Musicwrks - Live Entertainment & Talented Artists

So, I knew this day would come. I have a few skeletons in my closet, like a Garth Brooks album I borrowed and never returned. I can admit it now. Times are changing and so is music. The lines and boundaries of genres are being crossed, mutated, combined, evolved. So, now media snobs will need new terms like trip-hop, country-rap, folk-punk and I don't even know what more genres we can mix. I just know what I like and I am not about to be caught dead at a square dance festival or in a pick-up truck "muddin" (well, maybe I am just not ready to admit I have lived in the South long enough to know what "muddin" is up close. But that was what beer was for…)

Artist Information

Instrumentation
Larry Bagby-Lead Vocals ,Guitar, Piano
Sam Nickell-Vocals,Lead Guitar
Theron Derrick-Drums
Curt Piar-Vocals, Bass

Biography
Born and raised mostly in California, Larry Bagby was exposed to the musical world early on in life. His father played in a dance band and Larry was known to jump on stage and start entertaining the crowd along- side his talented father. However, it was Larry's debut performance as "Oz" in the play The Wizard of Oz at the tender age of 8 that really got him interested in music.

Since that time, Larry has been writing, singing, and playing his songs at noted venues around the world. He recorded his first 4 track when he was in junior high and over the years his musical talent has progressed into prolific songwriting and live performances. Within the last couple of years, his songs have been included in several independent film projects and he received national airplay for his vocal rendition of "America Stands Tall." However, his musical talent goes beyond belting out tunes. He plays the piano, guitar and stand-up bass and self-produced his latest album, Where I Stand.

Most recently, Larry performed the only original song, 'Counting My Lucky Stars,' on the Cold Case episode featuring the Tim McGraw soundtrack. In addition, Larry's musical talents took him to Nashville, where he competed for a spot on USA Networks' show, Nashville Star. Larry was chosen out of 20,000 competitors to go to Nashville and compete with 56 regional finalists vying for one of 10 coveted spots on the show's fifth season.

No stranger to Tennessee, Larry spent the summer of 2004 in Memphis, shooting the critically acclaimed film, Walk The Line, alongside Hollywood stars Joaquin Phoenix and Academy-award winning actress, Reese Witherspoon. Based on the life of Johnny Cash, Walk The Line features Larry in the role of “Marshall Grant” -- Cash’s best friend and stand up bass player.

With an acting career that spans more than 20 years, Larry also starred in the award-winning film, Saints and Soldiers, as the card trick playing, cigarette loving southern boy "Shirl Kendrick". Aside from winning 21 Best Picture awards from film festivals around the nation, Saints and Soldiers was also nominated for Best First Feature and Best Cinematography in the 2004 IFP Independent Spirit Awards.

Sam Nickell grew up in a home heavily influenced by music. With a jazz singer for a mother and a musical connoisseur for a father, Sam was able (and still is) to name any artist from the 1950’s to present day that was/is playing on the radio. At age 12 Sam, received his first guitar and quickly rose to the fantastic talent he is today. By age 19, Sam had a record deal with Epic/Immortal Records playing lead-guitar and singing for ‘April’s Motel Room.’ The band opened for numerous musical acts including: The Allman Bros., Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler, The Black Crowes, Dramarama, 11, and The Flaming Lips. Sam had his own band, Mooselodge, in which he wrote all the music, lyrics, played guitar and sang. In addition to playing lead guitar and singing vocals for The Larry Bagby Band, Sam is developing a children’s television show with singer/songwriter Kimber Beraux.

Curt Piar has been playing music for more than 25 years on countless recordings and too many live shows to remember. Although he considers himself to be “just a guitar player,” Curt is also proficient on bass guitar, percussion, backing vocals, and is not afraid to attempt anything musical. In addition to playing bass for The Larry Bagby Band, Curt is also the owner/engineer of Proving Ground Studio, which has been in business recording all genres of music since 1992. He has taken on the roles of producer and/or co-producer on numerous albums recorded in his studio allowing him to expand his talents.

Evan Hillhouse, has been playing drums since the womb. His mother thought he was kicking a little harder then normal and the doctor did a sonogram to find Evan (that was his fetal name too) had been using his mothers heart beat to keep in rhythm...he managed to use his mothers liver as a kick drum and her kidneys as toms...the snare and hi-hat were combine on her belly which is the reason his mother felt twice the kicking also after several studies it was determined that he was using the double bass method at age -2 months....it was clear the song little drummer boy was written for Hillhouse the fetus. It begun there and since Evan has busted toms and snares in half with his strong hands and sweet techniques. If you made it this far then here is the real bio....can't we have a little fun...does music have to be so serious all the time.?

Evan Hillhouse has been drumming before it was documented. He recorded his debut solo album at proving Ground Studios where Larry and Evan joined forces to begin playing and recording as a band. Evan plays piano, guitar, bass and any other instrument you put in front of him. He is also an amazing producer and is currently working with Brian Bell of Weezer on side project He has toured and recorded with dozens of other acts at proving ground. He is also in the studio with The Larry Bagby Band recording some live tracks for their next album. Evan brings a great spirit of youth, excitement and counter melodies in his harmonies and piano playing, keep an eye out on this one, his name will be on many projects that will be considered classics one day.

MySpace.com/MusicWrks