Press Release for
Don Gerard, News-Gazette Editorial Staff writer
Ginger rocked the area from 1973-1976 and
considered the Red Lion Inn on
Green Street to
be home base.
One of the more popular bands in the area at the time, Ginger opened shows at
concert
venues throughout the
Midwest
for such
headliners as Aerosmith, KISS, Rush, Argent and
REO
Speedwagon.
*Originally
a 3 piece group, Ginger grew to be a 5 piece band with Rob Thornburn on Guitar
&
vocals, Chris Martin on Lead vocals, Glenn Taylor on Bass & vocals, Steve
Schmidt on Keyboards & vocals, and
Larry Fredrickson on Drums & Percussion.
Ginger’s
original material, written primarily by Thornburn & Martin, is characterized
by its’
driving rhythms and melodic lines backed by strong chordal progressions.
Ginger was helped a great deal in the 70’s by personal friend and mentor,
Gary Richrath, from
REO Speedwagon. Richrath engineered
and co-produced a number of recording sessions for the band, and was
instrumental in providing the opportunity for Ginger to appear on the bill at
many REO Speedwagon shows throughout the
Midwest
.
Ginger disbanded in 1976, primarily due to mismanagement leading to
financial strain. Thornburn moved to LA where he is currently a sought after
musician, composer and producer on various projects including television and
film scoring; Taylor moved to San Diego where he owns a professional recording
studio –“Taylor Made Music” (www.taylor-made-music.com),
Martin relocated originally to LA, performing and recording with a number of
musicians, then moved to Austin Texas. He
continues to perform and works for a large Audio Tech firm; Fredrickson and
Schmidt still reside in the Champaign-Urbana-Savoy area.
Fredrickson works as an Account Executive for WDWS/WHMS radio stations
and has continued to perform throughout the years, currently playing drums
with the "Tons-O-Fun" band. Schmidt
is the owner of The Piano People, a piano shop specializing in the rebuilding of
Steinway pianos as well as the sale of new pianos.
After a 26 year hiatus. the members of
Ginger reunited in
San Diego
in January 2003
when
it was realized that all of the members felt the same amount of pride and
affection in
what the band was able to accomplish in
3 short years. Some old and new
tunes were recorded at Glenn Taylor’s
recording studio and copies of “live’ performances from the Red
Lion were also found and
“digitally” cleaned up. Out of
that experience, a reunion weekend
performance back in Champaign-Urbana
was planned along with the release of a CD of
original Ginger tunes.
Ginger will be appearing at The Canopy Club on
Friday, June 13th,
2003
9p-1a
$5 cover with
the "Tons 'O Fun" Band and special guest artist appearances
Ginger will be appearing at Fat City Saloon’s outdoor beer garden,
Saturday, June 14th, 2003
with
"Doxy" and special guest artist appearances
