Welcome to the music portion of Toys-n-Cars.com
This page contains info on my 2 CD releases and if you scroll down, you can actually hear the songs!
The page also contains info on the radio stations around the world that have played the CD's and you can even find reviews of the music.
It also contains info on the book I'm writing entitled The Chicago Music Scene: 1960s and 1970s.
If that's not enough, you can scroll down even further and check out my entire 40 year long music career through a myriad of mostly embarrassing pictures.
Well, it looks like this is going to be the cover of the upcoming book. Look for a November 9th release date.
And then comes.....The Concert!
The CD's (or albums, as I like to call them):
The second album is officially finished after 6 long months of blood, sweat and fun! I am now taking orders and can ship immediately. Price is $15 postpaid or $25 for the two.
And we accept credit cards
Check, money order, credit card or Paypal to:
Dean Milano
362 Highland Ave.
Elmhurst, Il. 60126
The titles of the albums:
Songs About Stuff
Vestiges: More Songs About More Stuff
Or how about this? For an extra $5 ($20 postpaid) you can custom make your own album. Go through the more than 30 songs on this page and choose which ones you'd like on your album. Pick as many or as few as you like, as long as it doesn't total more than 80 minutes worth of music.
You'll get the standard album case which will list the titles for SONGS ABOUT STUFF, but your disc will contain the songs you personally chose.
It's been a year since the first CD was released and every single song has been played multiple times on the radio, so I guess that's a good sign. I guess somebody likes it.
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(If you thought my first CD had little or no commercial potential......this one's got even less!)
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Hey, I actually set up a My Space page! If you have a mild interest in knowing where I'll be performing, all my upcoming gigs are listed there. Check it out if you get a chance:
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Songs About Stuff
1. Flashes of Brilliance 3:13
Dean
Milano: Vocal
and electric bass
Inspiration:
John Nash
Lyric Tweakers: Pat Cannon and Greg Trafidlo
2. Take the Blue Highway 3:17
Dean
Milano:
Vocals, guitar and upright bass
Greg
Trafidlo:
Guitar and vocals
Greg
Cahill: Banjo
Peter
Seman: Fiddle
Inspiration: William Least Heat Moon
"Now THAT'S a good song!" - Paul Craft Nashville songwriter and publisher
Because the album is now finished and for sale, the following songs are only sample versions instead of full cuts. Click on the song title for the sample play:
3. Forever Children, Children Forever 3:15
Dean
Milano:
Vocals, guitar, percussion and electric bass
Julianne
Macarus:
Violins
Inspiration: The War Du Jour
This song actually peaked at #171 on Neil Young's Living With War Today website. Probably doesn't sound like much, but that was out of over 2,500 songs.
4. Livin' the Good Life 3:17
Dean
Milano:
vocals, guitar and accordion
Inspiration:
My family
5. Just Another Whiney Song 3:16
Dean
Milano:
Vocals, guitar and electric bass
Dennis
Gordon: Piano
and vocal
Dave Kovnat: Drums
Patrick
Cannon: Additional
lyrics
Inspiration:
The world in general
6. Jim and the Big Bruiser 3:51
Dean
Milano: Vocal
and upright bass
Dennis Gordon: Mandolin
Inspiration:
Jerry Farrow
7. The New Politico Cha-Cha 3:17
Dean
Milano:
Vocals, guitar and electric bass
Dave
Kovnat: Drums
and percussion
Amberlee Haynes: Vocals
Inspiration:
The evening news
8. Time Machine 3:46
Dean
Milano: Vocal,
guitar and upright bass
Greg
Trafidlo:
Guitar and mandolin
Julie
Macarus:
Violin and viola
Inspiration:
"....very beautiful. Lovely, lovely, lovely." Michael Smith Singer/songwriter/recording artist
9.Good Ol' Boys from Mars 5:07
Dean
Milano: Vocal,
guitar and electric bass
Dave
Kovnat: Drums
and percussion
Inspiration:
Everyone I don’t agree with
10. You're in the Middle of Nowhere 4:20
Dean
Milano:
Vocals, guitar and electric bass
