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Curtis Paul Campbell: Bio

Curtis Paul Campbell

Biography

Curtis Paul Campbell is an American Record Producer, Singer, Songwriter/Composer (BMI), owner of the Beast Release Records Label and the founder of "The Eclectic Beast Band".

Inspired by the San Francisco Bay Area Music Scene Curt Campbell's influences come from bands such as Steve Miller, Tower of Power, Santana and The Doors. Mesmerized by the harmonica playing of front man Huey Lewis, Curt learned to play the blues by listening to the likes of James Harman, Charlie Musselwhite, and Norton Buffalo. These recordings are for true music listeners. They are for people who can pick apart the instruments and recognize what is being played on a record. The music in this catalog is original and considered a work of art.

In 1990 having come in from the field, Curt was consolidating some special operations gear from one bag to the next, when much to his surprise a Harmonica (gifted by a platoon mate) fell out of the medical kit that was attached to his webgear. Looking at the Harmonica in the palm of his hand Curt realized that the instrument was an omen, a gift and that it was in his destiny to learn how to play. Curt says: "I really taught myself to play the Blues. When I first started to play I didn't understand the dynamics of playing a Harmonica, nor do I read music. I discovered that I was naturally playing across the grain of the music, which is the nature of the Blues. Once I learned how to bend the notes, I felt a deep connection in my soul like I had been playing all along, in a pre-existent state, or in a past life, and playing the Harmonica made my spirit soar". "I seem to play the best when I'm down and of course that's the Spirit of the Blues". "I used to carry the Harmonica around my neck on a leather cord everywhere I went. I would play that harmonica in cars and bars and submarines and ships and planes, in humvees and troop carriers and in the jungles and deserts of both good guys and bad, in the middle of nowhere and in places like Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. It makes people happy to hear somone playing a Harmonica". In 1998 with a little help from his Family, Friends and SEAL Brethren Curt produced his first record album "Kill House" under the Beast Release Records label. Since that time Curt has played with some of the greatest sidemen in the world, produced 5 albums and a single and can be heard on Itunes and every digital mp3 download in the world. He recently showcased 4 songs in the movie "Flying By" starring Billy Ray Cyrus, Heather Locklear and Patricia Neal...

Discography:

1) Curtis Paul Campbell & The Eclectic Beast Band "Killhouse" Beast Release Records 1998

2) Curtis Paul Campbell & The Eclectic Beast Band "Nature of the Beast" Beast Released Records 2004

3) Curtis Paul Campbell & The Eclectic Beast Band "Unplugged" Beast Release Records 2007

4) Curtis Paul Campbell & The Eclectic Beast Band "Live at the Sweetwater Saloon" Beast Release Records in 2009

5) Curtis Paul Campbell & The Eclectic Beast Band "Living The Music" 2009 Beast Release Records in 2009

a) Songs currently in documentaries: Church Mouse Marlin Invitational Tournament "Granny Goes to Church"

b) Songs currently in movies: 1) Billy Ray Cyrus/Heather Locklear in Flying By: "Faleen, Tramp, Hollywood Dreamer" 2) Afghan Knights: "Shotgun Mambo"

Members of the Band since 1998: Curtis Paul Campbell (Vocals/Harmonica) Chris Pinnick (Lead Guitar/Producer) Chet McCracken (Drummer) Scotty Manzo (Bass Guitar) Albert Wing (Tenor Saxophone) Johnnie Bamont (Alto Saxophone) Garth Webber (Lead Guitar/Producer/Engineer) owner of Red Rooster Studios Tony Lafrano (Keyboards) Carlos Reyes (Fiddle) Bryant Mills (Drums) Sal Cracchiolo (Trumpet) Melanie Jackson (Vocalist) Victor Little (Bass Guitar) Glen Jordan (Acoustic Guitar/Lead Guitar/Producer/Music Director) Dan Marsisi (Drums) Gary Davenport (Bass Guitar) Tim Torrance (Lead Guitar) Bob Luna (Keyboards) Jeff Minnieweather (Drums) Special Guests Mike Finnigan (B3 Hammond and Fender Rhoads Eighty Eight, Grand Piano) Albert Wing Tenor Sax, Eric Jorgenson Trombone, John Pappenbrook Trumpet and Ben Peeler on Lap Steel...

Panamanian Version of the Eclectic Beast Band include:
Marcos Linares (Guitar)
Chispa (Bass Guitar)
Freddy (Drums)
Ronnie Bianco (Keyboards) deceased

Curt Campbell (The Beast)

Chase'n the Dragon

This song is a story about coming home to find my son in prison for criminal offenses relating to the drug Meth...Seeing him in Prison for the first time nose to nose between a wall of glass just about killed me...I wrote this song last summer...The song came to me when I stumbled across a song by accident that spawned the words...I was writing with a broken pencil scrambling for some scratch paper all while crying to myself begging God not to let me lose the words to this song....I wrote it about 5 minutes...What's that tell you about the Universe eh? When I was getting ready to name the song I asked a close friend of mine if he knew what the street name was for Meth. He responded by saying: "I think they call it Chasing the Dragon". I couldn't believe it because my son's name is Chase hence "Chase'n the Dragon"... I think you will like the Live version just as much...I know I do... And it's not even mixed yet...

All the Beast,

Curt

Electrified Fiddle Carlos Reyes

Guitar Garth Webber

Bass Victor Little

Piano Tony Lafrano

Accoustic Guitar Todd Swenson

Sax Johnnie Bamont

Drums Jeff Minnieweahter

Harmonica, Vocals, Lyrics Curt Campbell (The Beast)