John on MySpace Name:John Blanco Instrument:Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Samples Favorite color:Blue Favorite food:Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings Last read book: Leading Geeks: How to Manage and Lead People Who Deliver Technology (Paul Glen) At a Glance: Grew up singing liturgical music in a professional boychoir. Still singing in a choir. Studied voice in college. As a child sang at Lincoln Center, the United Nations, and even Sonny Fox’s Wonderama TV show. Studied with Arpad Daraz, Hermann Furthoser, Danae Papageorge, and Myra Lerner. Recently performed the operetta “Amahl and the Night Visitors” by Carlo Menotti. Recorded a Christmas album for Columbia and two rock albums for EMI. With SPYS in the 80’s toured the US opening for 38 Special and performed at numerous music halls, including NY’s legendary Palladium and the Portland Civic Center. In 2000 the first SPYS album was voted into the Top Ten Most Melodic Albums of All Time by Classic Rock magazine.  I’ve sung and arranged radio jingles (AT&T), have written music for television (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous) and have acted in regional theater. Currently live in Port Jefferson, NY and work at Cablevision in information technology. I’m also an independent music and video producer. Most embarrassing moment: In 1977 Harpy got booked into Dirty Martha’s in Wildwood, NJ. It was a month-long engagement which the club owners commonly put up their bands in an apartment building across the street from the club. We shared the bill with the Dirty Martha house band, 6 nights a week alternating sets. The experience was awesome. The club, the guys from the other band and the clientele were just wonderful -- the whole Wildwood experience, one long party. During a break in the sets one night, Gary (drums) and I went back to our apartment looking for something to eat. We were starved. We discovered a large platter of brownies on the kitchen table. OK, we often brought food back from home that our mothers' or girlfriends' prepared for us. Naïve, gullible or just plain stupid we cannibalistically devoured the entire tin of sweet cakes. Unbeknownst to us these delicacies did not emerge from Mama DiGaudio or Mrs. Martino’s oven. Let’s just say the traditional herb-like, coppery taste normally found in such a questionable batter went unnoticed by the both of us. Feeling simply marvelous. Completely sated and full, Gary and I headed back to the club to perform our final set of the evening. First song, Roundabout by Yes. Now Roundabout was always a fun song to perform with Harpy and though any Jon Anderson song is always a vocal challenge, that evening every note came out of my throat with breathless ease. Not to mention Gary’s parallel harmonies were simply flawless. Leaving the stage I was stopped by the lead singer of Dirty Martha who by then, remember it was a month long engagement, had become good friends. Although he and I were cut from different musical cloths, he more of an R&B singer, we frequently exchanged vocal tips with each other. He turned to me and with a look of awe on his face said “John, I’ve watched you up there for almost 4 weeks now, 6 nights a week. Both of us have had our good nights and our…not so good nights. But tonight, in Roundabout, your voice just sparkled. And I never heard you and Gary sing so close and in synch with each other.” I just shook his hand, and with a dumb (and numb) expression on my face, said “Thanks.” Then as he was walking past me up the stage steps he turned around again and shaking his head added “But for the life of me I can’t figure out why both of you chose to sing the entire song a full whole step above key!” OK? This is your voice. This is your voice on drugs…  Hobbies: Video editing, songwriting, recording original music, acting, martial arts, and of course, the world’s greatest hobby: playing with my friends in Harpy. My Music: Step Lightly Beneath a Crimson Moon (#1) Part of a musical suite of Native American music. The first of 3 compositions to be used in a product infomercial. As the cycle is very American Indian I've tried to set the tone of the hunter traveling clandestine across a moonlit landscape. Along the Navajo Path (#2) Part of a musical suite of Native American music. As the cycle continues I try to create a musical theme that represents a young Navajo warrior's initiation to true manhood. As he embarks on his first battle march. The Hastiin Dream (#3) Part of a musical suite of Native American music. "Hastiin" translates to "Man" in Navajo. I simply wanted to create a feeling of pride and courage. I could visualize this music sounding the return of a tribe's warriors, victorious from battle. Wounded, scarred but heads held high as tribal leaders, spouses and children come to greet them with triumphant cheers. Tears of joy for their battle-worn heroes...and tears wept in sorrow for their lost brothers. A Leper’s Touch I was thinking a little Lennon, a little 10CC, a little Supertramp… |
