The Professors have a degree in the rock classics
The group’s catalog of songs has changed enormously in the past few years. The focus is on unique arrangements of classics by David Bowie, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, but the band still does some of its longstanding original songs dating back to 1995. “One thing we like to do is play songs that aren’t radio-popular,” he said. “We’ll often change the keys and alter songs. Some songs we try to play as close to how they’re supposed to sound.
But we’re not afraid of changing things up a bit and putting our own spin on a song.” British guitarist Gary Radford is the sole remaining original member of the band and one of the band’s two professors who teach Communications and Media Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University. “He comes with a real catalog of classic British rock,” Caldiero said of Radford. Radford’s wife, Marie, is the group’s keyboardist and his daughter, Meg, is another vocalist.
Bassist Nick Romanenko and drummer Peter Van Emburg joined the band three years ago. Caldiero became the band’s lead vocalist after hearing the group perform at a conference at Montclair State University in 2006. He completed his Ph.D. in Media Studies at Rutgers University that same year. “I brought in some alternative stuff,” he said. “Now we do some Incubus and Alice In Chains.” He is not entirely new to the music business.
During his undergraduate studies at Montclair State University, Caldiero, 39, played harmonica in various blues bands and developed an interest in Chicago and Delta blues in addition to his love of classic British rock. “That blend has made for some nice grooves,” he said.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.