Scott
Braam: Guitar
Dennis
Gordon: Guitar
and mandolin
Amberlee
Haynes: Vocals
Inspiration:
A couple of misplaced Chicagoans
11. Panama City 2:40
Dean
Milano:
Vocals, guitar, percussion and electric bass
Inspiration:
12. Catalog Doll 5:03
Dean
Milano: Vocal,
guitar, upright bass, and percussion
Peter
Seman:
Harmonica
Inspiration:
A gal from
13. Beer Cans and Beanie Babies 3:31
Dean
Milano:
Vocals, guitar, and electric bass
Greg
Cahill: Banjo
Dave
Kovnat: Drums
Inspiration:
All the would-be millionaires who got stuck with the wrong stuff
14. A Song For Heroes 3:05
Dean
Milano:
Vocals, guitar, percussion and electric bass
Inspiration:
All those who have inspired me
15. Storm is Comin' 3:55
Dean
Milano:
Vocals, guitar, drums and electric bass
Julie
Macarus:
Violin and viola
Dennis
Gordon: Guitar
Amberlee Haynes: Vocal
Inspiration:
The almighty ‘Sing Along’
16. Where Did the Music Go? 2:24
Dean Milano: Vocal and upright bass
Don Stiernberg: Guitar
Inspiration: The sad state of affairs today
All songs produced by Dean Milano with Dennis Gordon
All songs copyright 2006, except Panama City 1985
Recording engineer: Scott Braam
Radio Airplay:
The Midnight Special (Local and National) WFMT- Illinois 19 times Rich's Pick 3/10, 6/2 and 6/9/2007
Detours WYSO- Ohio 18 times
Wyn's Country & Gospel Radio 88.3 & 107fm. New Zealand 11 times
Fox's Minstrel Show WRFG Georgia 11 times
Click Your Heels Together KFOK California 10 times Cited as one of 3 top songwriters of 2008.
FAB-AM England 9 times
Folk Festival WDCB Illinois 9 times Also as guest on show twice
Regina's Mighty Shores CJTR Sask, Canada 7 times
Hillbilly Rockhouse EVW Germany 6 times
Alooga Boom Alooga Media Germany 6 times
Tony's World of Folk/The Celtic Connection CFBX BC, Canada 5 times
Town & Country Radio Show 783 AM New Zealand 4 times
Transitions Radio Magazine KABC FM New Mexico 3 times
Country Cross Roads CGC Radio England 3 times
Eyebee's Thing North American Broadcasting South Carolina 3 times
The Folk Show WNUR Illinois 3 times Also as guest on show
Roadtunes Sessions KCSB California Twice
Rompin & Stompin Show KVMR California Twice
Sunday Night Folk Festival WHUS Connecticut Twice
Nashville Showcase Radio Sotra Norway Twice
Country favorites 2NUR FM Australia Twice
Worldwide Independent Country Radio Australia Twice
Local Anesthetic Capsule WXRT .....Illinois Twice
Folk and World Music WBGU Ohio Twice
Hootenanny Power WRKF Louisiana
General Eclectic WCVF New York
Charlotte Indie Radio 365.com North Carolina CD is in regular rotation
Sunny Breeze Show Radio Minsk Belarus
Saloon BRTO Radio The Netherlands
UIS Stereo Universidad Industrial de Santander Colombia
Radio Unerhört Marburg Germany
Soundwave FM New Zealand
Radio Seagull KJLU Missouri
Jazz Radio FM Poland
Isles FM Scotland
West Gippsland Community Radio Australia
Radio 0162 Netherlands
RPS FM France
Archangel's Music Corner ECMA Radio Austria
Radio Terre Franche Belgium
Oz Radio Triple H-FM Australia
Country Club Productions Australia
The Country Music Club Radio Ham Belgium
The Country Channel Hot Spot Radio Network USA
Rolf's Pladdekaddong Radio RheinWelle 92.5 Germany
Boot Scootin' Country WICR/Shoutcast Netherlands
Jazz 88 WAER New York
Virus Americana MdM Radio 101.1 France
Afternoon Country WICR Australia
Murat Kasap Show Radyo SDU Turkey
Aimar Ventsel Estonian Radio Estonia
Country Club KIAK Alaska
Herb Bell KRRM Oregon
Yarra Valley FM 99.1 Australia
Darryl Lanyon 101FM Australia
Zulu Kangaroo Indie Radio CD is in regular rotation
Acoustic Revival WWSP Wisconsin
Country Club RPEM-FM Spain
Radio Ermel Veluwe FM Netherlands
Folk Show WRUW-FM Ohio
Backroads & Blue Highways WVTF Virginia
Ballads & Bamjos WJFF New York
Reviews:
Dean
Milanos musical sensibilities, humor and craftsmanship are a breath of life to
the singer-songwriter world. For years, his chops have been the backbone of some
of Chicago's premier bands. Songs About Stuff is his turn to show us his
insightful writing, quirky humor, and tasty arranging that have made him the
"go to" guy for decades.
