User:Alliegardner23
Biography
[edit]Jeffrey T. Gardner, also known as Jeff Gardner or JT Gardner, is an American musician, audio professional, and amateur political scientist. He was born and raised in Medina, Ohio, where he graduated from Cloverleaf High School with the class of 1968. Upon graduation, he attended University of Akron, where his love of music and the hippie subculture became prevalent, leading him to drop out after a couple years and take to the road to pursue his career as a musician. He plays guitar, saxophone, ukelele, and attempts to sing. He is now settled in Indianapolis, Indiana and is a member of The Souled Out Band, a premier dance and party band in the Midwest.
Musical Career
[edit]Jeff has performed with countless bands since he was a teenager. His first, the Dischords, was created when he was in high school, and his younger brother Eric played the drums. Since then, he has toured the country as both a performer and a sound technician. His work includes the Midwestern acts Pedaler, Jubal, Clarian, Faith Band, the Persuaders, and the Walking Catfish. [1]
Jeff also took his skills to the national stage when he toured with recording artist Rachel Sweet during her 1981 tour. Furthermore, he also toured as FOH engineer with Les Variations, a French rock band which consisted of four Frenchmen largely of Morroccan descent, which led to the name of their most successful album Moroccan Roll. [2]
Professional Life
[edit]From 1981-1983, Jeff also co-owned the Pro Shoppe, located in Broad Ripple, Indiana, a cultural district in Indianapolis, with his friend Jet Townsend. Unfortunately, this wildly successful store was burned to the ground in the Great Broad Ripple Fire of 1983.
After producing four daughters with his wife Lauretta, Jeff decided to open his own recording studio and started his own company called Plus One Audio. During this time, he also worked as the Operations Manager of the Indiana Roof Ballroom for 10 years. This led to work in acoustics and residential systems.
Most recently, Jeff is employed as the Director of Certification and Worforce Development for CEDIA and continues to perform with The Souled Out Band.