Missionaria Protectiva

      Brian Auger is a keyboardist originally from the U.K. who now makes his home in Venice California. As a child growing up in Shepherds Bush England, Brian became fascinated with the family player piano. He would mimic the mechanical instrument and follow it along on different octaves. Brian also enjoyed the benefits of being 14 years younger than his brother and constantly listened to his jazz record collection. As he approached his teen years, he started to play at parties and began to develop his piano chops. After hearing a Jimmy Smith record at a local record shop, Brian went to an organ dealer and ordered a Hammond. This led to more gigs and Brian soon became a sought after musician. One group that he was asked to join was "Stream Packet", which featured Long John Baldry and a young Rod Stewart. After that group took its course, Brian formed the Trinity with Julie Driscoll and Vic Briggs on guitar. (who would eventually join the Animals) It was with this group,

     Considered to be one of the best studio musicians of the '70s,Herbie Flowers' resume is both vast and iconic.By the end of the decade,the bassist would play on an estimated 500 hit recordings,including a feature in Jeff Wayne's musical version of the War Of The Worlds.While splitting his time with being a noted member of Blue Mink,T-Rex and Sky,Flowers contributed to Cat Stevens,David Bowie and Elton John recordings,though his most memorable line may be from Lou Reed's 'Walk On The Wild Side'. LOU REED Transformer  ( RCA,1972) https://www.sendspace.com/file/2810xm

     If Merciful Fate,the band that made King Diamond metal icon,is partially credited with the creation of black metal by the tone and symbology of their records and shows,Andy LaRocque finally matched them with sound.Blending shred,prog,neoclassical and metal playing together wasn't new even in his time,but bending them towards a sustained,developing mood was,and was one of the first signs that showed metal,especially extreme metal,was an artistic space that something to say. KING DIAMOND Them Roadrunner,1988 https://www.sendspace.com/file/2wkn1t

     The vast majority of pop hits over the years have been made with the help of session musicians,most of whom are able to read on sight,learn the key changes in an instant and record the song in a matter of minutes (usually).In the '60s and the '70s,the Wrecking Crew,a California based session band,was the predominant group to call up when a studio needed to sew up a hit.Their drummer,Hal Blaine,can be heard on 38 No.1 singles,and played on sessions for dozen of other ubiquitous tunes.His biggest contribution to pop music,however,is the beat from the Ronettes 'Be My Baby',which has been borrowed pretty liberally by everyone from Springsteen to the Jesus And Mary Chain. Drums!Drums!A Go-Go RCA,1965 https://www.sendspace.com/file/m9104d

     The band Chicago has always boasted multiple singer/songwriters - that's one reason they've been able to generate so many memorable hits during their career.But the man most responsible for the songs that put the group on the map is keyboardist/vocalist Robert Lamm,who wrote such classics as 'Beginnings','Saturday In The Park' and 'Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?'.      Brooklyn-born Lamm relocated in Chicago as a teen,where he studied classical music while also playing in bands.'By the time Chicago formed,i was a total Beatles kid',he recalls,'Before that,i'd played electric piano in R&B bands'.These influences were front-and-center on Chicago's early albums,which included ambitious programmatic suites,R&B flavored vocalizing and hard-driving rockers like Lamm's own '25 or 6 to 4'.      But the band's style changed,as did musical fashion.After 10 or so albums,Chicago veered away from i