Just listen to Dean's killer songs from "Time Machine" to "Beer
Cans and Beanie Babies," and you know you're in the presence of a solid
song maker in control of his art.
Songs About Stuff is ear candy. Bet you can't listen to it just once!
Greg Trafidlo- President- Kira Records and song scribe
Songs About Stuff is full of delightful surprises
Eddie O'Strange- Town & Country Radio Show, New Zealand
Gerd Stassen - Hillbilly Rockhouse radio show- Berlin, Germany
Dean Milano represents an entire cross-section of the independent singer/songwriter community, whether he knows it or not. It's a profile shared by thousands, as Milano writes musical songs, with musical arrangements, about topics that used to be important to music. The lyric's the thing. Milano weaves tales in a melodic but conversational folk style that penetrates and creates friends just through his clear and relative content. I thoroughly enjoyed listening.
Don Kimenker - Founder of EarBuzz.com
Elmhurst singer-songwriter Dean Milano has been part of The New Seekers and opened for Cab Calloway, but it seems his biggest achievement is his latest CD, Songs About Stuff, which manages to be tuneful, intelligent, sometimes humorous, and well-executed from beginning to end. Milano’s songs are streetwise and smart, a welcome addition to anyone’s collection of troubadours. “Flashes Of Brilliance” is a great song, but any choice here is a winner.
Mike O’Cull - Illinois Entertainer magazine
Norman Whitman- Detours Radio Show, WYSO Ohio
I really enjoyed Songs About Stuff. Milano is a very good writer, a good singer and bass player.
Steve Hashimoto- News From the Trenches
Have been loving your songs. It's a CD which I know I will enjoy for many years!
Nic Culverwell- Manager, The New Seekers and the Bee Gees
There are lots of good songs on your CD... It's hard to decide what to play next...
Roman and Brenda- Regina's Mighty Shores Radio Show, Canada
We have played (Songs About Stuff) and think that it is well worth having tracks from the CD included in our playlists. The character of the music style presented gives this CD a unique feel, with an individual personality presented inside it's contents. Great work, and we sure look forward to hearing from you in the future
Graham Barclay- Soundwave FM, New Zealand
A superb album and one which deserves all the airplay it can get.
Peggy MacNeil - Isles FM, Scotland
Songs about Stuff really caught my attention. I liked the album already from the fresh looks of it and when I played it, it sounded great!! Just keep on going with what you're doing.
Paul van Kuik -Radio 0162, Netherlands
It's an excellent album, ........ A very personal style, music of high quality and a perfect voice make for some very great performances on this CD. It's very pleasant to listen to these songs. Thank you for this great CD
Etienne Berthels -Radio Terre Franche, Belgium
What a great sound you have, I have played several of your tracks to date and plan to schedule more in future programs. Keep up the good work and please keep me up to date with your progress
Michael Criddle - Folk Music radio DJ, Australia
Dean’s music is brilliant! On “Songs About Stuff” (Kira) he sings about declining moral values, the futility and immorality of war, man’s inhumanity to man and love. And he does this in a variety of moods and styles ranging from the bluegrass “Take The Blue Highway” to the emotional “Catalogue Doll” and in-between there is a lot of humour with “Just Another Whiney Song” and “The New Politico Cha Cha”. It is an album that never bores, always delivers something new with each listen and should be mandatory radio play.
