I was born with a pair of drumsticks in my hands and the desire to pound on anything I could get to.  Growing up in Brooklyn N.Y. I could be found with a pair of drumsticks pounding on the sidewalk, the light post or anything that passed by. Unfortunately while I had the heart of a drummer I did not have the ability.

Thus the Guitar player was born. I found that shortly after learning the Guitar I started to make up my own songs.  Most of the early attempts were bizarre to say the least but eventually I found my way.

I played with an amazing amount of Musicians on my musical journey.
I started with a 12-piece horn band that had two drummers. We called ourselves the Long Island Music Association, LIMA. This I eventually changed into a group called Llama that went through every possible line up you could imagine. We appeared on the WBAB homegrown album and had Atlantic Records interested in the group. As with many great bands, the members of the band disrupted the success of the group.

I worked with a little know agency called AuCoin Management with a New York Based band called Colt. The Agency run by Bill AuCoin and Sean Delaney had some unknown Bands like, KISS, Piper, which was Billy Squires group, Toby Bow, and I believe the New York Dolls, David Johansen’s band (AKA Buster Poindexter). Colt opened for the New York Dolls in a Club in Queens N.Y. called Coventry. Sean Delaney offered me his vintage strat to work with but I at time I had a 54 Les Paul Gold top that I used exclusively. He also asked me to come out to California to work on a record he was doing. I didn’t take him up on the offer, but I believe the Jefferson Starship recorded some of the music he was working on, on one of their albums. If there is one thing I can remember from Sean and Gee (Bill Aucoin) is no matter what leave an impression. Good or Bad leave them talking about you.

I learned a great deal about Vintage guitars from working with one of the finest Luthiers and Guitar craftsmen around, Ronnie DeMarino. His Shop in Long Island was a hot spot in the Guitar world. He worked with everyone from John Lennon to Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck to Alice Cooper.  I once delivered mirrored SG Guitars Ronnie had finished to Alice Coppers home in Connecticut. Alice had an incredible place that included a mini concert hall with Stain Glass windows and a room with a pool table in it that made you feel like you were in a jungle. One of my fondest memories was when Ronnie was working with John Lennon; we had John’s Rickenbacker in the shop. John wanted the black finish off the Guitar and Ronnie refinished it to a natural wood look. The guitar had a short neck but was fun to play, great sounding on Beatles songs.

Music was always about expressing myself and trying to find some sort of meaning.
So it was natural for me to go into writing my own music.
I figured I had this gift from God and it was here for a reason.
When I write I find that the music just comes and it has something to say when it arrives. 
I find the best songs are the ones I don’t let my human side get involved with the creation.
It is better to just let it happen naturally.

As far as Life, My belief is that we were sent to this Planet as caretakers. It is our job to take care of the animals, the people and the planet.  Everything is related, what we do to one part affects the whole.

One person can make a change for the Positive you just have to Believe.

Well let’s get back to Music.

My favorite bass player and drummer I had a chance to jam with were Craig MacGregor and Roger Earl of Foghat.  We really tore the roof off of Boogie Hotel. Add Lonesome Dave Peverett and it was Foghat LIVE!!! It was an honor to play with a piece of Rock History.  I remember when the audition was over Roger Earl running from the drum set drenched into the control room the next words I hear is from one of the crew “Dude you did it!!!” 

My all time Favorite Drummer was Bobbie Rondinelli, to play with him was just amazing. He was one of the few drummers I could listen to play by himself and be totally entertained. Bobbie has played drums for everyone from Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot and his own band Rondinelli.

So there you have it a look into my brushes with fame, more like collisions.

This leads us somewhat to the present. By nothing less than a miracle did I find myself meeting two of the most genuine down to earth people on the face of the planet.
I had decided to be an Acoustic Act and was quite content with doing a solo original act when the long Arm of the Lord stepped in and said my Son its time to Rock.

Into my life walk Keith DeMarrero AKA KEITH STEEL on Drums and Carlos Torres on bass and South Central Freefall was born.

The Future looks good!!!

 

Favorite Bands:

The Beatles, Cream, Lead Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Allman Brothers, Pearl Jam, Mad Season, Velvet Revolver just to name a few. Did I happen to mention Foghat!!!

 

Favorite Musicians / People:

John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Roy Buchanan, Bob Marley, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, John Kennedy and anyone else who was able to be and think for themselves.

 

Jammed, Played with or Opened for:

Llama, Colt, Dave Mason, Billy Preston, Leslie West, Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Full Hand, Malo, Foghat, South Central Freefall and a billon other musicians. (Just to name a few)