TTB/Arthur HeldProject

Bio RN March 5 10:43 Art Held : A Legacy of Strings, Rhythm, and Soul From the classical discipline of the cello to the legendary stage of CBGB, Art Held has spent decades at the intersection of musical innovation. His technical foundation was built at the RCA Institute under Professor Vincent Ilardiand further refined through music theory, percussion, and piano studies at New Paltz (1971–1973). This formal education was elevated by private study with guitar icons Jennifer Batten and Gene Bertoncini, but his real-world "masterclass" came from the heart of the NYC scene, coming up alongside the Bell brothers—Fred Bell and Marky Ramone—absorbing the raw energy and precision of the city’s most influential rock era. His career serves as a map of iconic venues and era-defining sounds. Starting as a teen in the Interpreters with Vic Terno, he soon took over the drum throne for Cold Sweat, touring the Adirondacks with Woody Woodruff (of Woodstockfame) and holding down residencies at Jack Barry’s of Lake George. This versatility became his signature; by the early 70s, he was founding Mythx with Dean Cristiano and Stephen Hamilton, eventually transitioning into the 80s NYC scene with Future Tense and playing the storied Bowery circuit with Squadron. In the 90s , Art Held solidified his reputation as a "triple threat" multi-instrumentalist in the high-energy blues-rock outfit Triple Trouble alongside Jeff Kraft. His studio expertise frequently brought him into elite circles, including sessions at Pilot Studios and professional intersections with legendary producer Bob Rock. An accomplished songwriter, he earned official writing credits for Janet Jeffery’ssingle "I Hear You Calling on the Telephone,"featured on her compilation album, and supported the project through various live dates at the iconic Madame Wong’s and the FM Stationin North Hollywood. Today, Art Held remains active in songwriting one on particular in his catalog is "Time is Closing In," produced by Leonard Church with Church on bass. The track’s professional caliber led to its immediate acquisition by the Chicago-based publisher Mighty Twins during a brief New York session. Today,[Art Held remains a respected figure among his peers; a recent reunion with longtime friends Paula and Marco Cardamone resulted in the gift of a vintage Favila F-5, a nod to his deep New York roots and a lifetime dedicated to the craft of the song.