-
Home for the Holidays - Louisiana Singer-Songwriters Evening, "Moonlight & Roses", Dec. 2011
[+ Show ]
CJ is among 6 Louisiana Singer-Songwriters featured in the "Home for the Holidays - Moonlight & Rose...CJ is among 6 Louisiana Singer-Songwriters featured in the "Home for the Holidays - Moonlight & Roses" event at the Manship Theatre over the Christmas Holidays.
-
Humps n' Horns Magazine: Featured New Artist, April 2011
[+ Show ]
APRIL 2011 _____________________________________________________HNH NEWS ___________________________...APRIL 2011 _____________________________________________________HNH NEWS _____________________________________________________________ 15
FEATURED NEW ARTIST CJ SOLAR
by Trayce Dethero
A decade ago, CJ Solar, 18, found his dad?’s old guitar in a closet and started playing, he hasn?’t put down the guitar since. While growing up in Baton Rouge, La., CJ developed a love for music and he views his music career as a life long endeavor.
Soon after CJ started singing at age 9, his twin brothers took an interest in music. Cody began playing the keyboards and bass while Mack joined in on the drums. The boys took lessons, and then eventually began playing in coffee houses and restaurants. The brothers played for many years, as the Solar Heat, around the state of Louisiana.
One night while playing at a coffee house, CJ?’s younger brother Cody, told him, ?“I am not going to be your voice anymore, sing for yourself,?” and the rest is history.
While attending Catholic High School, CJ started looking at Belmont University in Nashville. He traveled to the school and attended one of the classes, then started at the university in the fall of 2010. He began attending writers nights sponsored by the National Song Writers Association International, a place where artists could write together and have their work critiqued by professionals. CJ also writes with the Belmont Song Writers Association. In December of 2010, CJ played at events hosted by the Cowboy Christian Connection at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
?“It was great seeing so many people invading Las Vegas for the love of rodeo,?” said CJ. ?“I really enjoyed getting the chance to hang out and play in front of a lot of people.?”
CJ is hoping to find sponsors and become a regular part of the event. In the fall of 2010, CJ and his producer sent music samples to the Southern Extreme Bull Riders Association. This led to CJ singing during the SEBRA Finals in Murfreesboro, TN, the last weekend in January, along with other music artists.
?“It was a great event,?” said CJ. ?“And a great experience.?”
?“CJ and his promoters were absolutely the best of people to work with,?” said Gary Miller, Vice President of Operations for SEBRA. ?“I found CJ to be an outstanding young man, dedicated to becoming a great performer.?”
Besides music, CJ grew up around the sport of rodeo, because both his grandpa and step grandpa rode rough stock. He was sitting with his grandpa one day, watching rodeo on television and noticed that there was not any good music for the bull riders to come flying out of the chutes to. It was then that the idea for the song ?“Bulls are Buckin?” was born.
The song made its debut on MySpace and quickly became one of the favorite songs for bull riders in the Southern States. After several requests by many female barrel racers, CJ wrote the popular song ?“She Rocks those Wranglers.?”
CJ?’s music is currently making its way out west to other rodeo venues.
CJ has many favorite songs that he has written, but the songs ?“Kiss Me Goodbye,?” and ?“She Rocks those Wranglers?” are by far his favorites. He is still in the studio, laying down more tracks.
CJ?’s band, the CJ Solar Band, consists of students at Belmont University, who have a variety of music majors, including song writing, audio engineering and music. The four young men who make up the band hail from all over the country.
Zach Sheffer of St. Louis is the lead guitarist. Drummer Nick Gibbens hails from Dallas. The bands bass player, Bennet McMordie, came to the group from Houston, and last but not least, Ryan Connearney on keyboard is from Boston.
Together they have been described as a combination of ?“country with a hint of grunge,?” and ?“Daughtry meets Aldean.?” They are currently playing every two weeks at Rooster?’s Teas Style Barbecue in downtown Nashville. CJ and his band look forward to hitting the road this summer, traveling and playing different venues around the country and meeting new fans.
Throughout his music career, CJ?’s biggest inspiration has been singer, songwriter Jeffery Steele. ?“Steele has written a million great songs that have become popular, including the hits ?“Me and My Gang,?” and ?“My Town,?” said CJ. ?“Watching him play has really inspired me to write songs and to do my best.?”
