Excerpt from Francine Reed's bio-
In 1985, friends introduced Reed to Lyle Lovett, who was searching for a female singer for his new band. Lovett was still a struggling, virtually unknown performer when they began their association, but as his star rose, Reed became an integral part of his show. Reed began touring with Lovett and his Large Band as a background vocalist, and also often performed duets with the country musician. She was featured with Lovett on several albums, and appeared with him on television shows such as “Late Night with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show,” and "Regis and Kathy Lee.”
In the mid 1990s, she decided to pursue a solo career and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Here she recorded her debut solo album, “I Want You to Love Me,” which featured a duet with Lyle Lovett. Her follow-up, “Can’t Make It On My Own,” featured a duet with Delbert McClinton. The success of these early works resulted in nominations for the prestigious W.C. Handy Award. (Blues Song of the Year and Soul/Blues-Female Artist of the Year - 1997)
Reed continued to release solo albums and went on to collaborate with other great performers. She performed on Willie Nelson's acclaimed album Milk Cow Blues (2000), lending her soulful voice to the title track as well as to the song "Funny How Time Slips Away." She has also contributed vocals to the recordings of Delbert McClinton and Roy Orbison.
www.francinereed.net/
Excerpt from Jez's Bio-
In 95 I began accompanying the amazing vocalist Francine Reed who is well known for her work with Lyle Lovett.-97-97 -The Trio with Ramon Pooser, Mike Hinton, and myself played 4 nights a week at The Martini Club and recorded the CD Thursday which received national airplay.-99-I joined Del Baroni's On The Air and 8 piece band specializing in Sinatra. Del and I also work as a Duo.-99/00-Played and recorded with Rita Graham(no relation) who was used to sing with Ray Charles and Harry James.-2000/01- Jez Graham and The Combination released 2 CD's and appeared at The Atlanta Jazz Festival.-02/03 The new Trio with Bill Hatcher and Joel Morris released the CD Monday and played Mondays at Sambuca for a couple years.-04-Jan.08 I was Pianist/Music Director at Unity/Rockdale.-04 I recorded my first CD tribute to the music of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.-In 05 I began collaborating a collaboration with poet/lyricist Stephen Kalinich.-Our CD "You Can Soar" was released in summer 06. We celebrated the release with a concert at Unity North Church with some of Atlanta's finest musicians. performed my Jazz Tribute to Brian Wilson in Concert for The Gainsville Arts Council.-06 Played at Harrah's in North Carolina with The Shirelles/The Dixie Cups. and The Angels.-O7 found me re-releasing my cd's and introducing them into the digital download universe as well as continuing my gigs around Atlanta and the southeast with Del Baroni and Francine Reed as well as reconnecting and playing with many old friends and colleagues. I gave a concert called Jez Loves You Jazz tribute to Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys at Churchill Grounds.-I was honored to participate in the GSU Jazz Piano Summit.-Played on sessions for several nationally released Cd's.-08- Began serving as music director at Sacred Tapestry Church where I am playing a Jazz service along with my son Bill.-Began collaborating with original Beach Boy David Marks on live and recording projects. Composed and/or performed pieces for television including music for the season finale of VH1 reality show Fantasia For Real. Played on several projects slated for release in 2011 including 2 cd's by David Marks and Stephen Kalinich.
Excerpt from Stephen's Bio-
Stephen John Kalinich was born in Endicott, New York, America. He is a poet who has also collaborated with many musicians, including P F Sloan, Art Munson,Kenny Hirsch,Randy Crawford, MaStephen John Kalinichry Wilson of the The Supreme's, Odyssey, Clifton Davis and Diana Ross. He wrote several songs for The Beach Boys including "Be Still", "Little Bird" and A Time to live in dreams on the Hawthorne, CA: Birthplace Of A Musical Legacy with Dennis Wilson, and most recently two songs on Brian's Getting' In Over My Head album, one of which - 'A Friend Like You" - featured vocals from Paul McCartney. Brian also re-recorded their 1974 collaboration 'California Feeling' a 2002 classics compilation. Stephen also worked on with Brian Wilson in 1969 on a project that finally saw the light of day some 40 years later: A World of Peace Must Come Must Come is a classic late 60's album of poems with musical backing by Brian.
Excerpt from David's Bio-
In 2005, at the request of the Wilson family, David Marks was included on the State of California Historical Landmark. This statue features the same iconic image shot on the beach in 1962 of the Pendleton clad boys, literally and forever cementing David’s place in the history of the Beach Boys.
The following summer, all 5 surviving Beach Boys, including David Marks, gathered on the rooftop at Capitol Records to receive recognition for 2 million sales of their compilation, Sounds of Summer. In 2008 David toured the UK as a special guest with the touring Beach Boys, as well as appearing in many shows throughout the Northeast.
The last few years have also seen the reissues of David Marks & the Marksmen, (The Ultimate Collector’s Edition 1963-1965), as well as reissues of both albums by The Moon and Colours on the UK based Cherry Red Records, and a new CD of originals titled I Think About You Often.
David is currently residing in New York, where he continues to write and record new music. He is currently finishing a collection of songs co-written with Beach Boys lyricist Stephen Kalinich titled The Circle Continues and is set to release a live CD called Summertime Blues Live both due for Spring ’11 releases.
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