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Welcome to the home of String Chemistry
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New York Boy here. I was born in Coney Island Hospital, Brooklyn . I didn’t have much of city life, my parents moved to a small town on Long Island called Babylon when I was still pretty young. There wasn’t a hell of a lot to do when I was a kid, we didn’t have computers, and or video games, and living in a small town left little much else to do, so to keep me out of trouble and mischief, so my Father bought me a Gibson Classical guitar. I plunked around on it for a few months when my father decided I should take lessons, and I was all for it. I loved my Guitar, the smell of the wood and the case, the feel of the neck and the sound it made, and after I met and took lessons from my instructor at around age ten I found a whole new respect for music, and time management.
I loved my music, and my instructor made sure my time was managed well with hours of practice. By age twelve I was getting pretty good and my father would sit and listen for hours while I practiced. I never really got to see a lot of him it seemed he was always working to make sure we had what we needed as kids. I can remember times when he would work two jobs to make sure we had what we needed, but no matter how tired he was he always found time to sit with me and listen while I practiced.
I lost my Father when I was fourteen, times got tough from that point on. I continued my lessons, but there always seemed to be something missing with out my father there. My interest in my music didn’t last very long and by the time I was seventeen I was in the Marine Corps, then Vietnam .
Two separate incidents took first my ability to use my right pinky finger, including the lose of feeling in the tip of my finger. The second incident, caused me to lose the hearing in my left ear. It seemed I was not destined to ever play any kind of music again.
My wife and I would go to concerts and I found my self saying out loud I could do that and probably better. My wife got sick of hearing me talk about it, and one day surprised me with a twelve string electric acoustic Takamine. I told her she had just wasted her money, I appreciated what she had done but, there was no way I was going to be able to play a twelve string guitar let alone a six string The guitar sat around for a year or two, I would try to play but I just couldn’t get my pinky to do what I wanted it to. My mistake was trying to play the classical music I was taught.
One day while talking to on the phone the door bell rang, when I went to see who it was, it turned out to be a friend who also played guitar and was very good at it. While I was on the phone he picked up my guitar and started playing, what I heard amazed me. He was playing the blues on a twelve string and he sounded great. To make a long story short he came by every day showed me how to get around the problem with my pinky finger and I practiced every day with out fail for 15 years.
There were always those in my life who were there for me, when I needed them, even through the years of not playing, giving up, and feeling sorry for myself.
In order I would like to thank those responsible for what I know, and where I am today with my music and my song writing. My Father James Devlin, my Mother, Mary Devlin, my little Sister, Anita Cornetto, my Wife Diane, and my best friends Jorge Ramirez and Tommy Van Derginst.
To my wife, Diane
…what can I say, if it weren’t for the guitar you brought me I would not be where I am today. Thank you, for sacrificing your sanity through all the practices, thank you, for all the guitars, and the equipment, that’s helped the band and I, get to where we are today, and thank you for all the sacrifices you have had to make for me over the last 33 years. I love you more then you will ever know.
A special thanks to Jorge, my partner.
Jorge, you stood by me through thick and thin, you have always been there for me when I needed a good friend. We have a very strong connection in our friendship, music, and the chemistry in the way we play, you have the ability to read my mind. Thank you for the all things you have done for me over the more then 20 years we have known each other. Thank you for always being there through all the band member changes, and all the hard times. Thank you for believing in me, and thank you for just being you. You’re the greatest bass player ever, but more important you’re my best friend.
A Very special thanks to the rest of the band.
You have all struggled to learn my style of music and song writing, I love you all. We all have a special chemistry that makes the music we play come alive, and I don’t think we would be where we are today if it were not for the chemistry we make together. Thank you for all your hard work, and for adding a special sound to the band.
To all the members of the band, and my family, I love you all heart and soul
Hi, I am, Jorge Ramirez. One of the original members of String Chemistry and a musician for 50 years, being influenced by my Hispanic background of Latin Jazz, Salsa, and of course the contemporary sounds of " Carlos Santana". My name being Jorge R. The "R" representing "Renaissance Man" Being a lover of all the arts, not only music, but the art of painting, illustrating, portrait work, and medical illustrating. Music has always been part of my life. Vinyl record collecting has always been a large part of my music background. To listen to the best of all music in all categories is what makes my life whole.
