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* Your musical inspirations? Reid Jamieson's voice and engaging performances have been melting a lot of hearts lately. Cheaper than therapy and always entertaining, he's been channeling his own version of Elvis since he was a youth. Silver-throated with excellent chops, his vintage flavour and strong song writing abilities seem to belie his actual age. Much like his inspirations (Willie Nelson, Nick Lowe, Neil Finn & The Beatles), his appeal spans generations and genres, allowing him to work with a variety of diverse artists. Reid's former pop-rock band Alvy played around the Toronto music scene gathering a devoted audience and respect from peers, their first release No Assembly Required was produced by Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics. Reid's first independent solo album, Cowlick Bravado, released in November 2001, was produced, performed and written entirely by Jamieson. This charming nine song CD showcased a mixture of pop, folk, old country and rock and was most certainly a labour of love. In October 2003 Reid released The Noise In My Chest, a sparse solo acoustic EP, at the launch of the new Maple Lounge upstairs at the Rivoli Pool Hall. Although just an appetizer to the new album, much critical praise followed this simple offering, including four stars from Toronto's Eye Magazine. Now Reid finds himself ready to take the full blown beauty of The Unavoidable Truth as far as he can, performing solo or with a compliment of talented friends. A cross-country and UK tour are in the works, so please stay tuned for more from this tender troubadour. On a personal note: Now 6'2" with eyes of blue, Reid was born much smaller in Toronto, Ontario in 1973. Raised in Brampton with his younger brother Davis, he lost his mother to cancer in his early teens when she was only 35. He turned obsessively to his guitar for comfort and escape, preferring old fashioned standards to the music that surrounded him in the eighties. Growing up his dad often sang and played country tunes for him on an old spanish guitar that Reid still owns, to this day no family gathering is complete without a good sing-a-long. Reid credits his supportive father and being surrounded by creative peers as his inspiration to make music with his life, as well as a childhood love of super heroes that made him think he could do anything if he only tried hard enough. And he does try. A stickler for authenticity, he designed his first CD by hand, recorded, printed and packaged it all by his lonesome. Working for some years in the music section at Chapters, he is the embodiment of the independent musician, often stocking and ringing in purchases of his own CD, as well as promoting quality independent Canadian music by booking talent for in-store performances. Reid is an active member of his local music community, performing at benefits and song circles whenever possible. A strong believer in positive thinking and balanced living, Reid regularly writes little reminders to himself into his songs. He's a peace loving vegetarian who hasn't had a television for over two years now, and spends much of his time cooking and reading inspirational self help books. For the record: He makes an excellent dinner guest. Reid lives with his lady partner and lots of plants in lovely downtown Toronto, Canada. Do drop us a line, or come visit the web site, and don't forget to breath. |
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*How has music inspired me? |
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* How has music inspired you? |
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Your musical inspirations? I have very many and I’m always finding new ones but the very first were Gene Vincent, The Ventures, The Shadows and The Everly Brothers. * Any CD's or songs which are meaningful to you? The “Silver Pistol” album by the Brinsley Schwarz group, of which I was a member back in the seventies, was the first time I had written and recorded with a group of musicians who were playing what they truly felt and believed. *How has music inspired you? It has helped me live my life doing what I have wanted to do, which is be involved in creating and performing music, and not having to be told by anyone else what to do! *Discuss your new CD/or current projects My most recent album is called “Rock ‘N’ Roll Heart” which I recording with a lot of great musicians in Nashville, check out http://www.iangomm.com/. I am currently working on a CD of previously un-released tracks of mine over the last 25 years provisionally called “Sorry For The Slight Delay”. Born in downtown Chiswick Ian Gomm grew up in London and cut his teeth on The Ventures, The Everly Brothers and The Beatles. The young Gomm followed a 5-year apprenticeship in mechanical and electronic engineering with EMI.Ltd. at Hayes in London where The Beatles first records were manufactured. He sang and played lead/rhythm guitar in semi-pro groups in his spare time through the late sixties. Always leading three-piece line-ups he performed around the West London R&B circuit in clubs and pubs, as were Alexis Korner and the embryonic Rolling Stones, his band supporting new groups such as The Who, Pink Floyd and The Move. Gomm concentrated hard on his guitar playing and was eventually described as quote: "Best rhythm guitarist in Britain." (NME 1971).