In 2010, CJ?’s first solo CD titled ?“CJ Solar Rocks the South?” was released and has been big success with rodeo athletes young and old. He is produced by Rocks the South Records. CJ?’s newest song, ?“Love, Life, & Rodeo,?” is set to be released soon.
CJ Solar in a recent publicity shoot. photo courtesy of CJ Solar
CJ Solar singing the National Anthem at the 2010 SEBRA Finals. photo courtesy of CJ Solar
-
Young Musicians Making Their Marks
[+ Show ]
C.J. Solar
A 2010 graduate of Catholic High School who’ll be studying songwriting at Belmont Univer...C.J. Solar
A 2010 graduate of Catholic High School who’ll be studying songwriting at Belmont University in Nashville this year, C.J. Solar started performing with his twin brothers Mack and Cody eight years ago. Through the years the 17-year-old singer-guitarist also made duo appearances with guitarist Stan Campbell and performed with local band the Alan Twitty Project.
Solar’s band of brothers, Solar Heat, released a CD in the summer of 2008. He’s following that up with his solo CD debut, Rocks The South. Featuring 12 of his original compositions, Solar plans to use the disc as his Nashville calling card.
“This is something that I can hand to people, to let them know what my songwriting is like,” he said.
Having played many classic rock favorites with Solar Heat, the Nashville-bound singer-songwriter’s current direction is definitely country.
“I guess I was going for Southern rock but Southern rock nowadays is really country,” he explained. Although Solar started writing songs four years ago he didn’t get truly serious about it until two years ago.
“I realized I didn’t want to play cover songs forever,” he said. “The people on the radio are making their own songs, so I started writing with the intention of my songs being radio songs.”
Hoping to improve his songwriting, Solar attended songwriter seminars in Nashville.
“They were a big help,” he said. “A lot of it is what to talk about in a song, things people relate to. And just a bunch of little rules that you might not think about.”
Solar likes the process of writing songs, but he enjoys performing them most of all.
“The writing is fun but nowhere near as fun as being at a show and saying, ‘Hey, everybody, this is a song I wrote.’ If they say, ‘I love that song,’ that’s a good feeling.”
Solar had long thought he’d spend his college years at LSU but his parents, Kay and Curtis Solar, encouraged him to consider Belmont University. Well-known for its music business program, Belmont is located in the nation’s country music capital. He’ll major in commercial songwriting there with a minor in music business.
“I realized Nashville is the place to be for being a songwriter, an artist and all kinds of things,” he said. Solar also plans to perform his original songs at the songwriter nights staged at numerous Nashville venues. “I’m going to be there for four years, so I might as well take the most opportunities that I can.”
-
CD Release Parties: CJ Solar and Clay Newson & the Quarter Moon Band
[+ Show ]
CD Release Parties:
CJ Solar and Clay Newsom & the Quarter Moon Band
Clay Newsom
CJ Solar
Honors...CD Release Parties:
CJ Solar and Clay Newsom & the Quarter Moon Band
Clay Newsom
CJ Solar
Honors from top music industry figures, years of performing experience, hundreds of shows—these are part of your life if you’re a musician in an active and popular band. And this is true, of course, of musicians Clay Newsom, of the Quarter Moon Band,
and CJ Solar, who has recently emerged as a solo art- ist. Both of these local musicians have reason to celebrate this summer: the release of their new recordings.
A group with years of experience, the Quarter Moon Band features young piano player Clay Newsom. They are a family band: Clay’s parents Jeff and Sherry can be found backing him up on guitar, along with family friend Paul Golmon on the drums, contributing their musical background and talent to the band’s performances.
With the help of his band, Clay has shared the stage with some famous musicians, including blues saxophonist Eddie Shaw, soul/R&B singer Dorothy Moore, fellow pianist George Winston, swamp blues musician and vocalist Larry Garner, and many well- known local musicians and groups. Not bad for a guy who showed no interest in music as a young child. It was only after watching the hit film Ray, about Ray Charles, that Clay allowed his innate talent for music to come out.
