Guitarist Rusty Cooley received his first guitar on his 15th birthday and never looked back. Unsatisfied with local Instructors, Rusty began teaching himself through Doug Mark’s Metal Method and various other instructional books and video’s. During High School he took music theory classes and also attended the National Guitar Workshop. Rusty performed solo guitar in high school talent shows. He performed such pieces as Van Halen’s “Eruption” and Randy Rhoads “Revelation Mother Earth” solo. During his senior year he was offered his first teaching job at the same store that just three years earlier, he had bought his first guitar.
Some of Rusty’s early influences included: Rhoads, Malmsteen, Becker, Gilbert, Holdsworth, Paganini, Bach, Vai, Gambale, Moore, MacAlpine, Taffolla, Friedman, Howe, Kotzen, Firkins, and Housholder. He was also influenced by many styles including: Jazz, Classical, Funk, Blues and even Country if you can believe that. There where times when Rusty was pulled in so many different directions by music, he didn’t know if he wanted to be a Classical Conductor or a Jazz guitarist.
After graduating High School, Rusty continued studying Music Theory at the local college, as well as Music History and Class Piano. In 1989, Rusty joined local rock band Revolution. Revolution wrote, performed and recorded all original music. They became one of Houston’s top drawing bands. Revolution opened for national acts like Badlands, Nitro, Every Mothers Nightmare, and South Gang. In 1992, Revolution released a four-song EP. Revolution’s music was once described as Skid Row meets Yngwie Malmsteen. Revolution made two appearances on a local TV show called “Metallurgy” and “Metallurgy Unplugged”. Rusty also taught guitar on a college TV show called “Stay Tuned”. In 1993, Rusty quit the band due to musical differences and started a new band Dominion. Dominion wrote and performed locally as well but was short lived and broke up in 1995. Also during 1995 Rusty entered and won the “Guitar Master Series” winning the title of “Best Guitarist” in Houston.
1996 marked the beginning of a new direction. Rusty bought his first 7-string guitar and decided it was time to go for it on his own. Rusty went back to the woodshed and started working on his guitar playing intensely pushing himself to new levels. Along with this came a whole new list of influences that fueled the fire….Shawn Lane, Derek Taylor, Buckethead, Todd Duane, Scott Stine and Haji’s Kitchen. It was during this period that Rusty began to work on instrumental guitar compositions. These songs represented his desire to record an over-the-top guitar instrumental release featuring state of the art chops and strong melodic content. Rusty was also selected as a runner up in the AIM "Jason Becker Scholarship Search." Rusty hosted three episodes of a local cable show called "World Class Guitar Techniques," which aired in the Houston area. Rusty taught for the National Guitar Summer Workshop in 96, 97, 98 at the Austin and Connecticut Campuses ...
Junior Brown: "A lot of people tell me they don't like country music, but they like what I am doing," says Junior Brown. "I hear that line more than anything else," which is ironic because a couple of licks is all it takes to erase any doubts concerning Junior's stylistic allegiance. His music combines the soul of country and the spirit of rock n' roll.
In Junior's case, playing everywhere from the Grand Ole Opry to rock showcases on the West Coast and his hometown of Austin, Texas, *crossover* is not synonymous with watered-down or light-weight. He says of his ever-growing legion of converts:
Just about the time they label me as some old time honkytonk singer, I throw something new in there that surprises them. And then they'll appreciate the traditional styles of country music too. Do something to wow them without ruining the roots of country and they end up accepting the music that they would have been prejudiced against.
Following years as Austin's best-kept secret, then a few more as the town's one must-see act for visiting musicians and label heads, Junior Brown and his music have since found an audience far beyond the Lone Star border. Junior's first two albums (12 Shades of Brown and Guit With It) have helped establish him as a crowd favorite from Texas roadhouses to the hippest clubs of New York City and Europe ...
John Stowell began his successful career with guitar lessons in his native Connecticut from guitarist Linc Chamberlind, and from John Mehegan, pianist and respected jazz educator at the Julliard School of Music and Yale University. Several years later he met noted bassist David Friesen in NYC and launched a critically acclaimed touring (Itinerary) and recording association that lasted 7 years, included 6 albums, (Discography) and performances in Europe, Canada, USA and Australia ...
Doyle Dykes is a guitar legend in the making. Although influenced by a wide variety of musical styles and musicians from the country of Chet Atkins to the rock and roll of Duane Eddy and the Beatles, Doyle has developed a distinct, recognizable sound that amazes audiences with skill while capturing hearts with sincerity and soul.
Doyle’s appreciation for various styles of music is reflected in his albums as they include signature compositions like “Jazz in the Box” and “Martha’s Kitchen” and hymns like the powerful “How Great Thou Art.” Gitarre 2000 was released by BMG on Windham Hill Records, and Doyle’s music has appeared on several of the label’s compilation albums like Here, There, and Everywhere (a tribute to the Beatles). In addition, Doyle’s music has been heard on United Airlines, Air Canada, NPR’s Morning News and All Things Considered, Disney’s California Adventure, and even the Space Shuttle Atlantis in September, 2000 ...
Andrea Samengo is a talented musician. Versatile guitarist, arranger and producer.You can listen to Andrea in Jeton latest album Crazy Leader,Adam-Saul Bloch Writing Home and any of Esaurito Productions production.
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Guitarist/Vocalist Joe Giglio has led his own trio for many years performing in Jazz clubs, concerts and on radio and television. His first CD “Inside Out” has recently been released on Zinnia Records receiving excellent reviews. A prolific composer, Joe Giglio has written many Jazz compositions, Pop and R&B songs. He is currently working on a series of “Jazz Etudes” which will be the source material for a book on “Jazz Improvisation”, and a series of “solo transcriptions” for “Jazz Guitar”. He has appeared with “Jazz Greats” Houston Person, Jack Wilkins, Howard Alden, Vic Juris, Carmen Leggio, Ralph Lalama, Yoron Israel, John Purcell, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Puma, Eddie Bert, Ted Brown, Frank Vignola, Harvie Swartz, Bill Crow, Lynn Christie, Gerry Hemingway, and with “Pop Legend” Bobby Rydell, “Broadway Star” Melba Joyce, and “Jazz Divas” Judy Niemack and Carla White, among others.
Giglio is a member of the Jazz Faculty at the Music Conservatory of Westchester; and the adjunct faculties of Purchase, Mercy, and Concordia Colleges; has been a guest lecturer on Jazz Improvisation at New York University; and has an MFA in Jazz Performance from Purchase College. Giglio was recently invited to join the faculty of www.visionmusic.com, and was their “Featured Teacher” in April 2001.
He has studied with “Jazz Legends” Sal Mosca, Jack Wilkins, and Jimmy Heath, as well as “Classical Guitar Master” David Tanenbaum. He is endorsed by Takamine Guitars, WD Music Products, Polytone Amplifiers, Raezer’s Edge Speaker Cabinets, LaBella Strings and Alessandro Amplifiers ...