When they finally split up in 1975 Ian moved with his wife Karen and family to Mid-Wales, UK. He built a recording studio and concentrated on his own song writing career and learned how to engineer and produce records. He recorded The Stranglers, Alexis Korner, Peter Hammill and Amon Duul as well as his own solo song demos. His fellow band member Nick Lowe preferred the hustle of London however, and after his involvement with the newly formed Stiff record label went on to form Rockpile with Dave Edmunds and Little Village with Ry Cooder. Recently having a huge success with his song 'What's So Funny About Peace Love And Understanding' sung by Curtis Stigers, which was featured in the film 'The Body Guard', and was originally recorded with Ian's musical arrangement by the Brinsleys. Having amassed a large catalogue of his own songs Ian was signed by the newly formed independent Albion record label based in London. His first solo album titled ‘Summer Holiday’ was released in the UK in 1978 and used superb musicians like Herbie Flowers (bass), Barry De Sousa (drums) and Raf Ravenscroft (saxophone) of 'Baker Street' fame. In 1979 the same album now called 'Gomm with the Wind' was released on Stiff/Epic Records in North America. A single from the album 'Hold On' took off on college radio and eventually climbed to number 12 in the U.S. Hot 100. For over 5 months he toured and played all the top venues in the U.S. attracting audiences of 20,000 or more. Firstly supporting Dire Straits on their 'Sultans Of Swing' tour, then quickly followed by his own sell out U.S. solo tour. Chart topping country star Glen Campbell covered Ian's song 'Hooked On Love' from this album. Nick Lowe also had his biggest hit around the same time reaching the U.S. and U.K. top ten with 'Cruel to be Kind' a song he co-wrote with Ian when they were in the Brinsleys. A year later saw the world-wide release of Ian's second album 'What a Blow' which was once again produced by the legendary Martin Rushent whose other credits had by then included Shirley Bassey, The Stranglers, The Buzzcocks and The Human League. The subtly titled Ian Gomm Band embarked on a succession of European tours topping the bill at many major events. U.K. recognition however still eluded him and in 1982 his third album, 'The Village Voice' was released. Phil Everly of Everly Brothers fame covered Ian's song 'Louise' from this album and promptly scored his first solo hit. Ian’s continuing popularity in Holland led to the Dutch release of his self-produced fourth album 'What Makes A Man A Man?' in 1986. This was recorded in Ian’s own home studio with additional studio re-mixing in Holland. It proved to be so successful that it was then released throughout Europe this time re-titled ‘Images’.
Ian was back at Mountain Sound Studio in Mid- Wales last Summer 2000 laying down 12 new backing tracks for his latest album "Rock 'N' Roll Heart". Two Nashville musicians, Jeff 'Stick' Davis, ‘The Amazing Rhythm Aces' bass player, and Pat McInerney, drummer with 'The Blue Moon Orchestra', Nanci Griffith's band, both flew over from the States especially for the project. Ian then flew back to Nashville, Tennessee in November 2000 where the rest of the album was recorded and mixed. Russell Smith, The Amazing Rhythm Aces singer and Nanci Griffith are both featured singing with Ian whilst Clive Gregson who used to be in Any Trouble and The Richard Thompson Band for many years and who now lives in Nashville plays most of the electric guitar and keyboards. The other musicians featured are top Nashville session players like Ronnie McCoury, James Hooker (Nanci's MD), Joey Misculin, Michael Snow, Brook Langton, Chas Williams and Michael Webb. Ian’s girl backing singers were "The Chiclets" (Cathryn Craig and LeAnn Etheridge). Jack Clement’s studio in Nashville was mostly used for the project. Cowboy Jack’s is the place where Johnny Cash did a lot of his recording in the past. The engineer in charge of recording and mixing was David "Fergie" Ferguson who has worked with the ‘man in black’ for many years, and who only recently finished the recording and engineering of Johnny's latest album "Cash". August 2002 saw Ian's first chart topping song writing success when 'Cruel To Be Kind' was this time covered by Spanish teen idol Naím Thomas and was number one in the Spanish singles charts. The single was taken from Naím's album "No Tengo Prisa" which was also number one in the Spanish album charts. To date Ian Gomm has recorded 10 solo albums and 12 solo singles. He has also recently branched out into the lucrative British football club record market using a number of cunning pseudonyms and notching up tracks on twelve different football supporters club c.d.’s including the Scottish World Cup Anthems (also featuring Rod Stewart) and the latest Manchester United supporters club CD where he appears as Red Deville! |
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