The young pianist’s first DVD, entitled Eleven, was filmed in March of 2007. The variety dance band keeps a full calendar of shows at clubs, restau- rants, and parties, and although they only just released a collection of songs, and they are already planning a CD of original music to release to their fans.
Despite the Grammy award winners and gold recording artists that worked with them to complete the CD, the band proudly included only their own
By Jamie May Filpi
musical talents on the songs they recorded. The col- lection features twelve songs, chosen because they are the most requested at the band’s live shows. With precocious musician Clay, the Quarter Moon Band recently celebrated the release of this new CD. The
celebration was held at La Carreta in Denham Springs on June 5 from 6 to 9 pm.
For more information about the band or to see where they will be playing next, visit www. claynewsom.com.
Having spent his childhood and teen years playing music with his younger brothers, Mack and Cody, CJ helped to build a name in the local music scene with their band The Solar Heat. Performing at restaurants, festivals, and char- ity events, The Solar Heat enter- tained audiences with original songs—some available for down- load on iTunes and Amazon. com—mixed with the over 500 cover songs of varying genres. It was in this setting that CJ created his own style, mixing the concepts of his major musical influences, Credence Clearwater Revival and Lynyrd Skynyrd, with his own creative strands. And apparently, this passion for music has paid off and given him a solid foundation for his next step.
On his own, CJ earned well- deserved accolades for his work in music: His song “It’s About the Love” was chosen as a finalist for the Independent Singer/Songwriter Awards, and another, “That Kind of Love”, was a finalist in the Great American Song Contest. Most recently, he has been able to
MELISSA DUPREE, DDS
8480 BLUEBONNET BLVD., SUITE E ? BATON ROUGE, LA 70810 Monday - Thursday 8:00 - 4:30 Friday 8:00 - 12:00 2 2 5 . 7 6 7 . 4 4 9 1
www.dupreedental.com
family dentistry
28 www.citysocial.com
DDUPREE DENTAL
enjoy another achievement, with his song “Only Thing She Needs” included on a compila- tion CD, Love Song to New Orleans, which was released October 2009 and sold on Amazon. He was also included on a Deep South compilation CD released this spring.
His solo project has been a labor of love, of course. He says, “I’ve worked really hard over the past year writing and recording these songs, and I’m really proud of the
www.citysocial.com 29
way they turned out.” About making the CD, CJ explains his inspiration for some of the tracks: “I got the inspiration for the song ‘Bulls Are Buckin’’ from watching bullriding events with my grandparents, who have been in the rodeo business for decades.” The song was enthusiastically received by bullriders, rodeo fans, and other early listeners when he tested it on MySpace. About the title track, he says, “I also had some of the rodeo girls ask for me to write a song about barrel-racing, [so]... I came up with the song ‘She Rocks Those Wranglers’, which will be the first single that I release on the new CD.” As any good and successful musi- cian knows, keeping in touch with your fans is important, and CJ clearly cares about what his audience wants.
The former Catholic High School student will be show- casing his talent and hard work at a CD release party right here in Baton Rouge this summer. Surrounded by musicians
with whom he has played and those he’s admired, CJ will perform solo as well as with two bands: The Solar Heat, with his brothers, and Alan Twitty Project, a band he formed with friends from CHS. It will like- ly be a bittersweet cele- bration, as CJ will be leaving shortly afterwards for college in Nashville, making this the last perfor- mance with his friends and family that he’ll enjoy for a while. Having chosen to enroll in programs in songwriting and the business of music, though, CJ will clearly
continue to stretch his musical muscles. Surely, such dedication to his craft deserves recognition. Join CJ and his family and friends in celebrating his first solo recording. The CD release party will be held at La Carreta on Bluebonnet on August 7, from 6 to 10 pm in the evening. Along with the great company, you can hear the product of years of practice and per- formance, both from CJ Solar and other talented area musicians, and take the music home by pur- chasing CJ’s first solo CD, CJ Solar Rocks the
South, which will be available for purchase. For more information, and to hear CJ’s latest music, check out myspace.com/thesolar-
heat.