I dedicate this " CD" ," La Ventana" to my family, my fellow musicians, my brother, Ronnie, God rest his soul, my once roadie, Friend, and fellow musician. He never stopped loving Music & Life as I do and still do. To my fellow Band members all. We all had a Goal. To my wife Victoria, my friend, who supports me like no other. To all the help from everyone making this dream possible.
Spawned from a casual conversation with a mutual friend, the subject of performing music surfaced. When asked if I’d be interested in jamming with an instrumental band that was looking for another guitarist, I immediately replied, “Yes, of course!” After all, the sound of blazing electric guitars that dominated instrumental surf music in the early sixties was the back drop of my adolescence while growing up in Southern California. I didn’t hesitate. I called Jorge Ramirez that afternoon and introduced myself. Jorge was receptive over the phone but ultimately suggested I call Chris Devlin for more details. The phone conversation that followed proposed an improvisational musical landscape that included jazz, blues, Latin & rock rhythms. The notion intrigued me. The thought of musically free falling into bliss while allowing emotions to instinctively react to a surrounding audio atmosphere sounded sort of like an erotic sexual encounter. “What time should I be there?”, I enthusiastically asked Chris.
From the very first session, the emotions evoked from performing with String Chemistry were indeed inspiring. Rehearsing soon made way to perform in front of audiences. The reactions from listeners were rousing. When the idea was presented to create a CD, it seemed the obvious next progression. The recording process in making “La Ventana” was like an amazing musical odyssey. Though the electrically charged performances from everyone involved were spontaneous and in the moment, it was exciting to witness each song come to life.
To all the kind folks engaged in the vision, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity of allowing me to be a part of such a powerful universal force known as “String Chemistry”.
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Born in Rochester, N.Y., but raised in the great music town of St. Louis. Blues, Rock, Folk, Country. They all had an influence. Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Sly and the Family Stone, Chicago, Santana, Bob Dylan, Bella Fleck, Allman Brothers, AC/DC, Alabama, Black Sabbath, Blood Sweat &Tears, The Cars, Meatloaf, Electric Light Orchestra, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Paul Simon, The Temptation, The Who, Moody Blues, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I could go on and on, but these were my family. Great artists, one and all. I started with a guitar and grade school but left music, other than listening, for a long time. Later, I started doing drum circles in the 90's playing the Native American flute and djembes. Then, I started playing the djembes for pay in the summer of 2007 with Ande Schuman of the Unskilled Workers Union. Shortly thereafter I started playing with Ono Grindz, a folk/rock/blues band and started with String Chemistry in October 2007. Chris and Jorge have been great |
| mentors in finding my grooves and rhythms. It has been fun adding a variety of percussion instruments…congas, chimes, shakers, blocks and bells, guiros, and bongos to name a few. Love you guys. | |
I started a life of music when I was about 10 years old playing piano. I played piano for about 3 years and then started taking drum lesson and played drums for about 2 or so years. I was also able to sing so i signed up with a choir and sang for 3 years, but nothing really special came of it.
In my late teens I discovered Latin music and i really enjoyed listening to that type of beat. My musical inspirations todate are Tito Puente, Johnny Rodriguez, Eddie and Charlie Palmari, Sergio Mendez, and all of the other great players within the Latin genre. I Started playing bongos and a little conga a few years ago just for fun, and now i am playing Latin, blues, and Jazz rhythms with String Chemistry.
Hello. My name is Cary Odell. With the exception of an 11 year stay in Denver, Colorado, I have lived in the Phoenix area for most of my adult life. As a result of my father’s career in the Air Force Band, my exposure and interest in music began at a very young age. My interest in playing the drums began when my father’s jazz combo would set up and rehearse in the living room of our small house just outside of Newburg, New York.
I began with a drum pad and a pair of sticks and took lessons from Air Force percussionists at the various bases at which my father was stationed. I progressed through the usual elementary and high school music programs, excelling in rudimentary style drumming and learned to play jazz drum set along the way. While in high school I took jazz drum set lessons with Jim Zupanzic at The Bob Ravenscroft Music Studio and The Creative Drum Shop, both in Scottsdale, Arizona.
