about me
I sing. I write songs. I play guitar. I'm a native New Yorker. I established myself as founder, singer, songwriter and guitarist for Brooklyn's indie rockers, The Nerve over its 10 year career.
With The Nerve I experienced lots of growth and learning -- musically, professionally, and personally. The Nerve released two independent albums, an EP, and three videos over the course of it's first 7 years. Then in 2003 we were playing the CMJ Music Festival in NY when Robert Rankin Walker, president of pioneering indie label Heyday Records saw our set. A year later he signed us. Our third and final album was released on Heyday (The Church, Marty Willson-Piper, The Surfaris, Tommy Tutone and David J). That album was produced by renowned guitar hero Bumblefoot (Guns N' Roses). I played guitar in Mr. Foot's touring band for his fall 2005 tour of Europe. The Nerve played it's final show on December 16th, 2006 in Brooklyn, our home.
I am now enjoying my life as a solo artist. I'm totally immersing myself in the New York scene, singing and playing just an acoustic guitar and harmonica almost every night of the week at various bars, cafes and cabarets all over town and out of town. You can also catch me on any given day busking underground in the New York City subway system. I am a recipient of the Anna Sosenko Trust grant (2009) and a two time recipient of the Broken Wing Foundation grant for artists (2007, 2008).
Inevitably, this has all culminated in the completion of my first solo album, "Give". The album was produced by Hugh Pool, known for his work with Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright, and blues legend Hubert Sumlin. It was released March 3rd, 2009 on Heyday Records.
I thank you for perusing my site and reading all this stuff. Hope to see you at a show soon.
Love,
Randy
March, 2009