25 years of cranking out music and visual art throughout Chicago and Southern California. I believe that music communicates on a level we may never fully understand or have words to describe and that my experiences as a musician allow me to go places with my visual art that I couldn't arrive at otherwise.
Music continually expands my world, mind and spirit.
To make and be a part of music that breaks new ground.
Myself.
It's a toss-up between the Mr.Roger's Neighborhood theme music and the Pinball Number Count tracks that the Pointer Sisters did for Sesame Street. No kidding. I was born in '74 and heard those tunes as a kid and never forgot them. Check them out on Youtube if you aren't familiar with them, both are really sophisticated and well arranged tunes.
I'm a pretty knowledgeable fan of Jazz and Orchestral music as well as Metal, Soul, Funk Hip-hop, Rock and Country music...basically, my favorite artists and bands are the people and groups who did and those who currently produce the most progressive and unique work in their genres.
The feeling of connecting with ideas that there aren't words for and getting to do and share that with other people.
Pursue the unusual.
Unleashed.
The reality is that musicians nowadays have an unprecedented ability to access a broad audience as well as the ability to record and distribute their music and incredible access to information, lessons, tips, and how-to guides. What needs improving is people's attitudes towards music and its value beyond commercial interests. Unfortunately, I'm talking about both audiences and musicians alike.
I think if everybody on the administrative side of things holds up the values that the site claims then this is going to be a great place to contribute to.
The corporate greed that drives the music industry.
Being a part of my local scene it's impossible not to support it. I pay to attend shows frequently and I spread the word about good artists and bands.
Talent for one thing and a good working knowledge of how to use web services.
I'll start with my own band Second Dimension and I'd love for more people to know about a group called The Elvi. Both of us are out of the Chicago area and have been around for a couple of decades now. Another artist who is super-influential among the musical elite but not enough everyday musicians know of is Babatunde Olatunji. If you don't know his work, then check him out...you'll feel cooler and smarter for it.