Pete Smith- The Advertiser magazine- Great Britain
Everyone loves the understated Dean Milano - musically and otherwise.
Bill's Blues- Chicago nightclub
Thank you, Dean, for the good music. . I will surely air more tracks on upcoming shows
Lilli Kuzma- WDCB Radio
......from "Flashes of Brilliance" to "Where Did All The Music Go?" you can tell the experience from 35 years of song writing. An extraordinary album.
Christian Lamitschka - Editor of Country Home, Germany's Premiere Country Music Magazine
The best STUFF I've heard in a long time. Great beat and musical backing with lyrics that have "meat" to them. Songs often are written about nothing, but Dean Milano writes about real STUFF from his mind and his heart. I drop a song in from his album every show, just to brighten up the program.
Darryl Lanyon - 101FM Australia
Well, the second album is finished and is available on CD Baby. The title is VESTIGES: More Songs About More Stuff. The following 15 songs are from the new CD.
All songs produced by Dean Milano
All songs copyright 2008,(Recording engineer: Scott Braam), except Deep in the Muddy, You Can Be My Pal, You've Been on My Mind So Long, and One Night Woman- copyright 1985 (Recording Engineer: Dennis Gordon)
VESTIGES REVIEWS
Putting emotionally-charged stories to rock music can be tricky, but singer-songwriter Dean Milano does it quite effectively on Vestiges: More Songs About More Stuff. Even “The Scam,” a surprisingly sympathetic portrait of a foreign-based Internet swindler, comes off without a hint of melodrama. Milano is even better on the politically charged “One Golden Moment” and the rollicking ghost story “Rock ‘N’ Roll Detour.” His folksy voice also helps keep Vestiges consistently entertaining.
Terrence Flamm - Illinois Entertainer magazine
Vestiges: More Songs About More Stuff is a wonderful journey through diverse songs that will keep you entertained with every turn in musical style, and will leave you fulfilled at each destination portrayed in Dean's clever lyrics. (DJ's Tops Picks for 2008 and voted 1 of the 3 Top Songwriters for 2008)
Mara Noelle- Click Your Heels Together KFOK Radio, California
One Golden Moment 3:23
Dean Milano: Vocals, guitar and electric bass
Scott Braam: Guitar
Dave Kovnat: Drums
Paul Heinz: Keyboards
Jordi Kleiner: Violin
Inspiration: Why We Fight- a film by Eugene Jarecki
Life is Like a Plastic Model Kit 2:42
Dean Milano: Vocal, guitar and upright bass
Dennis Gordon: mandolin
Inspiration: My 40 year long passion/obssession with plastic model kits.
My Heart is Breaking 2:29
Dean Milano: Vocals, guitar, accordion, electric bass and percussion
Inspiration: All the great Irish ballads
"Oh my, that is such a pretty song!" - Hazel Dickens, First Lady of bluegrass music.
