or toured with... But most of all having the opportunity to be around these incredible musicians, incredible humans. Hang out, get to know them. Be given the privilege to absorb their talent , and the gift of working with them. Interacting musically. Mind boggling. This was our peer group. Our dinner club. You had to earn your way in. Once there ....
Reply
Benjamin... Chef d’Orchestre et Peintre d’Audio / Blog
Letter to me from a new fan
Let me ask you.....what is the deal with your page? The tunes are by far the best I've heard to date on Reverb. Who are the artists? Are there multiple? The guitar phasing in most songs sounds similar, leading me to believe its the same guy. I read the bio, but it's rather vague. Fabulous musicianship man! Like Jeff Beck on steroids! Ya, I gave your Facebook a like. How could I not? I shared with everyone I know! Incredible man! Incredible!
God bless!
Steve
Reply
Thanks...the recordings you hear are from my catalog of works of my own and my bands over the years. I'm playing at least guitar on the tracks. I am the whole band on others. If you go to the videos and listen to the two Belinda Carlisle vids you can hear me with George Harrison.
Most of the time i put in the parenthesis who's playing with me. i.e Steve Lukather, Gregg Bissonette, Barefoot Servants w Leland Sklar, Tim Bogert, Buddy Miles, Belinda, Bonnie Pointer etc
From Wikipedia Wizard (American band)
Wizard Origin Tampa, Florida, USA Genres hard rock, psychedelic rock Years active 1970–1971 Labels Peon Records Associated acts Bacchus, Jimmy Castor Bunch Past members Ben Schultz Paul Forney Chris Luhn Wizard were an American psychedelic/hard rock band, which formed in 1970 in Tampa, Florida and disbanded 16 months after the formation.[1] Wizard released just one studio album which went unnoticed but, according to AllMusic, "…their sound was considerably more imaginative and interesting than much hard rock from the period, including many of the similar bands who earned far more commercial popularity than they did".[2] Contents [hide] 1 Band history 2 Members 3 Discography 4 References [edit]Band history
Wizard formed in spring 1970 at the University of South Florida when singer and bassist Paul Forney and guitarist Ben Schultz met through a mutual friend, jammed together and formed a short-lived rock trio, Brother. Prior to their first gig, their drummer walked out on soundcheck and was promptly replaced by roadie Chris Luhn, who proved to be a competent instrumentalist. The new band changed their name to Wizard. The band was touring in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, and Illinois, opening for Iron Butterfly, Chicago, Mountain, and Rod Stewart, among others. At the Goose Lake Festival, outside Detroit, they caught attention of Decca Records' Bob Fletcher who took the group to Atlanta's LeFevre Sound Studiosfor a recording session.[3] As as result, The Original Wizard, the band's first and only album, released in 1971 on Peon Records. Wizard continued to perform, including a gig the next winter at an indoor festival at the Hollywood Fairgrounds in Florida, but not for ling: sixteen months after forming, the band called it quits.[1] Forney went on to play with Bacchus and later with the Jimmy Castor Bunch, finally giving up touring in 1980. Schultz went on to do live and studio work for Buddy Miles, Belinda Carlisle, Stephen Stills, Diana Ross, Ric Ocasek, Rick Nelson, and Rod Stewart, among others.[1] [edit]Members
Ben Schultz - lead and rhythm guitars, vocal Paul Forney - lead vocal, bass Chris Luhn - drums [edit]Discography
The Original Wizard (Peon Records, 1971) [edit]References
^ a b c Stanton Swihart. "Wizard". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-10-10. ^ Stanton Swihart. "The Original Wizard". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-10-10. ^ "Wizard". www.old-rock.ru. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
Reply
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists: Wizard Bio
Wizard (not to be confused with Roy Wood's Wizzard) formed in spring 1970 at the University of South Florida virtually by accident. Paul Forney (vocals, bass) and Ben Schultz (guitars) met through a mutual friend, jammed together, and immediately hit it off. The two formed a short-lived rock trio, Brother, and were slated to open a gig in Tampa for Chicago's Flock. Prior to the concert, Forney and Schultz had a falling out with Brother's drummer, who promptly walked out on soundcheck to clear his head. The duo asked Brother roadie Chris Luhn, who they had known for a couple years, to sit in just to balance soundboard levels, completely unaware that he had been playing drums for nearly five years and knew Brother's songs by heart. Instead of just pounding away, he kept perfect time and by the next morning, Brother's old drummer was instantly looking for a new band. The new combo rechristened itself Wizard.