Clay Newsom and The Quarter Moon Band
July 3 - LaCarreta’s, Denham Springs, LA, 6:30 -9:30 PM July 10 - Hollywood Casino, Studio 7, Baton Rouge, LA, 9:00 PM-12:00 AM July 17 - LaCarreta’s, Denham Springs, LA, 6:30-9:30PM July 24 - LaCarreta’s, Denham Springs, LA, 6:30 -9:30 PM July 31 - LaCarreta’s, Denham Springs, LA, 6:30 -9:30 PM August 5 - National Night Out Against Crime, Winn Dixie Parking Lot, Walker, LA, 6:00-9:00PM Check out other dates on www. ClayNewsom.com
CJ Solar
July 8 – With Stan Campbell - LaCarreta’s, Bluebonnet, Baton Rouge, LA, 6:30-9:30pm
July 22 – With Stan Campbell - LaCarreta’s, Bluebonnet, Baton Rouge, LA 6:30-9:30pm
August 7 - CD Release Party - LaCarreta’s, Bluebonnet, Baton Rouge, LA, 6-10pm, also performing Kirk Holder, Chris LeBlanc, David St. Romain, Stan Campbell, Solar Heat & Alan Twitty Project.
30 www.citysocial.com
-
Internet Blog, Artist of the Week by Scot Gates
[+ Show ]
ARTIST OF THE WEEK - SOLAR HEAT
Category: Music
This weeks artist is a group that goes by the na...ARTIST OF THE WEEK - SOLAR HEAT
Category: Music
This weeks artist is a group that goes by the name Solar Heat. Not only are the three
guys in a band, they are brothers.
Solar Heat, is 16 year old CJ, and his 14 year old twin brothers Cody and Mack. Now I
know the first thing you are thinking is that these guys are to young, and aren't going to
be playing anything you want to hear. Well let me tell you, you couldn't be more wrong.
With CJ on guitar and sharing lead vocals with Cody on bass, and Mack on drums, these
guys will take you back to a time when Skynrd, 38 Special, and all the other great
Southern Rock bands, were the only bands worth listening to.
With the release of their first CD, "On The Right Track" , and the constant tour schedule
that they keep, it's no wonder their fan base is constantly growing. Coming to us out of
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, these young men have already been playing together for 6 years.
With influences such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR and Brooks & Dunn. It is not hard to find
a great sound in everything that they do.
Be it a cover tune, or a original such as, "Me and My Guitar" or "Texas Holdem", this
group of guys will take you to a place that you thought was long forgotten, and they will
do it with guitar playing and harmonies that you have been missing from music for a lot
of years.
So take a couple of minutes and look into Solar Heat, you can find them at
www.myspace.com/thesolarheat.
And as always, let him know... you heard it here first.
http://www.myspace.com/pclovha
-
Solar Heat Advocate Fun Section Article February 2009
[+ Show ]
By JOHN WIRT
Published: Feb 27, 2009 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.
The Baton Rouge area has many talente...By JOHN WIRT
Published: Feb 27, 2009 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.
The Baton Rouge area has many talented young singers and musicians. Appearances by Jacob
Dupre, for instance, a 16-year-old jazz musician and composer, and Clay Newsom, a 13-year-old
blues and rhythm-and-blues singer-keyboardist, are listed in the Fun section’s Shows To Watch
music calendar nearly every week.
Fifteen-year-old singer-guitarist Mark Klein performs about twice a month with one of
Louisiana’s longest-running bands, the Boogie Kings. Sixteen-year-old singer-songwriter C.J.
Solar and his 14-year-old brothers, Cody and Mack, have been performing in public together as
the Solar Heat for six years. Twenty-year-old singer-guitarist Jonathon Long, a professional
musician since childhood, recently represented the Baton Rouge Blues Society at the
International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
We’ve highlighted these young performers who appear frequently in this area and beyond. They
may be getting an early start on stardom.
Collectively known as The Solar Heat, musical brothers C.J., Cody and Mack Solar play their
Southern rock regularly in Baton Rouge. In addition to appearing at venues such as La Carreta, a
Mexican restaurant on Government Street, the Solar Heat’s opening act slot for singing star
Vanessa Hudgens at the Blue Bayou/Dixie Landin’ last summer put the trio in front of
thousands.
Sixteen-year-old C.J. sings and plays guitar. His 14-year-old twin brothers, Cody and Mack, play
bass and drums respectively.
