Over the years I’ve become very patriotic. Perhaps its unusual that a rock ‘n roll guy who was born in Canada might love living the US. But I think this is the best country in the world. For the past year or so, I’ve had a song rattling around in my brain called Red White Blue & True. During the summers I play in a 60’s rock ‘n roll band known as:
"The Invictas".
We started the band when we were in college and a few years ago I reunited the band. As we approached the end of the playing this summer I decided it was time to complete the song and get it recorded. The band is based in Rochester NY, I live in Charlotte NC and there was a lot of work to be done.
The Recording Session
Dave Profeta, the band’s lead guitarist had to arrange the song and he had some good suggestions for the lyrics. Jim Kohler the bass player said he would play, Sammy Gruttadauria our key board guy would record the song in his in home studio he calls The Ultra Huge Studio. The only person who could not make the session was Dave Hickey, our drummer. Dave had to work, so another drummer sat in by the name of Paul Mastriani. Mind you, when the band members showed up at the recording studio, they had never heard the song before. It took us two days to record the song and I was really pleased with the outcome. The song was fun, positive and easy to dance to. I had decided I wanted to make a CD to give to our soldiers for the holidays.
Mastering The Music and Preparing Graphics
To make the CD worthwhile, we needed to combine the song with other Invictas recordings. Chris Biehler from Forevermore records mastered a total of eight of our original songs. This is an important step because the volume and mixing of the songs had to sound similar and almost all of the songs were recorded at different locations. Chris did a great job and turned the master around within a few days. While Forevermore music was working on preparing the CD, we had to write the copy and design the graphics. Totality Productions in Charlotte turned the design around working late into the night. But more had to be done.
Duplication and Printing
I had to get the CD duplicated and packaging had to be printed. When Diane Lind at The Corporate Disk Company heard it was for our troops she contacted their corporate headquarters. The company liked the idea and said they do the duplication and The Mailers Company would handle the printing. The deadline was getting close and we only a few weeks to get the project completed. I was getting nervous.
How Would I Get The Music To Our Troops?
You might think I had all this figured out ahead of time but it wasn’t so. I looked up the national headquarters for the USO and they sent me to the USO in Raleigh NC. In turn, they sent me to Captain Jack Ahart (US Navy Retired) at the USO in Charlotte. I told Jack about my idea to give CD’s out to the soldiers and he liked it. He told me that over 1400 soldiers would be traveling through the USO at the Charlotte airport on their way home for the holidays. I said great, I’ve got some music for them. Jack said, “Let’s do it.” You’ll hear more of the story in my next article. 
For ideas and ways for boomers to have fun visit my web site at: www.rocktillyadrop.com
Copyright 2008 Herb Gross All Rights Reserved
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