Simon Apple
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| Simon Apple | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America |
| Genres | Progressive rock, Pop rock, Jazz rock, Christian rock |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | Independent, Trunk Records |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| Dan Merrill (vocals, guitar) Jeff Miller (piano, guitar) Buzz Saylor (drums) |
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Simon Apple are an American progressive rock band based in Philadelphia, (Pennsylvania, USA).
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Early Years
The band was formed in late 1987 in the Reading, PA area (outside of Philadelphia) as a cover band playing music of Genesis, Rush, ELO, Supertramp, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Kansas, Billy Joel, Elton John, Marillion, Level 42, Earth Wind & Fire, Bruce Hornsby, Toto, etc. The band became very popular in the regional area (Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland). The original line-up included Jeff Miller (keyboards), Buzz Saylor (drums), Mark Ludwig (guitar), Kurt Manderbach (bass), Brad Weisman (vocals). The band also incorporated a 3-piece horn section on select gigs (Dave Miller - sax, Harry Stevenson - trumpet, Lou Zanine - trombone). The band later went through a few personnel changes that included Alisa Anderson (vocals), Warren Daugherty (bass) replacing Weisman & Manderbach. At the time, the horn section was dropped, but Dave Miller remained on sax as a feature on many Pink Floyd and Supertramp songs.
[edit] 1992-1995
Saylor and Miller decided to stop performing as a cover band and pursue their own songs, with the intentions of writing material that combined their favourite elements of pop, progressive rock, and jazz, coupled with positive, hopeful, thought-provoking, even sometimes humorous messages. The band invited guitarist Eric Beebe to join. The band became a 3-piece, with additional players live, adding Stefon Pizzuto on bass, and Kevin Checket on drums. Saylor became the lead vocalist at this time.
[edit] 1996-1999
John Feldman took over as lead vocalist and live guitarist. Jeff Miller performed guitar in addition to keyboards in studio on "From The Toybox". Saylor went back to the drum seat. Beebe & Checket had departed. Pizzuto remained in the live band.
In early 1998 Simon Apple independently released their first single It's Over, taken from their debut CD "From The Toybox". By April "It's Over" had climbed to #21 nationally on the Adult Contemporary Gavin Radio Airplay Chart. By late summer their second single "A Boy Like Me" broke into the Adult Contemporary Gavin Top 30 again, reaching #29. A third seasonal single "Scenes of December" also received national airplay and reached #43.
[edit] 2000-2007
Feldman left the band due to family commitments. After auditioning over 800 singers worldwide, Miller & Saylor invited Dan Merrill from Portland, Maine, to join the band. Writing and production then began on what would become "River To The Sea".
The 2004 album release, "River To The Sea", featured several Grammy-winning and multi-platinum guest artists including bassist Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, John Lennon, Pink Floyd), guitarist Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult), saxophonist John Helliwell (Supertramp), cellist Hugh McDowell (Electric Light Orchestra), bassist Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group) and trumpeter Dave Stahl (Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick, Jr.).
In December 2005 the first single from "River To The Sea", "Hold Me (Like A Lover)", cracked the U.S. Adult Contemporary Top 10 FMQB radio chart - giving the band their first U.S. Top 10.
The band remains a 3-piece with the live additions of Pizzuto on bass, and Dave Miller on saxes.
[edit] 2008–Present
In 2007, Saylor was diagnosed with cancer (currently in remission). The band decided to take an extended hiatus to let Saylor heal, and also to pursue various other musical projects individually. Writing has started for their next album, but no time-frame for completion or release.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current
- Dan Merrill: Vocals, Guitars
- Jeff Miller: Keyboards, Guitars
- Buzz Saylor: Drums
[edit] Live Concert Members
- Dave Miller: Saxes
- Stefon Pizzuto: Bass
[edit] Previous
- John Feldman: Lead Vocals
- Alisa Anderson: Lead Vocals
- Kurt Manderbach: Vocals and Bass
- Mark Ludwig: Guitar
- Brad Weisman: Lead Vocals
- Warren Daugherty: Bass
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- From The Toybox (1998)
- Apples to Apples, Dust to Dust...Archives (2000)
- River to the Sea (2004)
- River to the Sea Bonus Tracks 2 CD Set (2004)
- Apples to Apples, Dust to Dust...Archives (Remastered 2005)
- River to the Sea (2004)
- Official Bootleg 1 (2005)
- Official Bootleg 2 (2005)
[edit] EPs
- Spot the Looney (1988)
- Simon Apple (1993)
[edit] Member Solo Albums
Dan Merrill
- Revolution (1996)
- Tomorrow to Yesterday (2008)
[edit] Influences
- The Beatles
- Blue Öyster Cult
- Chick Corea
- Electric Light Orchestra
- Kevin Gilbert
- Dave Matthews Band
- John Mayer
- David Mead
- Pat Metheny Group
- Sting
- Supertramp
- James Taylor
- Yes
[edit] References
- Adult Contemporary Gavin Radio Airplay Charts
- Michigan City Newspaper articles by Jon Rice 25 March. 24 June and 16 December 2005
- Berks-Mont Newspaper article 3 June 2005
- CD review From the Toybox
- CD review From the Toybox
- CD review River to the Sea
