First Name

George

College/University:

Hurricane Bar/Crawford Grill University (1965 - their closing)

I am here for:

Gigs, Educational Purposes, Meet Players, Networking

Whom I want to meet:

The community of those who really love and care about this music.

Employment Status

Self-Employed

Occupation:

Recording Studio Owner-Operator & Recording Engineer

Employer:

Heid Studios

About Me:

Born and raised in Pittsburgh
My Father had the first recording studio (1935) in Pittsburgh. He made the first recordings for Errol Garner, Billy Strahorn, Eddie Jefferson, George Benson, and many fine R & B Groups such as the El Capri's, Del Vikings, Marcells, El Venos, Capitals and many more.

My father provided Hammond Organs to the Hurricane Bar and the Rendezvous Lounge. My brother Bill and I grew up not only hearing many artists in his studio, but by helping him move that Organ and Leslie into those clubs, we got to hear some of the greatest organ groups playing in the mid 1960's. Our number one desire was to learn to play this great music. How much more could one ask then to hear so many masters in such a supreme environment?

Musical Background & Experience:

As it turned out... it WAS the highest musical privilege to hear those brilliant masters in the chitlin circuit clubs. When we listened and watched those most soulful artists, it inspired us to practice, and learn to tell a musical story from master storytellers. When you finally add in the endless hours of listening to the abundance of deep Jazz recordings, we were fully enrolled in the greatest school of music on Earth.

Finally, to go on to participate by playing drums with such monumental souls as Mike Taylor, Dwayne Dolphin, Sonny Barbato, Jimmy Ponder, and my brother Bill Heid. I've been so blessed...Were these only dreams?

Website:

http://www.heidstudios.com

Why I love jazz:

I believe it's genius creation comes from the soulful hearts of such a deep people's journey. It's drenched with spirit and feeling like no other music.

Music:

That African-American journey... that story told in Gospel, Blues, Jazz Rhythm & Blues and Funk.
20th Century Classical Music
Electronic and Musique Concrete

Top 5 Desert Island Discs:

Larry Young - Contrasts
Sun Ra - The Futuristic Sounds Of Sun Ra
Lee Morgan - The Rajah
Hank Mobley - A Slice of the Top
Toru Takemitsu - Coral Island

Books:

Honker and Shouters by Arnold Shaw
Toru Takemitsu by James Siddons
Blue Note Discography by Cuscuna - Ruppli
Space Is The Place: The Lives And Times Of Sun Ra by John F. Szwed

Television:

Steeler's
DVD's

Movies:

Network - Sidney Lumet
"The Wild Bunch" and "Straw Dogs" - Sam Peckinpah
"She's Gotta Have It", "Do The Right Thing" and "Get on the Bus" - Spike Lee
"King of Comedy" - Martin Scorsese
"Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" - Stanley Kubrick