Jim Bellmund
"Keyboard Master" Jim Bellmund Interview
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Interview by Roger Zee (10/07/19)
Roger Zee: Who inspired you to play keyboards and sing?
Jim Bellmund The Beatles captured my music interest. Paul McCartney seemed like the coolest guy. So I ran out and bought a bass guitar. A few years later, Cat Stevens came on the scene so I got an acoustic guitar and started playing and singing a lot. As time went on, the guys I hung around with began listening to Southern Rock. Chuck Leavell blew me away with his awesome keyboard solos. No one else I knew played keys so I switched over and bought a Wurlitzer electric piano. Then came Elton John, Billy Joel, and Van Morrison. I knew then that's what I wanted to do. Playing forty years now.
Roger Zee: How did you hook up with the Happy Crabs?
Jim Bellmund: Since the Nineties, I've played in wedding bands, groups like Cloudnyne and Infusion. I started to free lance more and more. Then one day out of the blue I got a call from Cuda Vendetta. He asked me if I wanted to try out for his new group. I said "sure come on over!" They all used to perform with The Squids -- Cuda Vendetta on guitar, Neil Gallo on drums, and Bill Mazzoli on bass and vocals. An immediate hit, we sounded great and could laugh and joke at the same time! People comment all the time how we look like we're having so much fun up there. I think that permeates out to the crowd because they seem to dance to every song. We play something for everyone. With four singers in the band and great harmonies, we go from early Rock, Latin, Country to Seventies Disco, Nineties Dance, a little Rap, up to some of the great funk and dance music of today. We play most of the local clubs including the Hudson room, Back Nine, Molly Darcy's, Stone Rose, and LaFamilia to name a few. You'll also find us at lots of town parks, festivals, wineries in the spring, summer and fall.
Roger Zee: What other groups do you work with?
Jim Bellmund: I've worked with Cloudnyne, Infusion, Sands of Time, Slick Trixie, Dead Men Walking, Milady and Company, Classic Rock Euphoria, The Barfly Orchestra, The Rock Ridge band, Stone Hill, Sue and the Blind, Excaliper, Cher and company, and a few other here and there.
Roger Zee: Tell me about your favorite and/or most unusual gig.
Jim Bellmund: I played my best gig ever on the Queen Elizabeth II. A very famous music industry lawyer hired me to perform his wife's favorite song, "Longer" by Dan Fogelberg, right after their wedding ceremony. I played keys and a friend sang it. I never felt so nervous in my life due to the music royalty in attendance. But it all went well. I always wonder whether they clapped for me or the couple getting married!
Roger Zee: Do you teach music?
Jim Bellmund: No I don't teach. I'm not classically trained, but I'd be happy to get someone started or help them along the way.
Roger Zee: What advice do you give young musicians?
Jim Bellmund: Remember the old saying, "How do you get to Carnegie hall? Practice, practice, practice!" The other advice I give to a young musicians taking up keyboards -- learn everything there is to know about sampling and how to create sounds. It's the wave of the future. No matter good a technician you become, it's the sound that makes you great!. If you get asked to do a sax solo, listen to sax player. How fat he makes those low note and how he thrills on the high ones. Those little nuances will make you a great player and much in demand. Lastly, don't get intimidated by the older guy Kicking ass on and old Classic Rock songs he's been playing for forty years You will get there.
Roger Zee: How do you see the future of the music business?
Jim Bellmund: We live in the computer age and they will make more of the music. I could sit home and write a symphony at my PC. Sad to say, the day of the club musician may soon disappear. But I ask all the young guns to keep it going. Don't give up! A computer can't match your soul.
©2019 Roger Zee