Over the course of the next year, the band took off on the road from Tampa to Colorado, playing gigs in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, and Illinois and opening for the likes of Iron Butterfly, Chicago, Mountain, and Rod Stewart. During that year, Wizard logged thousands of miles in a 1967 Pontiac Bonneville to get to their performances, as well as hour upon hour of rehearsing, writing music, and jamming together. The apotheosis of the first summer was when they crashed the Goose Lake Festival outside Detroit, at which the band finagled their way onto the stage for a set. The trio caught the attention of Decca Records' Bob Fletcher and he took the group to Atlanta for a recording session that lasted days. By the end of the session, The Original Wizard, the band's first and only album, was completed. The album was released in 1971 on Peon. Wizard continued to play and perform, including a memorable gig the next winter at an indoor festival at the Hollywood Fairgrounds in Florida with main draw Van Morrison, but the band slowly began to come apart. Only 16 months after forming, the band called it quits.
Forney went on to play with Bacchus and later with the Jimmy Castor Bunch, finally giving up touring in 1980. Schultz went on to do live and studio work for Buddy Miles, Belinda Carlisle, Stephen Stills, Diana Ross, Ric Ocasek, Rick Nelson, and Rod Stewart, among others. In 1999, Gear Fab reissued their album on CD. ~ Stanton Swihart, Rovi
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/wizard-novel#ixzz1xVmTBPpt
Reply
Just tried to post this on Facebook. It wouldn't post
First confiscating rare wood guitars at the border and now "right here on our stage"... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150281/REVEALED-Hundreds-words-avoid-using-online-dont-want-government-spying-you.html
Reply
Lacey Law...yeah right!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/18/law-could-be-used-to-seize-musicians-guitars-may-need-fix-senator-says/
Reply
Tell the story
... the 2012 Namm show...looky-loos , gear, the masses. Reconnecting relationships.
Had to tell my story, which I've never really told.
There was no school of rock or blues. Hard knocks and paying your dues. There were the jazz and classical schools. North Texas State, New England Conservatory, Berklee, Juilliard...and just listening...Beethoven, Mozart, Stravinsky, et al. By the way, their record deal was to be commissioned by a monarchy. Just like the majors, they had fame, women, the fast lane. Most got screwed in the end.
Looking at the years 70-79... were quite remarkable, amazing really. Spirit, Wizard, Buddy Miles, Three Dog Night, Blues Image, Iron Butterfly, Mike Pinera, Larry Rheinhart, Allman Brothers, Willie D, Duane Hitchings, BB King, Johnny Winter, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Maxxann, Seatrain, Thad Jones Mel Lewis Big Band, George Russell, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Chambers Brothers, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Tommy Bolin, Dr John, John Lennon, Bad Company, Al Kooper, King James Version (parts became Skynyrd) Carmine Appice, Jimmy Haslip, Max Middleton, Tim Bogert, Verdine White, Mark Stein, Phil Brown, Billy Preston, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Michael Des Barre, Glenn Hughes, Steve Perry, Bonnie Bramlett, Mike Finnigan, Dallas Taylor, Chocolate Perry, Bonnie Pointer, Rufus, Diana Ross, Stephen Stills, Steve Marriott, Ian McClagan, Small Faces, Bandit, Phil Lynott, Mickey Finn, Ian Wallace, Belushi, Akroid, Chase, and sometimes Deniro, Third Power, Tee Garden and Van Winkle , Ricky Nelson, and Hendrix. Any combination...Played, jammed, recorded, or toured with... But most of all having the opportunity to be around these incredible musicians, incredible humans. Hang out, get to know them. Be given the privilege to absorb their talent , and the gift of working with them. Interacting musically. Mind boggling. This was our peer group. Our dinner club. You had to earn your way in. Once there ....
Reply
Merry Xmas
May this day, and all forthcoming days be peaceful, safe, and full of light.
Reply
"Leave a Light On" video
Check it out. Got to play with George Harrison on this one. George on slide I'm playing the twelve string What an honor. Video isn't much but the track is. Thanks
Reply
Jimi and Buddy
One time sitting around just chillin' with Mr. Miles he was telling Jimi stories. Those who are Jimi fans already know Jimi had his own "phrase-ology"... so hearing Jimi asking the engineer to "turn up the ear goggles" ...Someone out there has that tape we were listening to. Funny stuff.
Reply
Muscle Car
" Muscle Car" Song I wrote after a bout of "SRV" reflections. The Rosa Queen is as well which came to exist two days after the helicopter crash taking his amazing talent from all of us. He is missed. We played a bit while he was mixing "Crossfire" at Summa Recording Studios in Hollywood. I was working on Gregg Alexander's record. He came in, introduced himself asking me " is that your gear? " I said yes it is. To which Stevie replied " You wanna play?" Ya think!!!
Muscle Car by Benjamin Schultz www.reverbnation.com Benjamin Schultz | Rock | Sherman Oaks, CA
Reply