AMIR is a drummer from Philadelphia, PA., who has honed his music skills in the trenches of the lounge act scene performing various music styles with Philly local acts, i.e. EDDIE HOLMAN (HEY THERE LONELY GIRL), BOOMER (rock), CHICO BOOTH & THE FURYS,(funk, r&b), NEW DAY,(r&b)BILL LEWIS (jazz vibist), BOBBY ZANKEL (Sax), HOWARD COOPER (bassist),GAIL JHONSON (keyboard),ARLENE BAILEY (vocalist), in numerous venues in Philly, New Jersey, New York, Boston, Ohio, Vermont, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Canada.
AMIR began playing bells in elementary school learning Stars and Stripes and a few other American patriotic songs. He quickly became interested in drums while listening to Motown hits by the Temptations, Supremes,Marvin Gaye, Smokie Robinson and others. Then came James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone, Kool & the Gang, Funkadelic, Beatles,John Coltrane, Eddie Harris, Booker T& the MGs, Jr Walker etc. "Being from a family of 10 my parents could not afford a drum set, so i picked up two no. 2 pencils and played on the floor to 45s of all the groups and music I liked".
While in the U.S.A.F AMIR performed with other military airman in NCO clubs with group "BLACK IMAGE" mostly doing cover songs of the 70s. We entered the U.S.A.F.E. talent contest and won due to the keyboardists' original music.
AMIR studied at the Granoff School of Music in Philadelphia PA,(upon graduating, became a drum instructor),Settlement Music School and Community College of Phila., woodsheded with jazz drummers, Granville "MICKEY" Roker, Len Neri, Phil Giordano, Lex Humphries and Edgar Bateman. Jammed with Philly sax greats John Glenn, Hank Mobley and Bootsie Barnes, just to name a few.
In Southern California, AMIR has also performed with reggae act "CONCIOUS ROOTS", from Long Beach CA, PAPA LEVI & THE THIRD GENERATION, (reggae), IVORY COAST artist LUCIEN KOUASSI(AFRICAN pop/reggae) , and THE "NIGHT MOVES" BAND, (r&b and funk). AMIR also taught drums at the EUBANKS CONSERVATORY in Los Angeles, CA.
GEORGE REICH (producer/engineer of HEREAFTER STUDIOS/GLENDALE CA) accompanies on keyboards and guitar, TOM LOWERY on Latin percussion(percussionist in Spoken Hand & Alo Brasil), ADIMU-KUUMBA(very creative AFRICAN percussionist and instrument maker) on African percussion. Christopher and Wesley Lowery of the "SUPALOWERY BROS" accompany on trumpet and drums respectfully. Also check them out @ www.supalowerybros.com.
All songs composed and arranged by AMIR. Recorded at HEREAFTER STUDIOS, GLENDALE CA.
Master mix and cd jacket designed at Disc Makers, Pennsauken, N.J.
Executive Producer-AMIR
Producer-George Reich
Check out the artist's website:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/amiraliTrack List:
1. Music Is
2. Island Step
3. Sunshine
4. Moon Unit
5. You & I
6. Coastal
7. Marijane
8. Samba De Amir
9. Passages
Other Genres:
