TRENT STROH'S BIO
Trent Stroh began his music career at 10 when he heard John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin play the bass for the first time. "I knew what I wanted to do immediately", said Trent. Trent participated in various music programs during his school years and eventually landed at the Dick Grove School of Music after high school. Trent then began playing in various local bands in and around Los Angeles. One of Trent's first major gigs was with Tom Neely's guitar mentor John Mizenko. Trent and Mizenko entertained Angeleno's in the group Mizery, a blend of power trio fusion blues hard rock.
Eventually Trent landed a gig with Eddie Money participating in 7 years worth of world tours. In between dates with Eddie Money, Trent has also played for Robert Palmer, Classic Rock staple America, Wayne Kramer of MC5 fame and many other major recording artists and producers, earning a reputation as one the most sought after bass player/vocalists in Los Angeles. Stroh also offers his services as a mentor to many up and coming bass players.
Trent's Recording credits include Eddie Money “Ready Eddie” (CMC International), Gilby Clarke , The Boneshakers “Book of Spells”, “Shake the Planet” (Point Blank / Virgin), Stan Bush “Language of the Heart”, Viveka Davis “Music, Peace and Harmony”, Michael Kline and the Gypsies “Seeing the Circle”, J. D. Martin “One Heart”, Chris Laterzo “American River”, Nancy Sinatra, Wayne Kramer, Patrick Simmons (Doobie Brothers), Kirk Hellie.
Producer recording credits include Gilby Clarke, Curt Cuomo (KISS), Charlie Midnight (James Brown), Joe Cocker, Monty Byrom (Eddie Money), Denny Weston (Hilary Duff), Jaime Houston “High School Musical”, Hank Linderman (America, Timothy B. Schmidt), Eddie Money, Nancy Sinatra, America, Air Supply, Wayne Kramer (MC5), Frank Sinatra Jr., Robert Palmer, The Boneshakers, Susan Gibson (writer “Wide Open Spaces”), Clem Burke (Blondie), Tom Brechtline (Chick Corea, Robin Ford), Danny Harvey “King of Rockabilly guitar”.
Television music credits include “Rosie O’Donnell Show”(NBC), “Tony Danza Show”(ABC), “Jonathan Ross Show”(BBC), “Magic Johnson Show”, Carl’s Jr. National Commercial Ad Campaign.
Trent brings strong lead and backup vocals ability to every act he performs in which makes him quite the catch for any touring or recording band. Trent is also playing dates with Nancy Sinatra, Wayne Kramer and Kelly Fitzgerald on various international dates and is excited at the prospect of also fronting Bridge of Sighs. Trent brings huge chops and experience to Bridge of Sighs.
MIKE TAYLOR'S BIO
Michael Taylor was born in 1971 into a family of working musicians in Indianapolis. Mike began playing the drums at age 3. Taylor states. " I was groomed for the drums through family, I had no choice in the matter"
Taylor heard the call to play drums professionally after hearing Rush's 2112 at age 7. At that point he knew what he wanted to do. Some of his drumming influences besides Neal Peart are Stewart Copeland, Steve Jordan, Elvin Jones, John Bonham, early Billy Cobham and the late great Tony Williams.
His musical taste ranges from Miles Davis to Megadeth. Taylor moved to Charlottesville Va. in 1994 to pursue various projects and sessions most notedly playing with the soul metal act "Egypt" and the "Baaba Seth Band" a Carribean influenced act. Taylor returned to college at Ball State in Muncie Indiana in 1999 and played with several local bands of fame. Taylor heard the call of Los Angeles and moved there in 2003. Taylor made quick in roads in the industry and has recorded and performed with several major artists including Eric Sardinas, Armand Sabal-Lecco (formerly of the Paul Simon band and David Lee Roth) & performed live with Robin McCauley of M.S.G. Taylor recently picked up an endorsement by Soultone cymbals and exclusively plays their cymbals.
TOM NEELY'S BIO
Tom Neely began his musical journey in 1978 taking up the acoustic guitar. After being frustrated by such a cumbersome instrument he switched to the Alto Saxophone. Neely played in every musical program he could during his school years and soon was in Marching Band and Jazz bands in High School. By the early 80's Tom had already started to pick up the guitar again but in 1983 formed a 14 piece contemporary Jazz group with his schoolmates, playing lead alto sax. In 1984 Tom graduated High School and proceeded to advance his knowledge of the guitar, Neely's main influences were Jimmy Page, Angus Young & Robin Trower.
