Travis landed the job of
studio manager for Lightfoot Recording Studios in Jamaica Plain, the first
recording studio in the Greater Boston area to feature sound-on-sound recording.
He booked studio time, assisted with engineering and helped hopeful clients
with vocal arrangements. In off hours, Travis began laying down tracks
for some of his 80 original songs. By the end of 1966, Travis
finally had enough material written to put together a band, so he went
down to Boston's prestigious Berkelee School of Music in search of musicians.
There, he met classical guitarist Karl Garrett, trying to make up his mind
whether to stay on and finish at Berklee or take up an invitation to study
with André Segovia in Spain. Travis offered a third option,
complete with a recording studio in which to rehearse. When Karl
heard Travis' demo tapes, he signed on. Meanwhile, Mikey Joe Valente,
the bass player from Natick High School's "New Jesters," learned that Travis
was putting together a band and wanted in. His technique needed some work, but his rhythm was solid and he took instruction well, so Karl agreed
to take him under his wing. Mikey Joe discovered percussionist Phil
Vitali (ex Navy Band), and rhythm guitarist George Brox. When they signed
on, the cast was complete. |
