 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||
 |
 |
 | |||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| :: Biography :: |
|
I was born in Dallas, Texas, on the 22nd of December 1972.
I learned to play the keyboard at the age of eight. I grew up with an ever changing environment. However, my love for making music has always been a consistent force in my life.
I drew my musical influences from bands like Genesis, Howard Jones, and Information Society.
In the mid nineties I played Friday nights at church in front of a small crowd, on a synthesizer. This was quite contrary to the usual couple of guys strumming guitars or singing to backup tapes.
In my twenties, I worked outside the music industry. Nonetheless, I would stay up late at night writing and recording my own compositions. With the turn of the millennium I found myself performing with other musicians and bands. One of these bands included a Dallas based cover rock group called 'Group Therapy'. After a few years, I decided to leave the band to develop my original compositions. In 2001 I released my first album 'Calibrate'. It was my first real attempt at producing a project completely solo.
I have invested the last few years into writing and recording. In October 2006 I finished 'Big Deal', a collection of electronic songs planned for an official CD release in 2009. My first solo gig was on May 27th 2007 at the Curtain Club in Dallas along with 7 other bands. Jerrymarkhammusic.com came online on the same weekend.
In the later half of 2008, I completed the soundtrack for author Adie Bishop's book called 'Rock A Bye'. This EP was released on March 12, 2009 via iTunes and available on disc in May 2009.
The first months of 2009 have been very hectic. A new album is being recorded and live dates are being planned. Keep an eye out for newsletters and blogs throughout the year for more details.
| 2010 | Internet release - Retro Live 11th January 2010 |
| 2009 | Toured 'Retro Live' one man show |
| www.jerrymarkhammusic.com re-launch | |
| June - 'Big Deal' album released | |
March - 'Rock A Bye' EP released |
|
| 2008 | Working on an EP of music to accompany Adie Bishop's Book 'Rock-a-bye' |
| 2007 | www.jerrymarkhammusic.com launched |
| May - Played Live One man show at Curtain Club - 'Battle of the Bands' | |
| 'Underground to Camden Town' featured in UK 'future Music Magazine | |
| 2006 | www.myspace.com/jerrymarkhammusic is set up |
| Finished recording ‘Big Deal’ | |
| Remixed various songs from ‘Big Deal’ | |
| ‘Big Deal’ is made available as a free download for a limited time in the Autumn | |
| 2005 | Continues recording albums |
| Began co-hosting the SOS podcast | |
| 2004 | Adds more gear to arsenal |
| Summer – writes almost 20 new songs in just under two weeks | |
| Plays Frisco Freedom Festival – Frisco, TX 4th of July | |
| Begins recording ‘Big Deal’ and ‘Stage Fright’ albums | |
| 2003 | Purchase of tons of gear for studio and live performance |
| March – Joins the Dallas based cover band Group Therapy as keyboard player and backing vocalist | |
| Summer – works on dance mixes and sequences for a solo live act | |
| Jerry’s grandfather and music mentor dies of cancer and urges him to carry on the music tradition in the family | |
| September – Departs from the band Group Therapy to concentrate on solo efforts | |
| The name Joël is dropped. Jerry decides to use his actual name to avoid complications later on |
|
| 2002 | Release of the second Howard Jones tribute CD -- Is There A Difference ( by Jerry alone) |
| Begins to write new material | |
| Practices and records with Progressive Rock influenced musicians | |
| One off recordings of improvisations collectively known as the -2002 album is created for a few fans and friends | |
| 2001 | First independent album is released called - Calibrate |
| A relevantly small fan base grows throughout the year | |
| 2000 | Acquires an online presence |
| Records a demo called the-edit.01 to promote a future album release to fans on the internet | |
| 1999 | Purchases a full production keyboard and begins revamping old material to give it a very professional sound |
| 1998 | Conceives and releases a Howard Jones fan tribute CD ‘Step Into These Shoes’ with the aid of his brother and Howard Jones fans |
| With the help of a few people on the internet, Jerry and his brother officially create the record label the-edit Records | |
| 1997 | Due to financial troubles Jerry is forced to sell much of his recording equipment |
| Compiles hours of music together to complete an amateur anthology | |
| Plays a New Years Eve party | |
| Jerry’s brother introduces him to digital recording and editing | |
| 1996 | Goes into Broadway Recording Studio to record another demo called Access |
| 1995 | Purchase of first ‘real’ synthesizer and sampler |
| Performs live on Friday nights at Metro Church Garland’s ‘Fire By Night’ | |
| Records various musicians in his living room | |
| Forms a church band called Accordance that only last a few months | |
| 1994 | Purchase of first sequencer, mixer and MIDI drum pad controller |
| Adopts the name Joël and decides to work on solo material | |
| Plays New Wave music live at O’Reiley’s Dallas, TX to a handful of Hank Williams Jr. fans | |
| 1993-4 | plays in various garage bands but it leads nowhere |
| 1992 | Purchases first professional drum machine and 4 track cassette recorder |
| Learns multi-track recording and continues to write | |
| Writes first demo tape and names it Instant Bliss | |
| 1991 | Performs 2 songs in Rockwall High School talent show including a piano solo |
| Asked to join a heavy metal band called Bashin’ Passion but their keyboard player decides not to leave the band | |
| 1990 | Begins writing songs |
| Shows off in new school choir and is shunned ******* | |
| 1989 | Joins All Regional Choir and performs live throughout Dallas and wins many competitions |
| Receives first programmable keyboard | |
| 1988 | Influenced by electronic music |
| Begins to learn the piano | |
| Steals a sampling keyboard from a neighbour | |
| Starts writing poems and lyrics | |
| 1987 | Introduced to remixes |
| Learns to read music | |
| 1986 | Purchases Howard Jones albums and begins to learn to play by ear |
| Receives second electronic keyboard for Christmas | |
| 1985 | Heavily influenced by New Wave Synthesizer bands |
| Learns of Keyboard Legend Howard Jones | |
| 1984 | Learns the recorder and more choir |
| Learns to play his brothers electronic keyboard | |
| Plays vibraphone at Collin Creek Mall Plano, TX to Christmas shoppers with choir | |
| Receives first electronic keyboard for birthday | |
| 1983 | Influenced by Michael Jackson’s Thriller album |
| 1982 | Introduction to public school choir |
| 1980 | Gets Magnus Chord Organ |
| Writes first piece of music | |
| 1977 | First Musical Instrument |
| First Cassette Recorder | |