In 1986 Tom was searching for a private guitar coach to take him to the next level of playing. Neely says "I knew what I was looking for but could not find the right guy. Every teacher I ran across sucked. I needed a guy with real talent and someone who knew how to teach an asshole like me. I knew what real musicians were like from being around developing Pros in High School, but most of the teachers out there were faking it and I could tell even though I was new to it all." Tom eventually found his guitar mentor to study under, John Mizenko. Mizenko was key in developing Tom's melodic soloing skills and knowledge of music theory.
During this time Neely had proceeded to successfully pursue various business ventures in Professional Motorsports as a Driver and Car Engineer. In 1989 Neely and Bass Player Reese Ortiz from "Working Class" joined world renowned art rocker Todd Jaeger and formed the Band, "Nevermind". Playing to sold out shows "Nevermind" delivered awesome mind bending shows deeply rooted in Early Queen, and early Bowie influences.
Neely stayed with the Band until it was renamed Marizane as it remains today but left in '92 after recording demos with Bowie's Tony Visconte in New York to form a power trio with Ortiz named "Shot Glass Therapy". Neely was also in demand playing on many recordings performing solos and consulting on various demos for local acts in LA.
Neely took some needed time off from playing live and focused on his various business ventures and further developed his musical writing skills. In 2002 Neely formed the very first Robin Trower Revival Band "Robin's Trowser's", later to be re-named Bridge of Sighs. Bridge of Sighs was fortunate enough to have Trower's very own Bill Lordan in the band for 1 year. During that period Neely was also awarded 2004's Los Angeles Rock Guitarist of the Year award. Neely, who also owns the independent record label Roxbury Records also works with many up and coming young musicians in the LA area, and is also heavily involved in John Mizenko’s "Join the Band" music program. An organization that teaches beginning musical students, kids and adults, the art of playing live. Neely has also produced shows for concerts at some of LA’s finest venues including the Kodak and Henry Fonda theatres.
BOB CARPENTER'S BIO
Multiple Grammy and CMA Award winner Bob Carpenter has almost never met a genre of music he didn't enjoy playing. From his R&B and Rock roots in Philadelphia, through his ten year stay in the Country and Bluegrass music world of Colorado, to his current work in Los Angeles, he has written for, produced, sung and played on over 50 record albums with a wide range of musicians whose styles include everything from Rock to Smooth Jazz to Folk Music.
As a long time member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, he has toured the world and earned 15 Gold and Platinum Records.
His studio credits include vocal and keyboard sessions with Johnny Cash, Bruce Hornsby, Willie Nelson, Roger McGuinn, Allison Krauss, Vince Gill, John Hiatt, Chet Atkins, Earl Scruggs and Steve Vai to name just a few.
Bob's songs have received numerous ASCAP writing awards, been recorded by artists as diverse as John Denver, Three Dog Night and Kenny Rogers and garnered top ten spots on both the Pop and Country Charts.
His new release "The Sun, The Moon and The Stars" is his first CD of totally acoustic piano and vocal compositions. With a guest appearance by executive producer Steve Vai, the album is a departure from any of Bob's previous work. The piano and vocals were recorded spontaneously in their entirety in two, two-hour sessions. This introspective musical odyssey is intended to transport the listener from the living room, next to the Steinway, to far away places of fantasy and reflection.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Bob survived his first accordion lesson at the age of four but didn’t continue his musical education until he joined his high school choir, which won the national championship in his senior year.
He started his first garage band, “The Soular System”, while in college studying Civil Engineering at Drexel University as a way to get into the mixers and frat parties.
A year after college, Bob quit his day job as a highway designer for a firm building I-95 and starting playing the South Jersey summer circuit with his new band “Fat Rabbit” at the infamous “Dunes ‘til Dawn” and “Tony Marts” (early haunt of the Levon and the Hawks-soon to be renamed The Band).