Ballad of Willie and the Bluegrass Kid 4:18
Dean Milano: Vocals, guitar and electric bass
Dennis
Gordon: Guitar
Dave Kovnat: Drums
Paul Heinz: Keyboards
Inspiration: Carterville, Illinois- Summer of 1973
Sacrificial Lambs 2:38
Dean Milano: Vocals, guitar, electric bass and upright bass
Dennis Gordon: Guitar
Inspiration: Those who would exchange their sanity for their art
Rock 'n Roll Detour 4:01
Dean Milano: Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars and electric bass
Scott Braam: Guitar
Dave Kovnat: Drums
Julie Macarus: Farrah Fawcett vocal
Inspiration: Just day dreaming
Up Wisconsin Way 4:07
Dean Milano: Vocals, guitar and upright bass
Paul Heinz: Keyboards
Inspiration: Home, sweet home
The Scam 3:40
Dean Milano: Vocal and guitar, electric bass
Julie Macarus: Violin
Dave Kovnat: Clock
Inspiration: The World Wide Web
Louisiana Road Trip 2:40
Dean Milano: Vocal, accordion, percussion, electric bass and guitar
Russ Ward: Drums
Jordi Kleiner: Fiddle
Inspiration: A 1972 road trip in a VW Beetle
Google My Number 3:57
Dean Milano: Vocal, guitar and electric bass
Russ Ward: Drums and vocal
Paul Heinz: Keyboards
Jordi Kleiner: Fiddle
Inspiration: A series of unfortunate events
Just Hold On 2:12
Dean Milano: Vocals and guitar
Scott Braam: guitar
Inspiration: A friend of mine who really should have slowed down
All songs produced by Dean Milano
All songs copyright 2008
Recording engineer: Scott Braam
1972
Dean
Milano: Vocals
and bass
Dennis
Gordon: Lead
and rhythm guitars, piano
Ted
Kendros: Drums
Inspiration:
1982
Dean
Milano: Vocals
and bass
Jan
Lewis: Vocals
Dennis
Gordon: Lead
and rhythm guitars
Ted
Kendros: Drums
Inspiration:
The ones that got away
You've Been On My Mind So Long (It's Givin' Me a Headache)
1972
Dean
Milano: Vocals
and bass
Dennis
Gordon: Lead
and rhythm guitars
Ted
Kendros: Drums
Inspiration:
An
ex-girlfriend
1973
Dean
Milano: Vocals
and bass
Dennis
Gordon: Lead
and rhythm guitars
John
Cruz: Drums
Inspiration:
A wonderful one night stand
All songs produced by Dean Milano and Dennis Gordon
All songs copyright 1985
Recording engineer: Dennis Gordon
Well, here I go again. My CD, Vestiges is finished, but I'm back to writing and recording new songs. Here are five scratch for songs I'm working on:
And Then We Move On 5:25
Dean
Milano: Vocals,
guitar, accordion
and upright bass
Inspiration: The truth about life.
Somethin' I Was Thinkin' About 4:15
Dean
Milano: Vocals,
guitar,
and electric bass
Inspiration: More of my ranting
Margie's Car 3:55
Dean
Milano: Vocal,
guitar,
and bass
Scott Braam: Guitars
Inspiration: A lady I knew and no, I don't know what became of her
My Real Grandpa 2:23
Dean
Milano: Vocals,
guitar,
and upright bass
Scott Braam: Guitars
Inspiration: Alfred Christenelli
Musical Chairs 4:20
Dean Milano: Vocals, guitar and bass
Inspiration: My own musical oasis
Keepers of the Highway 3:52
Dean Milano: Vocal, guitars and bass
Inspiration: Driving down the road
The Folksingers Dream 1:18
Dean Milano: Vocal and guitar
Inspiration: My own nightmare
The following song is an outtake from the Vestiges CD:
I'm Proud to Be Ignorant 3:38
Dean Milano: Vocals, guitar and electric bass
Scott Braam: Guitar
Dave Kovnat: Drums
Inspiration: Three guesses......
(Advertisement)
AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR:
This is an actual commercial that I wrote for CableNet TV back in the early 1980s.
It's performed by myself with the New Seekers
The next few songs are from my early days of writing, some of them going back over 30 years.
1977
Dean
Milano: Vocal
and bass
Rick
Shryock: Vocal and viola
Jean
Gordon: Vocal
and rhythm guitar
Julie
Macarus: Vocal and violin
Inspiration:
The disco
years
I Just Might Be In Love With You
1984
Dean
Milano: Vocal
and bass
Dennis
Gordon: Lead
and rhythm guitars, synthesizer
Ted
Kendros: Drums
Cathy
Schenkelberg:
Vocals
Inspiration:
Yet another one that got away
1994
Dean
Milano: Vocal
and bass
Robert
Maller: Lead
guitar
Don
Casper: Piano
Sharon
Arnold: Vocal and rhythm guitar
Mike
Miller: drums
Inspiration:
The one that doesn’t exist
A Brief History of Popular Music by Dean Milano
Prior to the 1920s, the greatest music being written was primarily Classical in nature.