After high school I attended Arizona State University for a short time and studied with Mark Sunkett and Mark Swanson while performing with the ASU Sun Devil Marching and Symphonic Bands, as well as the percussion ensemble and a jazz combo. During this time I also gigged regularly with a jazz trio named The Gentlemen, performing at a wide variety of events including wedding receptions, parties, dances and corporate events.
I left ASU to join and tour with the Casper Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps and the Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. While with the Blue Devils I studied with Tom Float, Catherine Gibson and Scott Johnson. While living in Denver I broke from performing and went back to school, paying the bills by teaching drum corps and high school percussion. I graduated in 1997 with a BA in History. I currently reside in the Phoenix area with my wife and son. After returning to the Phoenix area in 1997, I began performing with The SoundSations and The Blind Faith Jubilee Dixieland Band.
Not long ago I was surfing the internet when I came across an ad posted by the leader of a band named String Chemistry. They were looking for a new drummer and it just so happened that I was looking to stretch my musical wings and meet some new musicians. Whether you call it fate or just coincidence, it must have been in the cards. A few weeks later I was jamming with a great group of guys and have been with them ever since.
Musical Influences:
Virgil Odell (Cary’s father), Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Joe Morello, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Neil Pert, Carl Palmer
Hello, I am Hilde, I am 49, and I am from Belgium - Europe. I was born in Germany and grew up with 3 different languages around me, ( Dutch - German - French). When I got a computer in my house, I learned very fast the English language in the yahoo chat rooms and that is where and how I met Chris and became a part of String Chemistry. I can also understand some of the Norwegian language.
After my school time, I worked as nurse at a big doctors office where I was responsible for everything. I got married, have 3 wonderful kids, left my husband, and right now I am just an average housewife what is a full time job as well. I love to listen to all kinds of music, love reading, chatting, swimming, cooking and traveling and many other things.
My kids are now growing up and I can put lots of my time in promoting the band, String Chemistry. When Chris asked me to take care of the web site, I decided to go back to school to learn the Dreamweaver, Flash and Adobe Photo shop.
There are probably much more things I will have to do, other than what I mentioned. I will love to do anything I can and have to for the band, my band ( = my friends ) as I am used to say and I want to thank Chris and Jorge, and all the other band members for making me be a part of "String Chemistry" !
Joan Embrey Johnson grew up in Newark, New Jersey, with parents, grandparents and other relatives with music backgrounds. She was exposed to all kinds of music, growing up, as she had a grandmother who sang opera, a grandfather, known as Mr. Nostalgia, who recorded for RCA records and performed in clubs all over the world, an aunt who played gospel for and toured with the Clara Ward Singers and a childhood that allowed her to see and often meet many of the greats, like Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Eckstein, The Ink Spots, all of whom performed in Newark and nearby New York. The Apollo Theater was one of her major haunts.
She married and had five children, took herself back to school where she earned a B.A. Degree, in Psychology, from Upsala College, East Orange, New Jersey and an M.A., in Psychology, from Antioch University, Washington, D.C.
Ms. Embrey-Johnson worked as a paralegal, paralegal supervisor, litigation coordinator and administrative law specialist for many years. However, music was always a part of her life.
She was a competitive roller skater, in dance and figures, as were her children and her father. The family competed all over the country, winning many titles and enjoying the challenge of competition and the beauty of the sport. Ms. Embrey-Johnson eventually obtained a judges commission and judged competitions as well.
As is the case with many performers, Ms. Embrey-Johnson sang in the school glee club and church choirs, from a very early age. She sang doo wops with friends and was offered a contract during her teen years. She chose to remain in school.
Eventually, she began to do club dates, with a friend of hers who had a band and performed at a number of venues, in New York and New Jersey, such as the Peppermint Lounge, Windows on World’s Best Little Bar in New York, La Detente, Chez Josephine and others, prior to moving to Arizona.
Since moving to Arizona, she has been a featured soloist with the George Chelena Chorale, a 50 member, a cappella ensemble that performed big band music in many venues in the Valley, including Glendale Glitters and the Sun Dome; has sung with the Westbrook Choristers for several years and has performed at Bobby C’s, the String Chemistry Café, Club Central, the Glendale Gaslight Inn, the PERA Club, SRP events and many other venues throughout the Valley of the Sun.