sj_bio

LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE GUYS IN THE BAND

Shaky Jake has been performing around the Lehigh Valley and beyond for years. They’ve been havin’ alot of fun doin’ it too. From clubs, pubs, taverns, bars, lounges, fire houses, lodges, banquette halls, festivals and private parties, Shaky Jake has played just about every event you can think of.

All the guys have “day jobs” so when they play, it’s because they love the music and the energy that comes with performing live (although gettin’ paid is pretty cool too). The list of artists that the band covers reflects the kind of music the guys enjoy. When it comes to picking songs, either they all like it or it doesn’t go into the set list. These boys believe that going out to see a live band should be a blast. Playing in a live band sure is. As John (the singer) likes to say “Our target audience is a little loud, a little rowdy and not afraid to dance.” Come check em out and see if you fit the bill.

Mike was lucky enough (at least he thinks so), to be brought up in a house that was the home of a big old Steinway piano, just waiting for him to bang on every day after school....which he did. After smacking the piano nearly into splinters for many years..... his dad decided to buy him a Farfisa organ. That organ became the link between Mike and the glamorous world of rock and roll!

After working in a band called Annex (with Marc and John) in high school, he found himself studying music at Berklee for a few years.

After leaving Berklee, years of road work with a club band tired the poor fella out. He decided to bring his road life to a stop and camp out here in the Lehigh Valley, at least for a bit. As fate would have it, the local back roads led him to his old time, long lost musical pals, John and Marc. Shaky Jake arose, and the three of them have been jamming music into the ears of many ever since.

An interesting shaky jake fact is that Mike, Marc and John still practice in the same basement that Annex used to practice in so many years ago.

A couple of Mike’s heroes: Joe Zawinul, Pat Metheny, Donald Fagen, Bill Evans, Paul Rogers and Igor Stravinsky.

Marc started playing guitar at the age of 9, shortly after his parents revealed to him that they were an advance team from the solar system, 16 Cygni B. His father figured that would be a good way to assimilate. At an even earlier age, he was listening to Beatles albums, particularly “Meet The Beatles” and “Revolver”. Around the time he started playing the guitar, he would go into his sister’s room and listen to her collection of current music, the favorites being Jethro Tull and Santana. At first, as a condition to keep the guitar lessons going, he HAD to practice at least 1 hour a day. He thanks his Father and Mother for that because in no time, he was practicing an hour or more a day without being reminded. He credits a former brother in law, Mark Williams, as being his mentor. He taught him the real possibilities with music.

Eventually, he had the luck and privilege of meeting Mike and John, and together started Annex, the first real band he was in. After a few stints in Fortress and Reaper, he did a solo act, until eventually relocating to Los Angeles for a regular job. That led to jamming with countless musicians and lots of Open Mike nights and beach parties.

After moving back from LA, he hooked up with Mike and John again to form Shaky Jake, and it has been a great time ever since. In his words, “ I have traveled, lived, and played all over the country, but I am fortunate to play with such talented musicians as Mike and John”.

His favorite guitar players are David Gilmore, Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan, and Joe Sach, and the all time favorite musicians being Sting and Paul McCartney.

In junior high school, John got talked into singing by a very pretty young girl called Lorraine. He owes her a lot. Since then, he's performed "serious music" in Europe, sang in Latin for church masses and crooned mushy ballads at weddings.

High school brought a change (thank god). He got together with Mike and Marc and three other guys to form a band that few remember... Annex. The best thing about Annex for John was that it was a blast! He discovered the fun he could have with and in front of an audience.

He was hooked. Years of singing for a living up and down the east cost with bands like Bam Bamm have gone by since then. Now, with Shaky Jake, he still gets a kick out of it. He also enjoys hangin' with his talented and long time friends... Marc and Mike.

John doesn't have an "all time favorite" band. He enjoys all kinds of music. The vocals of bands like Queen and U2 have always impressed him.