The trio’s music-making began after C.J., then 7, discovered his dad’s long unused guitar in a
closet. C.J. began taking lessons about a year later from Stan Campbell and Cody and Mack soon
began studying drums with Herman Jackson.
The Solar Heat began performing about six years ago at Avoyelles Café on Jefferson Highway.
C.J. was 10, Mack and Cody were 8. Influenced by their parents’ musical tastes, they play songs
by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Eagles and other classic and Southern
rock acts.
The band released its CD debut, On The Right Track, last summer. Seven of the 10 tracks are
original compositions. The group is already making a second CD. “We have a lot of new songs
and we want to get them down,” C.J. explained.
The new material is less country than the earlier songs but still in a Southern-rock vein, he
added. C.J. also expects the new CD to show the group’s continuing musical progress.
“We sound a lot more mature,” he said. “And the songs are better because we’ve had more
experience at writing.”
In addition to performing with the Solar Heat, C.J. plays solo, in a duo with Stan Campbell and
with a new band, Guaranteed Fresh. Nonetheless, the chemistry he has with brothers Cody and
Mack is undeniable.
“We can learn a couple of songs a night,” he said. “That’s why we have such a large repertoire.
And Cody and my voices go along together nice. It just flows well.”
Find this article at:
http://www.2theadvocate.com/entertainment/music/40390822.html?showAll=y&c=y
-
Marquis Magazine September 2008
[+ Show ]
It runs in the family
The Solar Heat brings hot beats to south Louisianans
By: Libby Haydel
...It runs in the family
The Solar Heat brings hot beats to south Louisianans
By: Libby Haydel
As young children riding in the car with their parents, Baton Rouge natives CJ, Cody and Mack Solar developed a love and appreciation for what some call “oldies” music. Whether it was 1950s Elvis songs like “All Shook Up” or The Temptations’ 1970s hit “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” the all-male Solar trio had an ear for music that eventually led to them learning to play instruments themselves. It is no surprise, then, that the Solars decided to combine their passion for music by forming their own band, The Solar Heat.
“Whenever we first started taking lessons, we would practice by ourselves,” says CJ, 16. “My dad thought that we should all practice the same songs together, and after a while, we had enough songs and played at The Whistle Stop.”
The oldest brother, CJ, began playing guitar when he was 8, while his younger twin brothers found their own niche on drums at the tender age of 6. “My husband actually had a guitar in his closet and would play it, and CJ would try to play with him, so he started taking lessons,” says mom, Kay. “Drums are very impressionable on young kids, so when Cody and Mack wanted to play drums, we took them to Herman Jackson at Zeagler Music, and they’ve been taking lessons from him since they were 6. When they first started playing together, CJ would play guitar, with Cody and Mack playing a set on the drums. The one who wasn’t playing the drums would play something else like the tambourine. After a year or so, they needed a bass player, so Cody jumped in and started playing the bass.”
Both CJ, 16, and Cody, 13, lend their vocals to the songs, which are mainly covers with some original ones that the two wrote. The Solar Heat, a clever name the boys came up with, have more than 400 songs on their set list with a variety of songs from the 1950s to today, with everything from classic rock, country, Southern rock and blues.
The band has just released their first CD, titled “On the Right Track,” with a picture of the threesome laying on railroad tracks as cover art. “On the Right Track” has seven original songs, written by the boys, and three cover songs. The writing process began nearly three years ago, with “Solar Heat” written first. The next song was “The Man’s Club,” which was inspired by the Solars’ dad. “He always threw away the directions to our Christmas presents, saying, ‘We don’t need any instructions. We’re in the man’s club,’” says CJ. The band took a break for a while to work on more cover songs to add to their ever-increasing list while also branching out to include more blues and country songs. After re-focusing on the album, they recorded it in one week with Joey Decker at Disk Productions in Baton Rouge. In August, they debuted their CD at the Blue Bayou/Dixie Landin’ summer concert series, where they opened for “High School Musical” star Vanessa Hudgens.
The Solar Heat has performed at such events as Phil Brady’s Blues Week, Strawberry Jam ‘N’ Toast to the Arts in Ponchatoula, FestForAll in Baton Rouge, and Taste of Tiger Tailgating at the Baton Rouge River Center, along with performances for United Way of Acadiana, American Heart Association and American Cancer Society. They also enjoy playing at private parties and giving impromptu performances at family events.