From the mid 1920s to the mid 1930s, a form of music called "jazz" stood the world on it's ear.
From the mid-1930s to the mid 1940s, big band music dominated the scene and new forms of country and western music rose in popularity.
From the mid 1940s to the mid 1950s, smaller jazz and pop combos came into their own.
From the mid 1950s to the mid 1960s, Rock and Roll was born and music would never be the same again.
From the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s, there was an explosion of psychedelic and experimental music, the likes of which had never been heard and probably never will again. Rock and Roll, Country and Western, Show Tunes, Folk songs, Jazz, and ethnic tunes could all be heard on popular Top 40 radio stations across the country.
From the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s- mostly crap.
From the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s- mostly crap.
From the mid 1990s to 2005- mostly crap.
Then in 2006, my album SONGS ABOUT STUFF was released and the progress of popular music was set back 100 years. Hope you enjoy it.
2008- My second CD- Vestiges: More Songs About More Stuff is released. Now we're really in trouble.
OK- As long as I'm doing a music page, I may as well post all the obnoxious pictures of my long and winding career, so here goes........
(P.S. I was also in quite a few bands that aren't pictured here, but that's because- I don't have any pictures of them!)
The earliest picture I have of myself with a band. This would've been July,
1966. I'm the only guy in a dark shirt- a rebel right from the start. I
was a "bass-less" lead singer on this gig. (Brad Stiles, myself,
Larry Capps, the late Mac King and Billy Hudson.)
My first "real" band- Grope, 1967-69. I played bass and sang
backups. (Dave Turnquist, Pat Cannon, Bob Baum, Rusty Ward, Steve Zoellin
and yours truly.)
Playing the Blue Village in Westmont. At this point, around 1969, I had switched from bass to keyboards. Mistake.
Back to the bass!
My foray into jazz, around 1970. A whole new experience. (Ralph Muha,
Connie Ball and myself.)
And then, of course I discovered folk music. (Myself and Pat Cannon)
Off to college at Southern Illinois University and my next band- Pontiac
Jones, 1971-73. (Mike Potter, Pete Special, Rusty Ward and myself)
My uncle Conti Milano, lent me his stand up bass for a few years back in the
1970s, and it gave me a chance to get the feel of that instrument. The Panama
City sign is in reference to a song I wrote by that name back in 1971. (Check
out the song at the top section of this page)
Playing a Pontiac Jones gig at the Ponderosa Nudist Colony in 1972. Yes, one
of the guys is nude and no, it's not me.
Pontiac Jones, warming up for Leo Kottke in Carbondale. I could fill several
screens with the story of what happened that night. Do the words "Nightmare
Gig" mean anything to you?
1974 and back home in Chicago. Dean and brother Mark decide to "get
down".
Playing bluegrass with Scuttlebucket, 1974-75. My first new band after moving
back to Chicago. (Rick Shryock, Chuck Wahlstrom, myself and Jim Bertolin)
Next came the Casualaires, 1976-78. Probably my favorite of all the bands
I've ever been in. (Myself, Jean Gordon, Julie Macarus, Rick Shryock)
Not a picture of my band per se, but it is my bands equipment. Left to right: Ray
Tate, former Director of the Chicago Old Town School of Folk Music and Win
Stracke, a founder of the school. The Casualaires were playing a book
signing party for Studs Terkel that night (you can see his name on the
sign behind Win) and Ray, Win and eventually Studs all got up for some improv
singing. The bass guitar on the stage behind Win is mine as well as the guitar
case with the old Pontiac symbol on it (for Pontiac Jones, my old rock band) and
Win is actually singing into my microphone. Ah, fame is so fleeting.....
In 1979, a few partners and I formed Airflow Deluxe, a big band. The venture
was not particularly successful, but it was certainly a learning experience.
One of the highlights of my time with Airflow Deluxe was performing at
Chicago Fest on several occasions.
In 1980, I joined The New Seekers and toured on and off with them for 4
years. The photo is of our performance at Milwaukee Summerfest.
I have to say, The New Seekers private jets and limo lifestyle was quite
different from anything I'd experienced prior. Hard not to get spoiled!
