Maybe it’s karma, or something in the water, or the fact that no one has to stop playing music because of jet noise overhead – no one knows for sure. But whatever the reason, the fun fact is that five, multi-talented, notable musicians live within doors of each other on one block of Queen Avenue North in Camden.
These musical neighbors include producer, drummer and blues player, Larry Thomas; folksinger, guitarist and songwriter, Gary Anderson; jazz singer and recording artist, Dawn Shelton; folk guitar player and electronic club reggae at-home recording guy, Steve Zimmerman; and tenor, bass, mandolin and horn player, Mark Anderson.
Their musical careers started in a variety of ways. Mark Anderson began singing at age two, played the ukulele at age three, and moved on to sing the part of Peter Rabbit in kindergarten. Dawn Shelton was 12 years old when she first sang for an audience at summer camp. Larry Thomas snagged his first paying gig playing at a Holiday Inn with the band, The Ripples and the Waves. “We were paid $8. One five dollar bill and three ones,” Larry recalled with a smile in his voice.
Gary Anderson started his musical career playing folk music at the Pizza Villa in St. Peter Minnesota, and Steve Zimmerman started playing guitar during his senior year in high school “at parties and around campfires.”
From these varied beginnings, the neighbors expanded their musical interests, abilities and repertoire. Zimmerman now plays most regularly with Machinery Hill, and they are currently working on their fourth, yet-to-be-named CD. Thomas focuses his efforts on producing. His latest DVD, Captured, was to be released on June 24. Shelton recently released her vocal jazz CD, Because I Love You… with executive producer Adi Yeshaya (who has also worked with Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston). Mark Anderson auditioned for and will begin to sing this fall with Sacred Voice, a choir that presents concerts to raise funding and awareness for those in need. Gary Anderson’s latest CD is entitled “In the Morning.” He also sings a half hour every week for Alzheimer’s patients at the Crystal Care Center. “The patients remember music. It’s one of the last memories they hold,” Gary said.
These neighbors keep on playing music because it’s “calming,” “comforting,” “exhilarating” and “unifying,” among many other reasons. And though these five musicians have never played all together at one time, they all agreed it would be great fun to give it a try.
They also agreed that theirs is a story of what can happen when you get to know your neighbors. “Look around your block for musicians, or see if you can create an occasion for getting neighbors together who enjoy music, “ said Gary Anderson, who is the block club leader. “Sometimes there’s a piece of chemistry that makes everything work.” In this case, it’s music.
For info about this Queen Avenue block of musicians:
Gary Anderson: 612-521-8505; next gig with The Snow Leopard Collaboration, July 6, 7 p.m. at Columbia Grounds Coffee Shop (33rd and Central NE).
Larry Thomas: 612-529-6650.
Dawn Shelton: www.dawnshelton.com.
Steve Zimmerman: www.google.com enter “Machinery Hill.”
Mark Anderson: www.sacredvoice.org.