| Jeff Olson | |
|---|---|
ddrum and Vic Firth promo |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jeffrey Olson |
| Born | July 14, 1962 Wareham, Massachusetts |
| Occupations | Composer, Musician, Multi-instrumentalist, DJ |
| Instruments | drums, percussion, guitar, keys, brass, and vocals |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels | Metal Blade, Century Media, Bullet Proof, Def American, Combat, Escapi Music |
| Associated acts | Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, Trouble, Supershine, Wet Animal, Retro Grave |
| Website | www.headymetalwithjeffolson.com, www.retrogravemusic.com |
Jeff Olson (born July 14, 1962) is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, radio show host, and the original drummer for the legendary doom/rock band, Trouble. He is also the founding member of Retro Grave and proprietor of Upland Recording.
Contents |
Following the release of their first two albums, 1984's Pslam 9 and 1985's The Skull, Olson left Trouble in 1986 to teach music while also writing musical scores and later receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Film Scoring (cum laude) from Berklee College of Music. Olson returned to the band for the albums Run to the Light (Hammond Organ), Trouble (pre-pro for drums, keys), Plastic Green Head (drums), Simple Mind Condition (drums, French Horn), Unplugged and Live in LA.[1]
Olson has toured with Trouble since 1979 headlining shows throughout the United States and Europe, as well as performing at numerous music festivals in Europe including the 1995 Dynamo Open Air Festival (Holland) in front of a record audience for Dynamo of over 118,000 people. In July 2008, Olson announced his departure from Trouble. His last show with them was at "The End" in Nashville, Tennessee on July 19, 2008.[2]
In 2006, Jeff "Oly" Olson formed Retro Grave while still the drummer for Trouble. The debut self-titled EP was released on June 5, 2007 and was written, recorded, and performed entirely by Olson along side lyricist Paull Goodchild. The debut full-length, Again, was released the following year as a download only (via the band's website) with two additional members who have since departed.[3] In 2009, Michael Leonard Maiewski (Stasis) was added for strings and back up vocals and a hard copy of Again was released in February 2010 with Maiewski added to the mix.
Olson is now collaborating again with lyricist Paull Goodchild and new guitarist Michael Leonard Maiewski for the sophomore album, "Skullduggery." The band is currently a duet.
Jeff Olson was born on July 14, 1962 in Wareham, Massachusetts. He moved to Aurora, Illinois at age five. Olson first learned to play the piano at age six and the trumpet at age eight. At age twelve, Olson began marching for DCI (Drum Corps International) with the Fox Valley Raiders in the snare line. The following season, The Raiders drum corps folded and Olson joined Blue Stars of Lacrosse Wisconsin playing first soprano bugle. He can be seen on the [DCI] Legacy DVD (front row first soprano bugle side left).
During Trouble's hiatuses he graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1992 with a BM degree in Film Scoring and later composed music for the Borealis Theater Company in Chicago. In 1996, Olson created the "electronic music ensemble" course when he was a teacher of midi and recording techniques at Waubonsee Community College in Aurora, Illinois. The following year he was commissioned by the Paula Fraz Dance Company in Chicago, IL to arrange and compose original music for the performance of Songs My Mother Sang Me. Olson received the Ruth Page Award for his work on that production.[4]
In 2001, Olson started his own label, Upland Recording, which released two albums in its first year. One was a children's album, Children's Stories From Around the World, narrated by Marie Fraz. The other was a jazz and classical album, Music to Cook By, compiled from his previous theater work. On July 5, 2010, Olson premiered an internet radio show, Heady Metal with Jeff Olson, via Metal Messiah Radio. Heady Metal with Jeff Olson features interviews with musicians from different metal genres across the board, comedic segments, and music news. Olson's first guest was Dave Chandler of Saint Vitus.[5]
In addition to Olson's work with Trouble and Retro Grave, he has drummed with Doug Pinnick and Trouble guitarist Bruce Franklin in the band, Supershine. Olson also played on Trouble guitarist Rick Wartell's Wet Animal debut album.[6] He was involved in pre-production work and recorded percussion for Canticle of the Plains by Rich Mullins.
Olson married his personal manager, Leigh Rush, in a private ceremony on Saturday, October 25, 2008. Rush wore a traditional white dress while Olson donned a black tuxedo with his traditional Chuck Taylors. The couple currently resides in Kennebunk, Maine. [7]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||