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The Bio of Arthur Tyrone Douglas, Jr.
I was turned onto music at an early age about 6 or 7 years old. My parents would play music around the house constantly playing music by Al Green, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Grover Washington, etc. My father had a large album collection and I credit him for exposing me to blues and contemporary jazz artists. I was always fascinated by the guitar and how it fit into all the different kinds of music I was hearing. When I turned 12 or 13 I got my first guitar, an acoustic, which I banged on for a year or so. Since most or all of the music I was listening to was electric I soon got an electric guitar, a Montoya Gibson Les Paul copy. By this time I was in my first year of high school and some of my classmates were into music. Several of them had bass guitars and were into the "Thumping Thing": you know, funk a.k.a. Larry Graham. I thought that style was cool so when one of my classmates wanted to sell his bass I immediately bought it. I have been thumping and banging every since. I have never had formal training on any instruments. But I have dabbled with the guitar, and keyboards enough to be comfortable playing them. For me it is all about feel. An acquaintance (Joseph Wooten) once told me that if it sounds right, it is right and if it sounds wrong, it is wrong. Several months ago I learned that my grandfather Robert Douglas was a musician with perfect pitch. He was well known for his skill on the guitar and fiddle in the small town where my parents grew up. I wasn't blessed with perfect pitch, but I have a way of working out my songs. Over the years I have come up with a lot of songs. I have also been blessed with a lot of friends with the same crazy love of music. We have even found people willing to pay us to do what we love. I have always considered this to be a serious hobby. In the near future I plan on releasing a CD featuring some of my friends and myself. We will see what happens, but for now I am happy to just maintain. As for my equipment, I am currently using a 5-string MTD bass, and 4-string Peavey Dyna bass, which are both, outfitted with Bartolini pickups and electronics. I am looking to add a fretless to my collection soon. I also have an Aria Pro II guitar. As for my keyboards, I use Ensoniq, Korg, and Alesis. I am using Peavey bass cabinets, SWR amps, and a various assortment of funky pedals (EBS, DOD, BOSS), and some rack effects. My recorder is a Roland VS840. As all my friends know this changes frequently.
S'Later (short for see ya later)
Ty 8/20/01 © |
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| Special Thanks to: WJAB (90.9FM), "DK Studio", James Records & Tapes, AVO Inc., "Tennesee Valley Jazz Society (TVJS)", The Arts Council, our friends at NASA, and most of all YOU......our gracious family & friends. Let "ABSTRACT" provide the entertainment for your next special event!!!!!! |
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