Boom Gaspar

Boom Gaspar
Boom Gaspar
	Boom Gaspar on stage with Pearl Jam in Oakland on November 26, 2013
Background information
Birth name	Kenneth E. Gaspar
Born	February 3, 1953 (age 71); Waimānalo, Hawaii, U.S.
Genres	Rock, alternative rock, blues rock
Occupation	Musician
Instrument(s)	Organ, piano, keyboards
Years active	mid 1970s–present

Kenneth E. Gaspar (born February 3, 1953), more commonly known as Boom Gaspar, is an American musician who has performed with the American rock band and rock and roll hall of fame inductee Pearl Jam as a piano/keyboard/organ player since 2002.

Biography

Early life

Boom Gaspar grew up in Waimānalo, Hawaii. He started playing music when he was eleven years old.^[1] After graduating from Kailua High School, Gaspar spent the next thirty years doing local shows throughout Hawaii with acts such as the Mackey Feary Band, Harmony, Simplisity, and played in Seattle with first billing with the famous blues guitarist Albert Collins.

Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder first met Gaspar while in Hawaii.^[2] Gaspar was introduced to Vedder through Ramones bassist C. J. Ramone.^[1] Gaspar has appeared on the Pearl Jam albums Riot Act (2002), Pearl Jam (2006) and Lightning Bolt (2013). He has a songwriting credit for the song "Love Boat Captain" which is on Riot Act. According to Gaspar, the song initially developed out of a jam session he had with Vedder shortly after the two first met. When they were done, Vedder asked Gaspar if he was "ready to go to Seattle."^[3] He has become known for his long solos during "Crazy Mary", a song originally written by Victoria Williams, which has become a fan favorite during live Pearl Jam shows. This often culminates in a guitar/organ duel between Gaspar and guitarist Mike McCready.^[4]

Discography

Pearl Jam discography

Year	Title	Label	Track(s)
2002	Riot Act	Epic	Some
2003	2003 Official Bootlegs (Australia, Japan, and North America)	Epic	Some
2003	Big Fish: Music from the Motion Picture	Sony	"Man of the Hour"
2004	Hot Stove, Cool Music, Vol. 1	Fenway	"Bu$hleaguer" (live)
	Live at Benaroya Hall	BMG	Some
	For the Lady	Rhino/WEA	"Better Man" (live)
	rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003)	Epic	"I Am Mine", "Save You", and "Man of the Hour"
2005	2005 Official Bootlegs (North America and South America)	Ten Club	Some
2006	Pearl Jam	J	Some
2006	2006 Official Bootlegs (North America, Europe, and Australia)	Ten Club	Some
2007	Live at the Gorge 05/06	Rhino/WEA	Some
2007	Live at Lollapalooza 2007	Self-released	Some
2008	2008 United States Official Bootlegs	Kufala	Some
2009	2009 Official Bootlegs	Self-released	Some
2010	2010 Official Bootlegs	Self-released	Some
2013	Lightning Bolt	Monkey Wrench	"Sirens", others

Po & the 4Fathers discography

Year	Title	Label	Track(s)
2012	Kingdom Come/Do Ya 7"	Monkeywrench	All

References

^ ^a ^b Burlingame, Burl. "Way to go Boom!" Honolulu Star-Bulletin. April 20, 2007.
^ Mills, Fred. "Yield Not". Seattle Weekly. November 6, 2002.
^ Paiva, Derek. "Friendship takes stage at Pearl Jam concert". The Honolulu Advertiser. December 1, 2006.
^ Ashare, Matt. "Pearl Jam at the Garden: Less is Still More" Archived September 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. The Phoenix. May 26, 2006.

External links

Boom Gaspar at AllMusic
Boom Gaspar at IMDb

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[Burlingame-1] Burlingame, Burl. "Way to go Boom!" Honolulu Star-Bulletin. April 20, 2007.

[2] Mills, Fred. "Yield Not". Seattle Weekly. November 6, 2002.

[3] Paiva, Derek. "Friendship takes stage at Pearl Jam concert". The Honolulu Advertiser. December 1, 2006.

[4] Ashare, Matt. "Pearl Jam at the Garden: Less is Still More" Archived September 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. The Phoenix. May 26, 2006.

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