LET THE MUSIC PLAY
to the Fire Engine, and I saw a “Live Music” sign. I mentioned my musical background to the manager and gave him my card. He blew me off but called me two days later after a last-minute cancellation from another band. He was in a pinch and could not find any entertainment. He asked if I could play that night. I said yes and performed there with a small combo. They loved us! He asked me if we could play there every week. That’s when it all started. It was only three of us then, but my life forever changed. That was 2001.” His first gig as a band leader was at a now-closed restaurant called Sea Grill. “It was a great place for small bands. Wonderful food and great atmosphere and patrons. I met another restaurant owner at Sea Grill the following week. The owner hired us on a weekly basis, at a place called Nine Fish. I loved Nine Fish, a five-star Asian Fusion. They treated me like family and was a regular there for about four years.” THE BAND Since 2001, the band has grown in number of members. The band con- sists of a rhythm section comprised of drums, bass guitar, lead guitar, key- boards, three female vocalists, a five horns section (Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet 1, Trumpet 2, and Bari Sax), and Whiteman on Male Vocals/Guitar/ Keyboards. The band comprises numerous professional occupations: a teacher, a music educator, full-time musicians, a pastor, a banker, a mechanic, a legal assistant, a hospital administrator, a clerical worker, shift laborer, and another firefighter.
“I HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT INTERESTS THEN, I DIDN’T REALIZE HOW MUCH MUSIC AFFECTED ME UNTIL LATER IN LIFE ...”
The band rehearses as needed and utilizes Universal Rehearsal, a local warehouse with studios for bands to rehearse. Whiteman typically sched- ules rehearsals for various reasons, such as incorporating new band mem- bers or covering new material. For Whiteman, his band mates must be high-character people first and good musicianship second. Whiteman on band dynamics, “I must have people I can rely on and enjoy sharing a stage. People with integrity and outstanding work ethic. If all those are missing, I’ll eliminate the player. I’ve taken a lesser
musician and made the band better. I also love having people from different cultures, demographics, and backgrounds. It opens my mind to how other cultures think. It’s all about Chemistry for us. Everything the band does is live, and everyone has an important role. It’s vital to me that this band keeps the ‘live’ in ‘Live Music.’ It’s a rarity these days, especially in party bands. For this to work, the members must really want to be a part of this. Any second-guessing on another band member’s interest is a red flag for me.
58 THE JOURNAL ♦ WINTER 2023-2024
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