Meet
THE 60's SENSATIONS...
Raised
in Broomall, PA and now residing in Brookhaven, PA. Jim began bass guitar lessons at age 14 in order to play with friends at high school. But it didn't take long to realize that this was not the most efficient way for him to learn the bass. Jim developed a great musical ear by playing along with melodies heard on the radio. Now his bass playing skills took off simply by copying what he heard. It was during the disco era of the late 70's that Jim wrote songs concerned that rock and roll just might fade away. Not only did rock and roll not fade away, but Jim now had the opportunity to become the bass player in the band covering the classic pop and rock songs of the day, Spectre. Show after show with Spectre refined his bass playing skills, combined with an exceptional musical ear developed Jim into the solid player of the rhythm section. After full 4 years of playing, some time off was needed to attend to a health issue in the family. But the band opportunities soon returned and Jim was back into the hard work of regular playing and recording. THE 60's SENSATIONS now affirms that rock and roll indeed did not fade away but continues to provide Jim the opportunity to lay down that solid rhythm section for those positive hit songs from rock's most dynamic decade.
Jeff started playing drums at age
ten but was taught "Wipeout" by a cousin before lessons ever began.
He
continued playing all throughout school. Jeff auditioned for the Delaware
Valley Symphonic Youth Orchestra and toured Europe in 1978. He was also
picked to play in a percussion ensemble his senior year of high school.
Jeff's family made up most of the band for his church growing up, so he learned
to play hymns as well as big band standards for other special occasions.
Jeff got to perfect his brush playing skills at a time when being a church
drummer was not a common sight. Jeff's family still will get together to
play at family gatherings throughout the year. Jeff also played in several
rock bands over the years, but it was with Point Blank that he experienced his
greatest success traveling the tri-state region, playing top 40 hits, oldies and
originals. During this time Jeff met Sharon who would become his wife. After
Point Blank, Jeff accompanied his friend and former band mate at the Delaware
Children's Theater in Wilmington, Delaware. This project gave Jeff
an arsenal of percussion to produce just the right sound effects. The highlight of this
venture was performing at the Playhouse Theatre at the Hotel DuPont with full
orchestra for the annual fund raiser. Today, "making noise in the
basement" as his kids would say, is no comparison to playing with
THE 60's SENSATIONS.
Jeff is quick to say, "Playing with Rob, Steve, and Jim is great. The
music is so much fun, especially when we hit Wipeout during the surfing medley".
Rob's
musical career began by playing with several bands during high school; learning
how to copy the styles, sounds and songs of pop music. However, it wasn't
until a post-high school band called Spectre that the work came consistently for
several years from the late seventies to the early eighties. It was around
this same time that Rob attended the Neupauer Conservatory of Music in Philadelphia with
a major in voice and a minor in piano. Composition and performance were
emphasized at the Conservatory which helped fuel Rob's desire for both music
arranging and stage performance. Beginning in the mid-eighties and
continuing for the next two decades, Rob's musical focus was centered in
contemporary churches and their music departments; offering his skills at piano
playing, singing, and arranging music selections for church services.
Taking yet another musical turn, Rob conceived of
THE 60's SENSATIONS
concept in August of 2005, and developed the musical plan with a little help
from his friends throughout the fall of 2005. "This kind of music
project has to bring back fantastic 60's memories. Otherwise, I suppose we
would be just
another band."
Steve was constantly exposed to 60's
music while growing up. A house full of sisters playing the latest 45's
over and over makes a strong musical
impression.
Hearing everything from The Beatles to Paul Revere and the Raiders to The Beach
Boys, Steve's musical ear was being trained in what fun music was all about.
"A talented drummer friend of mine was all the influence I needed to begin guitar lessons.
This guy played as good as Ringo, and I wanted to try and learn how to play
guitar like George Harrison," Steve remembers. Steve's first band, The
Summertime Blues Band, solidified his desire to progress as a guitarist,
learning to play songs by listening to records. Later, Steve joined
another band and met Jim who he felt was a gifted bass player. Steve and
Jim then teamed up with Rob who was forming the band Spectre (originally known
as South Broadway, for you trivia fans), and the work became a tremendous
musical growing experience. Resulting from his years of playing in Spectre
as well as other subsequent bands, Steve was frequently asked if he gave guitar
lessons and decided to do just that. "I've been a teacher ever since, and
it's always a pleasure to bring on new students. But to have a
student ask to play a George Harrison part is rare but really exciting."
THE 60's SENSATIONS
is the perfect outlet for Steve to re-live the Harrison style of lead guitar.
He'll gladly show you every Beatles guitar part ever recorded.
