MOTM

Present occupation:

1. Software architect for 3D realtime visualization and engineering analysis
software, used by Ford, GM, Chrysler, Lockheed, etc. to design cars and
planes.
2. Resident MOTM list bandwidth hog, leader of the Stooges. Another old fart
who has been around long enough to remember Carlos on the Today show with a
big Moog blinking lights, when "Switched On Bach" first came out.

History:

Longtime live performance musician. Piano teacher mom started my classical
studies when I was 4. Continued until I was 18, discovered pipe organ and
studied that for a couple of years. Started playing in bands at 14, and
didn't stop until about 3 years ago.

Two events got me started in electronic music: the release of "Switched On
Bach", and a local university music professor giving a talk to piano
teachers at my mom's house demonstrating this new fangled synthesizer stuff
(he had a VCS-3).

Bought a brand new EML-101 in 1970 or 71, and ditched it 2 years later to
build my own from potted submodules supplied by this new company called Emu.
Quit college as a music major to start a 10 year career on the road as a
gigging musician. Taught myself the beginnings of electronics along the way
by rewiring Hammonds for portability, and by bugging Dave Rossum (of Emu
fame) over the phone. Got offered a recording contract by Island records,
band broke up instead. Later built a big system out of Emu's SSM boards with
their poly sequencer kbd. Sold it to Dave Kean's synth museum last year to
finance my MOTM!

Quit the road, settled down in Cincinnati, and helped a partner build a
large commercial elecronic music studio built around a giant Emu modular,
Obie Xpanders, Arp 2600, etc. controlled by the Emu 16 voice poly sequencer
keyboard with an 8" floppy drive. Later we installed a Synclavier.

Wife got pregnant, oops! Time to get a real job - went back to school and
got my EE from Ohio State. Designed computer automated test beds and
calibration ranges for laser devices for awhile, and ended up in the
software business. Anybody ever use Procomm Plus terminal emulation
software? I worked on that a few years ago. My old guitar playing buddy from
when I was 18 started that company, and now he's a jillionaire.

Musical interests:

These days I can't find any musicians to gig with, so my jazz chops are
starting to wither. Listening wise, early fusion and prog rock back when
they still knew how to play: early Yes, ELP, Atomic Rooster, Tull, Vanilla
Fudge, and the all time champs, Gentle Giant. Also Dixie Dregs and Little
Feat for my R&B soul. Jazz: the organ greats like Joey DeFrancesco, Jimmy
Smith, Jimmy McGriff, some Modeski Martin and Wood, and the king of
electronic jazz, Joe Zawinul. Classical: Bach, Debussy, Rachmaninov.
Electronica: JM Jarre, Tomita, Carlos, Pierre Henry. Been listening to some
newer stuff on mp3.com, and am totally confused by all the labels (trance,
goa, what the f**k??). The dance stuff mostly sounds like disco to me, and
the distorted drums are kinda tiresome, but I really like some of the
ambient stuff I've heard.

Equipment:

Presently I have my beloved Rhodes Chroma (I bought it brand new!), a 1958
B-3 and Leslie, some old Roland gear (MKB controller, JV-80, D-550 w/
programmer, MKS-50), and my MOTM system. It consists of 4 300s, 6 800s, 2
420s, 4 110s, 2 940s, and 1 of everything else except the 900. I'm using a
PowerOne supply because I plan on a walnut Moog 55 style main cabinet.
(Where's those rails!!??) Also have a Blacet Dark Star Chaos that I've
modded the pcb to fit a MOTM bracket. It will be mounted on a MOTM front
panel one of these days. I have a Roland VS-840 to record with, and a funky
old Alesis HR16 drum machine.

Regrets:

All the clavinets, wurlis, Hammonds, etc. that I used to own but let get
away over the years.

Dave Bradley
Principal Software Engineer
Engineering Animation, Inc.
daveb@...