In case you couldnt log on to the article about Derek Jordan Gregg and myself, I went ahead and copypastad it as well as the link. Thanks. desertsun/story/life/entertainment/music/2014/03/29/mark-derek-gregg/7070349/ Mark and Derek Gregg bond over love of music Beth Roessner, The Desert Sun 7:10 p.m. PDT March 29, 2014 Both Greggs are confident and versatile on stage, comfortable playing just about any style (Photo: Michael Snyder/The Desert Sun ) SHARE 85 CONNECT TWEET COMMENT EMAIL MORE Music is Mark Gregg’s passion. He’s had several long-standing gigs at local restaurants, and he’s also explored the entrepreneurial side of the industry. His son, Derek Jordan Gregg, has turned music into a full-time career at the age of 23. “I’ve always been fascinated with (music),” Derek said. “Before I started playing guitar, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” Both Greggs are confident and versatile on stage, comfortable playing just about any style that gets thrown at them. But they won’t sacrifice their individuality. Music does more than pay the bills; it’s the only life they know. From an early age music proved to be an outlet for Mark, who grew up surrounded by vinyl. As his son discovered his own voice and style, Mark purposely stayed out of the way to allow Derek to grow as a musician. “I know that I’m a pretty strong personality and do affect other musicians around me because I’ve been doing it so long,” said Mark, who moved to the desert in 1994. “I didn’t want to overwhelm his deal because I thought it was unique.” Derek developed a sound that blends rock, jazz, blues, folk and pop. On stage, he wears button-down shirts, vests and dark-rimmed glasses. Dad, on the other hand, is all rock ’n’ roll. Derek is in awe of the tone Mark can produce on his guitar, a coveted 1952 Les Paul. Derek grew up in Oregon, visiting his father and watching him play. Mark picked up a guitar at 13, while his son has been playing for eight years. Derek also dabbles with bass and other instruments. Derek came to Palm Springs to live with his father in 2012, and figure out how he was going to make it in music. One thing Derek brought with him from the Pacific Northwest was a love of laid-back jamming. Mark has played with Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant, Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, drummer Rikki Rockett of Poison and even Roseanne Barr. He also has his inventions. Mark is credited with creating the Silver Bucker, a pickup that replicates a 1957 Gibson guitar. Then there’s his Ultimate Attenuator, a tube amplifier that helps control the volume on an amplifier. Many of his products are used by well-known musicians. Derek remembers going through shipping forms and stumbling upon the name, “Steve Miller.” Mark’s newest project is the conversion of the former Dink’s Restaurant & Ultra Lounge into Drink’s, a restaurant and dinner theater-type establishment. Acting as the restaurant’s entertainment director and in-house agent, Mark will be booking acts and playing in the house band. The opening is set for this spring. Mark left his regular gig, The Village Pub, after 16 years. His band stayed, but he kept the name, Dude Jones. He now can be found performing at Sullivan’s Steakhouse and playing acoustic guitar at Lavender Bistro in La Quinta. “Mark makes a living playing music and he’s dedicated to his craft,” said friend Peter Dallas. Dallas met Mark back in 1999, and the two started playing together in Dallas’ Tom Petty tribute project, You Got Lucky. Dallas has also played with Derek. “It’s really a very cool energy with them,” said Dallas said, who now lives in Las Vegas. “When I play with Derek and Mark... there are little nuggets throughout the evening that you tend to remember where you kind of look at each other and go, ‘Yeah, that was cool.’ ” And, that’s what they do. Derek’s calendar has been packed with gigs and studio bookings. In February his two-piece band, The Hive Minds, won the Battle of the Bands at the Riverside County Date Festival. It was actually through Mark that Derek met band mate Sean Poe, a young, wiry drummer from Palm Desert. Although Poe only played with Mark once, the guitarist left an impression. “Mark is very intimidating,” said Poe. “He’s such an esteemed player and he’s got a name. You’re just shaking in your boots sitting with him.” Derek wrote most of his songs to be performed solo. But with Poe, things clicked. Derek trusts his judgment and his ability to improvise. Together they’ve learned how to compensate for the lack of a bass player. Derek puts emphasis on a more rhythmic style of guitar playing, said Poe. Derek added he’s learned to become his own bass player. They’re open to the idea of finding a third member, but they’re picky. Simply, they work better without one. Although the Greggs are finding success on the desert scene, Mark believes it’s a tough landscape for musicians. “It’s isolated from everything,” said Mark. “When you’re in Orange County or the greater L.A. area, everything’s connected and you can have a circuit.” But out here, things are much different. The community is close and there is an outpouring of support at gigs, said Mark, and he’s appreciative. The valley is the first place he truly considers home. “Sharing music is the most powerful thing that we can do,” said Mark. “It’s what we were meant to do.” Derek, on the other hand, isn’t quite sure where he wants to set up his “home base,” and the idea of appeals to him. He’s ready to relocate, but for now, he wants to continue growing out here in the desert. “It’s not about getting rich and being John Mayer,” said Derek. “I just want the fan base and be able to support myself semi-comfortably.” Family business For more about Mark and Derek Jordan Gregg, visit: facebook/thehiveminds, facebook/markgregg, silverbucker, and ultimateattenuator SHARE 85 CONNECT TWEET COMMENT EMAIL MORE MORE LIFE STORIES Our Voice: Make life safer for local troops March 29, 2014, 9:30 p.m. Author Gail Sheehy shares insights on life March 26, 2014, 10:07 p.m. Life and times of the barrel cactus March 22, 2014, 9:14 p.m. MORE STORIES: Promoted Content Composer Bill Marx takes the stage to discuss career Life | 34 hours ago
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:31:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015