 | Once in along time a great idea is born. It's usually created out of necessity, fantasy, just plain hard work, or combinations thereof.
The story of MR. Big Shot is all this and more!
Let me introduce myself. My name is Russell Marsland.
I am a veteran guitarist/singer/writer of over 30 years.
At 48, I have had the honor of meeting and performing with some of the greatest musicians in the world! Like BB King, Tower of Power, Ray Charles, War, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughn, James Brown...just to name a few! I have written for MTV soundtrack, and scored for movies.
I played my first night club in 1968 at a very tender age. You do the math!
Music is my life. All styles, all flavours! Blues, funk, country, rock, jazz...I love em all! I have worked as a clinician for Peavey, Fender, and lot's more. I have also managed retail music stores, sold wholesale music gear, taught guitar....and on it goes. Check out my personal web site, russellmarsland.com
During my career as a musician, I work with many great drummers. Also one of my favorite instruments.
One night I was paying at a local jazz, blues club with my friend, and great drummer, Jack Brascia. Now ,Jack lays down all kinds of feels.
Cool Latin, jazz, R and B, and he loves using brushes!
We cook like crazy, and sooner than later the music is out of control, and Brush wires are flying all over the place! Into people's drinks, food plates, and all over Jack and I! Great fun, but not very practical.
So, I go home that night after a wonderful evening of frenzied music, and I wake up in a cold sweat! I reach over to the bed table, grab a pencil and paper, and start to write the initials MBS. Mr. Big Shot!
The pencil keeps moving and starts to draw what looks like a drum brush, but with some wacky appendages coming out of the center!
I know, if I mate a brush with a stick, and make it totally adjustable for different sounds and textures....that would be the best of both worlds for a drummer...wouldn't it? I think so.
Satisfied that I may still be in a dream, I put the pencil and paper down, and go back to sleep.
When I awoke, and started in on first cup of coffee, I remembered that I had written something on the paper, and as I focused on it, realized the MBS was what looked like a real cool tool!
Jack and I played lot's more gigs, and I told him about the idea. He loved it, and said that it probably would solve a lot of his problems with brushes, and also re-invent the way he would play other feels and styles. Wow, I knew I was onto something here!
Some time goes by, and I am obsessed with this idea, even the name, MR. Big Shot turns my crank, and has all kinds of attitude!
So, I have another gig with a very good friend of mine, his name is Shawn Soucy. Now, Shawn is a great drummer that plays all kinds of styles of music...Let me tell you about him. http://www.drumsetc.org/
Shawn has been playing drums, very well, I might add, for over 30 years! Here's is a guy that really knew what he wanted to do! |
 | Shawn is a drummer/percussionist in the local, national and international scene. Some highlights of Shawn's performing/recordingcareer include:
:Being nominated in 1998 for a Juno with "Alibi" for Country Music Group of the Year in Canada.
:Being nominated 3 times for All-Star Drummer by the Canadian Country Music Assn.(1996-98).
:Awarded 5 times as All-Star Drummer for the BC Country Music Assn.
(1993-97).
Ellen McIlwaine, Patricia Conroy, Doug and the Slugs, Johnny Ferriera
and Swing Machine, Farmer's Daughter, and Gary Fjellgaard are some of the many recording artists he has worked with. Shawn has appeared in front of the camera many times in music videos and as a drummer in musical variety shows and film productions. He recently played John Denver's drummer in the ABC Movie of the Week, "The John Denver Story"
Now, there's lots more to say about Shawn, like he is a Yamaha endorsee,
a Sabian endorsee, a drum tech for one of the largest Country music festivals in the world, namely th Merritt Mountain Music Festival in Canada, for 5 years
It goes on and on. Check out Shawn's web site's...
drumsetc.org
djkillers.com
thehitmen.ca
spiritmedia.ca
Shawn is also a graphic artist, and a real good mechanic. On top of it all, he's a real cool guy, and my bud!
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