In late 2004, The Villas auditioned 10 bass players.
Marc Waldman (despite playing great and having, by far, the most fabulous rock star hair of all the auditionees) came in second and didn't get the job. This had never happened to Marc before. He had always "smoked the audition and gotten the job," which he reminded me in a series of increasingly funny, charming, and endearing phone calls ("Hey Villa,Waldman") over the ensuing months.
When the new bass player we had selected didn't work out, ring-a-ding hipster Marc Waldman and his fabulous haircut by Kathy Parker became The Villas bass player.
Our first gig with Marc was a private employee Holiday Party at Rodale, Inc. (gulp, don't wanna screw up there) on 12/17/04 and Marc did indeed smoke that gig and all subsequent Villas shows.
With Marc's longtime Aquabees bandmate Kevin Groller joining The Villas on drums, we (Angie, me, Marc, Kevin, and Bill Wehbe on keyboards) proceeded to have thee most F-U-N the Villas band had ever had since forming in 1999. And our revolving personnel door stopped revolving. In one smooth operator move, Marc Waldman had brought both fun and stability to a band that had experienced both only fleetingly before him. Those who know Marc will no doubt appreciate and maybe marvel at this delicious irony.
From the swingin’ croons of Frank Sinatra to the rippin’ surf riffs of Dick Dale, and from cocktail jazz and John Philip Sousa to The Beatles, Marc Waldman could, and did, play anything, and everything, exceptionally well.
That's Marc playing bass on The Villas new 2-song single (you can hear these songs by clicking on the kick drum at this blog's right sidebar) and on our upcoming 3rd full-length CD.
I will always have an especially warm place in my heart for Marc for his cajoling (and nagging) and encouraging (and insisting) that I perform via cameo appearance on lead vocals with Marc's longtime great surf/cover band, The Aquabees, which includes Kevin Groller on drums, Larry D'Amelio on Farfisa organ, and Dano Dave D'Amelio on guitar. I'll never forget the two 2005 shows The Villas and The Aquabees did together at The Fun House in Bethlehem and the two Aquabees gigs at The Hotel Bethlehem during Musikfest that Marc booked and promoted and played bass in both bands and never got his hair mussed. I haven't had that much fun since.
Our local and regional music communities have lost a truly great one with the passing of Marc Waldman.
We will always miss our Villas bandmate, Marc.
Photo Credit: Annie Giancarlo, Mayfair, 2007.
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7 comments:
I miss Marc, we had a lot of fun, especially at Penn State Festival of the Arts. Marc could play just about anything. I particularly enjoyed the Aquabees performing Tom Jones's "It's not Unusual."
Rest in Peace Marc. I'll always remember you. Marc was a versatile, and talented performer. The local music scene has lost a great one.
Hi Bill, Hi Mrs. Dottie...
It was my pleasure to have been there for a few of those performances you had with Marc. It was way cool to hear 'youse' perform together and witness the magic from the other perspective. Marc did a helluva job with you guys and I oughta know, *wink*
Although I did not know him well, I do feel as if I had known him on another level. As a musician I could totally relate to where he was coming from. He gave me the impression he was as cool as his all too cool 'do' would lead you to believe.
I am sure he will be missed by many. Thanks for paying such fine tribute to him... shows real class!
Thanks for commenting Dave. Mark also played in the Hobo Band. There is a pic at our website where he is wearing a green wig. He played Tuba!
We've received about 50 emails and phone calls so far from friends and fans of Marc that have all said, basically, either, "this is so very sad," or "what can one say at a time like this?"
I just heard about Marc's passing last night. I couldn't believe it. I knew him from work and he was one of my favorite customers. I am currently crashing with friends, and when he heard about my situation, he was one of the first people to offer me a place to stay. What a blow to the local music community. Good luck, you guys.
Thanks Liza, we are missing our band mate Marc very much ...
I found this Tribute to Marc at a Hobo Band site today ...
We're still missing Marc very much and always will be.
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