JoeMcGinty.com

First Known Documented Evidence Of Me Playing In A Band, Northfield, NJ.

This is the first band I ever played in, circa sophomore year in High School. We were in my friend Rich Kurtz's basement (he's playing bass). Tiger, the poodle,  makes a cameo. The clip has no sound--Rich's dad filmed it on his 8mm camera. We played our first and only gig at the Northfield Rec Lodge. Our set probably included "I Shot The Sherrif", "Smoke On The Water", "Paranoid", and "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love". Note the pre-grunge era flannel shirts. The line-up features Yours Truly on Wurlitzer, Rich Kurtz on bass, Richard Rockelman on guitar, and Harold DeLozier on drums. The dude sitting next to the drums and randomly hitting the cymbals was Greg Haines, who ended up being the singer, though I think he really wanted to play drums. A highlight of the rehearsals was the extended version of Deep Purple's "Space Trucking" where we would turn off all of the lights in the basement, turn on the strobe light from Spencer Gifts and have a massive psychedelic "freak-out", without the aid of chemicals (we were pretty nerdy).

Blast from the past

Here's a recording of "Just What I Needed" recorded by me and my friends during a break from college in 1980. Other songs we recorded during this session include a Supertramp medley: "The Logical Song/Goodbye Stranger"; Led Zep's "All Of My Love"; REO Speedwagon's "Roll With The Changes"; "Let's Go" by The Cars, and "Big Shot" by Billy Joel.

L-R: Rich Kurtz (bass, vocals), Joe McGinty (Crumar Orchestrator, ARP Axxe), Harold DeLozier (drums), Randy Brant (guitar). Rich plays bass around Atlantic City and runs a ProTools studio, Harold is a Jr. High music teacher in Johnstown, PA, and Randy works in advertising. We recorded this on a Dokorder reel-to-reel 4 track in Harold's parents' basement in Owego, NY.

Illeanarama

Hey everyone,

I just finished working on some music for Illeana Douglas' TV show "Illeanarama". It's funny in a "Strangers With Candy" kind of way. In the show, she retires from showbiz to work at the local supermarket. It stars Ed Begley, Jr., Justine Batemen, and Jeff Goldblum. It's at the "pilot" stage right now. I'll let you know when it airs. Incidentally, I met Illeana during filming of "Grace of My Heart"--my hands were used as close-ups when Eric Stoltz was playing the piano. A few years later, I played her wedding.

"What A Wonderful World": A singalong moment with Jennifer Leigh Warren, Joe McGinty and Illeana Douglas at Douglas's memorable New York wedding.