“We are the official roadies,” says Kay.
“Mom, you’re not a roadie,” says CJ. “You don’t carry anything.”
“OK, I’m not a roadie, Daddy’s a roadie. I’m the PR person with the business cards,” Kay says, laughing.
It would be hard to find more supportive parents than the Solars. Besides driving the boys to and from music lessons and gigs, they have transformed their living room into the band’s practice room. There is a set of drums, a piano and CJ and Cody’s many guitars, not to mention amps that put out music throughout the home. Kay even added her own personal touches to the room, such as a ceramic piano centerpiece on the table and a colorful painting accented with piano keys that she bought at a Canton crafts show in Mississippi.
Between lessons, rehearsing, writing songs and going to school, Cody and Mack enjoy playing basketball while CJ has another side band with some of his classmates. “Our friends think it’s cool we’re in a band together,” says CJ. So much so that one of Cody’s friends asks to become a member of The Solar Heat “every day.” “It’s just easier when we have all three boys here to practice and go places,” says Kay. “It’s easy to round them up.”
Though the boys have plenty of time to decide what kind of career they want to pursue one day, CJ knows music will be a side project for him, while Cody wants to be a dentist or orthodontist, and Mack a doctor of some kind. All hope to keep music in their lives in one way or another. For now, The Solar Heat can be heard playing at area restaurants, festivals, various charity events and fundraisers in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.
Copies of “On the Right Track” are available at The Compact Disc Store on Jefferson Highway and Zeagler’s Music on Florida Boulevard. Their CD release party will take place at La Carreta on Government Street on Sunday, September 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. The band will have give-aways, including prizes for the most decked-out fan and the fan who brings the most friends. Fans can also enter an online drawing to win a complete Solar Heat fan pack. The Solar Heat gear, including a variety of T-shirts, tank tops and guitar pick jewelry (made by Kay), will be available at BeTween Scene in Towne Center throughout September. To view the band’s schedule, or to register to win The Solar Heat fan pack, visit www.thesolarheat.com or myspace.com/thesolarheat.
-
Baton Rouge Parents Magazine Article September 2008
[+ Show ]
Many may wonder where such a name came from and are surprised to learn that these young men
are all...Many may wonder where such a name came from and are surprised to learn that these young men
are all in their teens. This group of talented musicians consists of three brothers from Baton Rouge
who are making their mark in music history, and have their last name to thank for their band name,
Solar Heat. The eldest of the brothers is CJ celebrating his sweet 16 this month and the other two
grinning members are 13 year old twins, Cody and Mack.
The boys really didn’t start out to be a band; it just happened six years ago and they haven’t
stopped since. At the age of eight, CJ started taking guitar lessons Zeagler’s Music. As most siblings
do, they wanted to have what their older brother had and when we would take CJ to his lesson, the
then five year olds both asked for something–a drum set. It was purchased, naturally and they began
lessons shortly after. Once they began to get into the groove of things, they would practice together
and continued to practice for fun and a band was born.
Surprisingly to mom and dad, the young group developed an interest in public performances. “CJ
took guitar lessons from Stan Campbell and Stan frequently played at venues where the entire family
could attend. We would go as a family and since CJ developed a love for classic rock; Stan would
invite him to sit in during gigs,” says proud mom Kay.
The first public appearance for the lead brother was at the Whistle Stop Coffee Shop in Denham
Springs; and he played Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater. After that performance, there was
no question in CJ’s mind that he needed to be able to sing and play guitar; and he needed 15 songs
for a full set. The band went from one song to an astonishing 60 within the year.
From that performance they moved on to restaurants and coffee shops around the area, anywhere
they could play. “The boys would not book a new gig if they did not have a new full set of songs to
play, they wanted to be fresh.” They currently have over 400 songs they cover since they started six
years ago.”
About three years ago, the boys decided to add a bass guitar player and Cody made the change from
drums to guitar. Cody continued to study keyboard along with guitar extending his talents to include
more of a variety in the songs. Both Cody and CJ take their turn on the lead vocals and according to
mom, it is amazing how they have evolved and worked together.