Playing jugband music at my surprise 30th birthday party. (Greg Trafidlo,
myself, Rick Shryock)
The Singing Bananas- 1980-81. A short lived, but really fun band.
(Myself, Mick Scott and Jeff Jones)
The Lost Tourists- 1982-83. Another short lived, but fun band that was also
the beginning of a long musical partnership with Dennis Gordon. (Clockwise
from top: Jan Lewis, myself, Dennis and Ted Kendros, photo- Pat Cannon)
Dennis Gordon and Dean Milano- a couple of mild guys who think of themselves
as Wild Guys. We worked together from 1982 til Dennis passed away in 2007 and during that time we
made a lot of great music... that probably not too many people were actually
interested in.
Rubbaband! A fun country band I was in sometime around 1983-4. We got a gig
at the Deluxe Budget Motel and we were told we might be expected to haul cases
of beer up from the basement once in a while. The gig didn't last too long.
(Dennis Gordon, Julie Macarus, John Benishek, Jim Bromm and yours truly)
During the summer of 1984, I headed down to Osage Beach in the Ozarks of
Missouri to do a six month long show at Marriotts Tan-Tar-A resort. Gettin' paid
to have fun! (Note: There's a reason why this pic looks particularly good.
The fellow who took it went on to win a Pulitzer Prize in photography)
The Milano boys "rockin' out" on the driveway of their folks house in
Glen Ellyn, Illinois- Summer of '85. It was fun til the cops came. Actually, we
were bummed because no one came to watch, including the cops! (Phillip,
Steven, Mark and myself. Where was Paul hiding?)
In the Fall of 1985, I got a call to sub for the bass player at a country
western dinner theatre called the Dry Gulch. He quit, and I ended up staying for
7 years, eventually becoming the music director.
And I even talked them into putting my accordion into the show. Love that
Cajun music!
Ah, yes- my dream come true. Surrounded by the showgirls of the Dry Gulch.
And what could be better than an imaginary cigarette after imaginary sex?
A Milano Christmas invariably ended up in an absolutely insane jam session as
can be seen here. I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or anything, but man- we rocked! I mean, we brought the house down! (Myself, Paul, my Aunt Toni
and Mark)
Tumbleweed Junction 1991-92. Obviously....a country band. (Lida Bringe,
Dennis Cahill, Karen Dale, Rich Kreegier and myself)
Little Country Band 1993-95. This band was a smaller version of the Born to
Boogie Band, which I then ended up joining the following year. (Mike Arturi,
Bill Gordon, the late Danny Patton and myself)
The Born To Boogie Band 1994-95. This was a band fronted by Big John Howell,
a local DJ on a Chicago country music radio station (US 99). (John Howell,
myself, Mike Arturi on drums)
1995- The five brothers singing at a festival in the town of Gioia Del
Colle, home of our ancestors in Italy. Our cousin John was in charge of the
music stage and asked us if we'd like to perform. I don't want to imply we
bombed, but John did say his reputation was "destroyed".
Nighthawk 1996-97. A short lived country band I was in that had some of the
tightest 3 part harmony of any band I've been in. (Bob Maller, Don Casper,
Sharon Arnold, Mike Miller and myself)
Sitting in with a local Mariachi band somewhere in Mexico, 1997
Black Alley Blues Band 1997-98. The band wasn't so hot but the scenery was
nice. Can't remember the woman singers name (Laurie something?) or the other two guys, but that's
Bob Maller in the center of the picture to the right of me.
User Friendly 1998- present. This band performs with a variety of different
players, depending on who's available that day. (Dennis Gordon, Rick Mann,
Jeff Dumas, Todd Jackson, Dave Ivaz and myself)
A Dry Gulch reunion, 1999. (Todd Jackson, Peter Seman and myself.)
An historic event, to be sure! The Five Singing Milano brothers onstage
together at my wedding- 2000. We certainly weren't going to let some silly
festival in Italy stop us. If at first you don't succeed....... (Paul, Phillip, myself, Steve and Mark)
Sitting in with the band in Soho, London, 2000. They sure love that American
rock and roll over there.
