SPECIAL: AMPS
June 15 2007
VOLUME 24 NO.6

THE MAGAZINE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AND SOUND PRODUCT MERCHANDISERS

 

   
 

VIDEO WEBCAST
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-Guitar Hero is all the rage for consumers.

-Need to take a break from searching for the latest gear during The NAMM Show? Here are some celebrity appearances and parties to check out.

-Attendance increased at Music China and Prolight + Sound, and Kenny G made a big splash.

-Improving next month's NAMM Show is like making the 1972 Miami Dolphins better. But NAMM is certainly not resting on its laurels.

-We reveal all of the manufacturer nominees for Music & Sound Awards to be handed out next month at The NAMM Show.

-Counterfeiting on MI products, particularly guitars, may have received minimal national press, but the problem is real and not going away.

-Find out how to sell products your customers are probably not looking to buy.

-M&SR features its second annual independent retailer roundtable. What's on dealer's mind's this year. Are things better than last year?

-Females playing musical instruments now outnumber males, according to a NAMM/Gallup survey.

-Industry leaders paved the way for the next 10 years.

-The Latest, Industry, Dealers, People and Product Buzz and Showcases.
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-Dan Vedda shares every thought not appearing in his monthly column right here.
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COLUMNS
-Robert Gault, president of Eminence Speaker, knows a massive amount about China and the pro audio industry. Enough said.

-To say Kurt Ballou, Converge's guitarist, doesn't treat guitars well is like saying the New England Patriots are a decent football team. Ballou had to find a guitar to take a pounding. Here's why he chose First Act's Sheena.

-The amazing story of how Gear Source Music reopened days after a flood took it apart. Spy ventured to the Pacific Northwest to the great city of Seattle. Five minutes with a great wealth of knowledge in the percussion industry, Remo Belli.

CURTAIN CALL
-John Flansburgh, They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh is a big fan of several independent dealers as well as a host of manufacturers.
-Matt Rubano, the bass player for the red-hot band Taking Back Sunday. Even better, he likes to shop for MI gear.
-Paul English, Willie Nelson has had four wives in 40 years, but only one drummer in that same time frame.
-John 5, When your name is a number, you must be cool. John 5, who played with Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, says idolizing Eddie Van Halen was a big mistake. How is that possible?
-Luke Pritchard
may be “all together Kook-y,” but he has cool memories from the days he visited retail stores.
-Eddie Ojeda; Lead guitarist for Twisted Sister.
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Will Lee; Getting that gig isn’t easy and took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.
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Imogen Heap writes songs, plays piano and the nail violin,Does she plan to design her own instrument?
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MUSIC & SOUND AWARDS
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INFORMATION
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DJ TIMES / DJ EXPO
-DJ Times Online
-Int'l DJ Expo 2007
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CLUB SYSTEMS INT'L
-Club Systems Int'l Online
-Club World Awards 2007.
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CURTAIN CALL
Will Lee
[June 2007 - Page 1]

A number of music industry giants refer to Will Lee as simply the best bass player in the world. He can be seen every night of the week on national television playing bass with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra on “Late Show with David Letterman.” While that is indeed a coveted gig, Will’s “off air” credits are even more impressive. He has toured with B.J.Thomas, Horace Silver, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, The Brecker Brothers, and Herbie Mann, and his discography of over 400 titles includes recordings by David Sanborn, Boz Scaggs, Diane Schuur, Tom Scott, Neil Sedaka, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, Phoebe Snow, Ronnie Spector, The Spinners, Spyro Gyra, Ringo Starr, Steely Dan, Cat Stevens, and Barbra Streisand—and those are just some of the “S’s”!

I first met Will in 1994 at the legendary Bitter End in New York City’s Greenwich Village. I played guitar in the band that he had come to see. We chatted briefly following the set, which was truly an exciting occasion for me. Not only did I think he was one of the coolest guys on TV, but his career resembled my own hopes and dreams in the music industry. I was both humbled and honored to have a few moments with this terrifically accomplished musician. We met again three years later when I played the “Letterman Show” with Hanson, and this time we exchanged phone numbers. The following year, he invited me to his lower Manhattan apartment to write a song together. “Sunflower in the Shade” was the result of that Friday session in May of 1998, and we recorded it the following year on my CD, “Beyond the Blur.” In addition to our common musical interests, we both have an affinity for French women. Whenever schedules permit, we get together socially along with our French wives. Recently, we found a little time to “talk shop.”

Ravi: Why did you choose the bass?
Lee: It was one of those deals where we were 12 years old with a band that consisted of two guitars and drums—I played drums. We wanted a fuller sound, but in 1965, 12 year olds were not yet ready for the concept of bass. The Beatles had made a huge impact on the sales of drums and guitars, but bass was a young instrument. Kids were bashing on stuff to emulate drums and grabbing tennis rackets pretending they were guitars, but most people were not doing “air bass” yet. So, I thought “let’s get another drummer and I’ll switch to bass.” What was I thinking?

Ravi: What was your first bass?
Lee: I had my heart set on beautiful white Fender Precision that was in the music store window in Coral Gables, Fla. I let my dad know just before Christmas exactly what I was hoping for. On Christmas morning there was a bass there, but it was a no-name brown one that was so ugly. I was shocked. Working gigs and errands for a couple of months allowed me to buy my dream bass for myself—a greater feeling than just receiving it. I guess I showed dad who could take care of business (or he showed me how good it felt earning that bass).

Ravi: You are the “first call” bass player for many producers and hugely successful artists. How did you earn that respect? What is your work ethic and what pivotal points in your career contributed to your reputation?
Lee: I care about the music, and I have a feel for it. I am a huge fan of pop, country, rock, soul, and other types of music. So, I basically want records to sound as good as my favorites. Pivotal points have been listening to great records and having friends get me work by hiring or recommending me. One huge break came when I was in college in Florida in 1971. A guy named Gary Campbell came down to guest lecture at school and he and I ended up jamming. He went back to New York City and told the Brecker brothers about me, and suggested they audition me for their band Dreams. It just happened that I was a huge fan of their music, so when I got to New York, I was ready.

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