All play and no work; not in this household. They have school like all other teenagers and homework
is a nightly routine. “They have great teachers who are very supportive and they practice on a
regular basis. After homework they practice some every night. Practice includes working up songs
for gigs, learning new songs and writing original songs.
With such a passion for music, you might wonder, what the boys do outside of the band and is there
any time for anything else? Cody and Mack are currently in the 8th grade at Our Lady of Mercy
School this year and both play basketball. A junior at Catholic High School, CJ stays true to his
interest in music. Outside of the band he plays solo acoustic guitar gigs on his own or with his guitar
teacher, Stan Campbell. As if one band isn’t enough, CJ also performs with Guaranteed Fresh; a band
with two of his fellow classmates.
Making their rounds and learning
The band plays a wide variety of music including classic rock, southern rock, country, blues and
some popular new alternative rock songs. Sometimes the venues that the boys played helped them
develop such a diverse play list. For example, they played at Misery & Jen’s in Denham Springs
several years ago and developed a large country set. Playing at Billie B’s gave them a chance to add
a lot of 50s and 60s songs to their set.
The boys had a very big year last year. They played for several charity events including the
American Heart Association’s Heart Walk at LSU and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. In
addition, they were invited back to perform at Festforall in Baton Rouge and opened for the Blues Jam
at Phil Brady’s. According to mom, it has been wonderful working with local bands in the area. “They
have received so much support from local musicians and have been able to open for the Chris
LeBlanc band.”
Their list of openers was scaled up last year when they were the opening act for Aly & AJ, a well
known tween band and closed the concert series at Blue Bayou water park being the opening gig for
Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical.
The Solar Heat burning through Baton Rouge
In addition to their public appearances, perform at private and birthday parties. “They love what
they do and it doesn’t matter to them if the party is celebrating a one year old or someone turning
fifty.” They always make it special by giving the birthday boy or girl a present from the band and
sometimes will bring personal party favors such as guitar pics.
Celebrating Success - CD Release Party
The band has found a home at LaCarreta Mexican restaurant in Baton Rouge and they have become
regulars playing most Saturdays. A landmark in their growing career will be the release of their first
CD this month. The CD will consist of seven original songs along with three cover songs. The
originals were written by CJ and Cody and were recorded in Baton Rouge.
To celebrate their first CD Solar Heat is inviting all of their fans to their CD release party. There will
be prizes for the most decked out fan in Solar Heat gear. The gear can be found all month at
Between Scene in Town Center and they everything from tank tops to jewelry, designed by mom of
course. Don’t come alone because the fan that brings most friends could walk away with a prize as
well.
“They know how important their fans are and they want this to be fun for everyone. It is a family
event and it will be a memorable evening for everyone,” says Kay.
CD Release party will be held on Sunday, September 28th, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at LaCarreta Mexican
restaurant. Bring the kids and enjoy music in a venue many teens dream of. There will be door prizes
throughout the night, CD signings and giveaways and of course great music.
-
Advocate Fun Section Article August 2008
[+ Show ]
C.J., Cody and Mack Solar, the three teen brothers collectively known as the Solar Heat, likely will...C.J., Cody and Mack Solar, the three teen brothers collectively known as the Solar Heat, likely will perform for the biggest audience of their lives Saturday at the Blue Bayou/Dixie Landin’ water park.
The Baton Rouge trio is opening act for Vanessa Hudgens, the 19-year-old singer-actress and co-star of the Disney Channel’s High School Musical movies.
“We’re pretty excited,” 15-year-old singer-guitarist C.J. Solar said last week. “There’s supposed to be about 4,000 people there. We’ve definitely picked the songs we think everybody’s gonna like, and a few of our originals, that we hope everybody will like, too.”
The Solar brothers opened for Aly and AJ at Blue Bayou/Dixie Landin’ last summer.
“We only played about 30 minutes, but it was a great experience on such a big stage, and having so many people see us,” C.J. recalled.
Thirteen-year-old singer-bassist Cody Solar was nervous at the Solar Heat’s 2007 Blue Bayou/Dixie Landin’ performance, but his confidence quickly grew.
“I messed up a little,” he said. “But you get more into it as the night goes on, as you keep playing.”
“I wasn’t really nervous about it,” Cody’s brother, C.J., added. “To me, it doesn’t really matter if there’s, like, 10 people or 4,000 people. I’d actually rather it be more people.”