Duck Soup- a band I worked with on and off from about 1996 til they broke up
in 2002. One member, Ken Slauf was actually in Grope, my high school band.
(Rich Hughes, Lee Shibovitch, myself and Ken)
Sitting in with a local band in Cuba -2000. We didn't really speak each
others languages too well, but when music is involved, it hardly matters.
Sharing a tune with a fellow in Crete, Greece -2001. Actually, I think he was
more interested in having his picture taken than he was in singing.
Actually, this scene isn't quite as legitimate as it looks. I believe we were
playing LOUIE, LOUIE when the photo was taken. (Peter Seman's hand,
Charlotte Volkman-Jackson and myself)
Another version of User Friendly, this time playing the Beer Garden at
Chicago's Navy Pier- 2002. (Dave Ivaz, Dennis Gordon, Brad Lake and myself)
Jobbing with Tony Smith and His Almost Famous Band- I've been doing dates
with Tony's band on and off since 2000.
Teaching Abby, my 6 year old granddaughter, the art of Flamenco. "Abby,
I said 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4!!!!! Now do
it again and do it right!"
Jamming with the band in Puerto Vallarta- 2005. I'll do anything for a free
meal.
Jamming with the band in Nicaragua- 2005. I'll do anything to get my
kidnapped wife back.
I hadn't played the stand up bass since the late 1970s, but I suddenly got an
urge to play one again, so I went out and bought me one. Totally cool, daddy-o!
After 40 years in show business, I finally broke down and had a head shot
taken. How embarrassing. (Photo-Mike Kelly)
Singer/songwriter Mick Scott and I performing at the Heartland Cafe in
Chicago, 2007 (Photo Tery Veras)
The Grass Stains, a great little band I worked with for a couple of years.
(Jordi Kleiner, Donald Terao, myself, Carol Francis, Irene and Mike Kelly)
Chatting with Martin Hayes, the Irish fiddle player at the Willie Clancy
Music Fest in Doolin, County Clare, 2007
Jay Whitehouse and I kickin' out the Jams at Bill's Blues, a club in
Evanston, Illinois.
In the stu-stu-studio, just a sing-sing-singing. Workin' on the new CD-
Vestiges: More Songs About More Stuff
It was quite an honor to meet Hazel Dickens (right) and Alice Gerrard (left),
the First Ladies of Bluegrass Music at Folk Alliance 2008. Greg Trafidlo and I
were lucky enough to be part of a private jam session with Hazel, Alice and
John Lilly, in which we swapped songs for over 2 hours in a hotel conference
room.
The Silverbeams, a great little country band I started gigging with in
2007- complete with it's own dance instructors! Left to right: Rick Veras,
Maryann Renquillo, yours truly, Barb Silverman and
Pat Stamer.
Nice little reunion at the Masthouse in Woodstock, Il. From left to right: Russ
Ward, Greg Trafidlo, Ken Slauf and myself. And yes, there were more than two
people in the audience that night.
Dave Humphreys introducing me onstage at the Downers Grove Heritage Fest,
June 28th 2008. Irene Kelly is standing next to me and just out of the picture
are Carol Francis and Jay Whitehouse. Later in the afternoon, I was part of an
impromptu jam with Michael Miles, Chris Walz and Keith Bauman. We definitely
rocked.....
On October 19th, we held a memorial jam session for my Uncle Connie Milano, who
had passed away in July. I was honored to be able to play my uncle's bass, which
he had passed on to me in his will. Accompanying me are Eddie Piccard on piano
and Rusty Jones on drums.
Toots! (and a dude). This is a fun trio I've been working with lately,
specializing in 1920's through 1940s tunes. The ladies are Pam Brunkalla and
Katie Bendorf.
On June 2, 2009, I was asked to be part of a symposium on the Lincoln Park music
scene of the past 40 years. The event was hosted by DePaul University, moderated
by Rick Kogan. Other panel members were Ed Holstein, Lino Darchum, Steve
Hashimoto and Earl Pionke. It was a very interesting evening, to say the least.
More to come, as long as I get more work!