Relocating to Los Angeles in 1970, he joined the band “SIX” and had the unique experience of touring for the next year with the band’s producer Sly, and his Family Stone. Highlights of the touring with Sly included a riot at Cobo Arena in Detroit, run-ins with various police in Texas and a nodding out experience on stage in front of 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden by one of the more “relaxed” band members.
The San Fernando Valley earthquake of ’71, a break in at his house and three band mates and their girlfriends sleeping on his floor was the obvious signal for Bob to leave L.A. for Colorado.
After working on a farm for six months in Paonia Colorado, Bob decided against sewing deerskin clothing and making babies during the long hard winter. Instead he moved over to Aspen to continue playing music. His gigs there included a short stint on the road with The Drifters in Las Vegas, a year playing with local rock heroes “Black Pearl” and finally two studio albums on RCA and Columbia Records with his band “Starwood” in 1975-76. Starwood’s manager was Bill McEuen who also managed The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, new residents of Aspen. They had also relocated from Long Beach California after the ’71 quake. At his urging, Bob started to record and tour occasionally with the Dirts in 1975. After Starwood’s demise in 1977, Bob toured and recorded one album with the L.A. band “Player” then joined the Dirt Band full time in 1980.
His contributions on Dirt recordings include co-writing chart hits “Make A Little Magic”, “Fire In The Sky”, “Baby’s Got A Hold On Me” and singing the number one song “Stand A Little Rain”.
Bob currently lives in Los Angeles where he does session work, writes, plays bad golf, enjoys his family and travels to the airport at five in the morning to go on tour with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
NEILCITRON'S BIO
If you've seen the films "That Thing You Do" or "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," listened to rock-guitar virtuoso Steve Vai, heard recent recordings by the legendary Yardbirds, Quiet Riot, Joe Satriani or appreciated the talents of internationally renowned drummers Greg Bissonette, Virgil Donati or Mike Mangini, then you may already be familiar with the wealth of musical projects Neil Citron has worked on. Whether producing, engineering, recording, mixing, editing or playing guitar, Citron brings the highest professional standard to every project he works on.
For "That Thing You Do," Tom Hanks relied on Citron's extensive knowledge of the guitar to teach the actors the subtleties needed for absolute realism in this performance film. Citron was on the set for all filming to advise Hanks on flawless execution of the guitar- and bass-playing, and it was Citron who instructed the actors on their instruments prior to filming. "None of this would have been possible if it weren't for you," Hanks told Citron upon viewing the final cut.
When Steve Vai decided to record his concerts while touring the world, he enlisted Citron's talents to build a portable recording rig. Vai also brought Citron on the road to record the performances, and had him master all of the recordings afterward. For the last six years, Citron has worked closely on every aspect of Vai's recorded projects, from equipment selection and miking to mixing and mastering.
Citron has also written songs for several films, including "Scream Until You Like It" for "Ghoulies 2 "Dino de Laurentiis and "Trick or Treat" for Michael S. Murphy's production of the same name (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure fame). With producer/song writer Paul Sabu, Citron has written more than 50 songs for Chrysalis publishing, and Citron now continues his prolific composing career.
In 2002, Citron released a solo album of guitar instrumentals, "Absolute," with the Favored Nations record company, and he is currently finishing a second such album for the label. In 2000 Citron released his first instrumental CD for Avalon records and toured to support it as well. As a guitar player, Citron has worked on many recordings of artists from all over the world. On these projects, Citron performed on acoustic and electric guitars, as well as providing background vocals when needed.
Dedicated to anything he pursues, Citron holds a sixth-degree black belt in several Korean martial arts -- tae kwon-do, hapkido and sib pal gi (Korean kung fu) -- as well as a third-degree black belt in tang soo do, in which he trained with actor Chuck Norris. Over the years, Citron has himself trained many students to attain their black belts. In his rigorous, disciplined practice, Citron has mastered patience, perseverance and commitment to nothing less than doing the best job possible -- always to full, professional completion.
Whatever hat he's wearing, be it producer, studio/live-concert/mastering engineer, performer, composer, arranger, Pro Tools consultant or sound editor, Citron brings an extraordinary number of expert skills to the table -- not the least of which are his well-developed "people" skills. Keeping a cool head under deadline pressure, Neil Citron delivers his projects on time. Every time.
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