A LETTER FROM GARY... 4/2006
before I go one more second
I wanted to thank ...all my faithfull band mates and family over the span of my musical history
starting with a "Blue grass band" called "We Are All Brothers" my brothers Michael and Peter and Joel!!
(Mike was manager of "Shane Champagne band" 1976-77)
Peter (who played lead gutiar) and Mike (who played spoons) and Joel (who played fiddle and banjo) were also part of my first band called "We Are All Brothers"
1970 and forever will be a part of my musical backbone
I began playing acoustic guitar with David Alcott (Champagne)
in 1970 and kept playing with him for many years to come
we actually played for 'booking agents' at the PLAZA Hotel in NYC
and various campsites across the appalachian mountains
first band after that was called the " Bags Reward" and the "the Amazing Tales"
with Lou Milgrom on lead guitar and Mike Bear on bass and Dean Mueller on keyboards
until replaced on bass was Magregor Magee we were a lousy cover band with pretty matching outfits!
1975-76 was the beginning of SCB "Shane Champagne Band"
David Champagne lead guitar and Chip "Dundee" Highfield Staffel on Bass with Jimmy Williams being the first drummer and then Billy Wells on drums before Ricky "Rocket" Rothchild who was the final
drummer before he died then Wilson Brown was last drummer
(oh John Riley was drummer briefly too 1978ish)
this is when I put together a band I called "Alan Laddd and the Abashed"
based aound a slew of country songs I had written and it featured Brian Hallisey on keyboards and Piano with 'Zippy' on lead guitar and Juan Defuco on bass with Gary Herald on drums
then "the Detour" with Ronno Erickson on lead guitar and Colin Bodge on Bass with Carl Bergman
on drums began the "Detour' 1980-83 and we recorded at "Sanctuary recording studio"
in Chelmesford MA with Ed Buckingham
and the multitude of fine musicians graced me with their
services 1980-1985 including Skip Smith on Bass and Steve Selib on lead guitar
then Rick Moisan joined us on Keyboards whom also made up the 'three peice' ensemble
first with Billy Wells on drums and then John Grady on drums and then Mike Duke and also
Kent Pearson on lead guitar and finally Russ Corvey made up the arsenal of fine guitarists
til we disbanded in 1985
breifly "Everybodies Neil" was formed with Greg Jacobson on bass and lead guitar
with Dick Summers on rythym guitar and fiddle with Joe Hanley on lead guitar and mandolin
with Billy Wells and Gary Barbati on drums
and then EJ Ouelette on guiitar and studio productions ("Ad Lab studios" now "Pine Island studios") with Billy Wells again and Carl Bergman
on drums with David Henderson on Bass and Brian Hallisey on Keyboards made up the 'new' Detour
after 1986 which is around the time my MS became a problem
which slowed me down a bit
1985 brought me into the studio with "Jimmy Miller" from the "Rolling Stones", "TRAFFIC" and "Blind Faith" fame to produce with Steve "Wah" Kerans on lead guitar with Dave Henderson bass and Brian Hallisey keyboards and Carl Bergman on drums at "Sanctuary recording studio" which changed its name to "Mission Control" when the "New Kids on the Block"
the 90's brought a new ensemble with Stanley Chew on lead guitar and Ray Hemor on bass
and also drummer was TIM SWEENEY and SKIP GALLANT on Hammond B3 and we were called the "Gary Shane Band" with the "MALDENS" (who were from Everett) and we recorded at "Sunset Ridge Studio" with Chris Biggi who was my back bone for my recording sessions and moral support
and my greatest friend before his untimely death 2001
I also formed the "Silvertones" with Gary Barbati on the drums and Brice Buchanon and David Champagne and David Sherman on lead guitar and Mark Aleo on the bass and Will Hunt on the saxaphone and flute and Chris Elliott on trumpet we did one CD called
"Saddle Up"
at the same time I put a band together called the "Free Radicals" which had Eric Kolosey on lead guitar and Fred "Red" Miller on keyboards and piano and Steve Dow on drums and Tom Daley on bass
we recorded "Love is the Liquor" reggae style which was a hit and made into a Cd single
and we rehearsed at " Rocks village" recording studio
I had a band briefly called the "Felonious Monks" with Andy Levesque on keyboards and harmonica and Tom Torrey on drums
and Mark Aleo on bass and guitar
and then "the Magnificent Bastards" with Mark Aleo on Bass and Mandolin and Will Hunt on Flute
and Gary Barbati on drums
ahhh... the 90's brought the internet and Andy Levesque and Rick Moisan who made my web site WWW.GARYSHANE.COM which has brought me visibility internationally
thanks Andy! and Rick! -- and graphics ace Johnny V, whose posters have played a big part in promoting my live shows for a long, long time
special thanks to Billy Wells who has produced and played drums on "Sun Rises Always" and "Long Road" and recorded at his house in West Newbury and has been a close friend over the years and multiple band mate from "Shane Champagne Band" to "The Detour"
over the years I have been so blessed to play with so many greats!
plus Martin Stevens and Allan Rotberg who were managers and also Bruce Houghton
Pretty Poly booking agents
not sure I mentioned everyone but if I missed anyone I am sorry
but surely I was thinking of you
I also want to thank some female background vocalists too!
Kyle Knipe and also Cindy Murphy and Lynne Taylor and Meg Ryan
truly I have been so richly blessed with all these fine musical compadres
words can barely express my gratitude
--gary