Rounding out the Solar Heat lineup, 13-year-old Mack Solar, Cody’s twin, plays drums.
The Solar brothers’ interest in music began when the then 7-year-old C.J. discovered his dad’s guitar in a closet of the family’s home. Curtis Solar played the instrument during high school but never took music seriously. His guitar hadn’t been played for years.
C.J. started guitar lessons the next year with local teacher Stan Campbell. Cody and Mack soon began taking drum lessons from Herman Jackson, local musician, music educator and brother of Randy Jackson of America Idol fame.
“We wanted to learn an instrument, too, and we thought drums looked fun,” Cody said.
Cody eventually migrated to bass and keyboards. Mack enjoys his onstage role as the band’s drummer.
The Solar Heat band began after the boys’ dad suggested they practice songs together.
“We didn’t really like practicing by ourselves,” C.J. recalled. “But when we started practicing together, it was fun.”
The Solar Heat’s public performances began five years ago. C.J. was 10, Cody and Mack were 8. The boys’ shows at Avoyelles Café on Jefferson Highway drew packed houses.
“Those first real gigs were just like, ‘Wow, people are coming to hear us,’ ” C.J. said. “It was a lot of our friends and family.”
After five years of performing and ongoing music study, the group has recorded its CD debut, On The Right Track. The disc features seven original songs and three classic-rock remakes.
Classic-rock acts from their parents’ youth, such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Eagles, form the heart of Solar Heat’s 400-song repertoire. The boys have been exposed to ’80s and ’90s music, too, such as Stone Temple Pilots and Alice In Chains, through their older sister. C.J., especially, performs the latter music at his solo gigs.
As for the future, C.J. sees music and performing as being important for years to come.
“I know it’s gonna be a part of us for the rest of our lives,” he said. “But whether we get big or just do it for fun locally, I’d be happy with either way.”
-
City Social Article July 2008
[+ Show ]
BeTween Scene and Solar Heat are
coming together to have a concert on
July 25, from 6:00 to 8:30pm...BeTween Scene and Solar Heat are
coming together to have a concert on
July 25, from 6:00 to 8:30pm. The
night will start off with a bang. A red
carpet, photographers, and live music—
just what every great event needs!
When the concert is over, the fans will
get a special concert favor from
BeTween Scene and Solar Heat.
By now, you’ve probably heard of
Baton Rouge’s youngest band, The
Solar Heat, a trio of brothers. The band
plays a wide variety of music including
classic rock, country, southern rock,
blues, and new alternative music. Solar
Heat’s star is on the rise: their first
original CD will be released soon, and
they’ll open a concert by Vanessa
Hudgens of High School Musical in
August.
BeTween Scene in Towne Center is
Baton Rouge’s premiere kids’ boutique.
The boutique has an incredible supply of
High School Musical and Vanessa Hudgens
accessories and new clothes, jewelry and
other awesome items will be arriving all
month long. BeTween Scene will also be
carrying Solar Heat fan gear such as
t-shirts, guitar pic necklaces and earrings,
bracelets, and more. There will also be a
contest for the best-dressed fan with a
fabulous prize! The winner will be
announced before the band takes the stage.
Purchase your concert gear, outfits, and
tickets at the store so you can be that lucky
winner.
-
City Social Article March 2008
[+ Show ]
Baton Rouge homes have long been a fertile
ground for fledgling musicians to develop into firstclas...Baton Rouge homes have long been a fertile
ground for fledgling musicians to develop into firstclass
performers. In the case of the sizzling band
known as Solar Heat, that fertile ground is Drs. Kay
and Curtis Solar’s living room, where their three
talented sons, C. J., 15, a sophomore at Catholic
High School, and 13-year-old twins Mack and Cody,
who are in the seventh grade at Our Lady of Mercy
School, came together and formed this terrific musical
group. “I have speakers in my ficus trees and
microphones behind the couch,” laughed the boys’
mother. “They really didn’t start out to be a band; it
just happened,” continued Dr. Kay Solar. “Watching
their brother C. J. take guitar lessons at Zeagler
Music, Mack and Cody began asking for drum sets
and, of course, got them.” At six, the twins began taking drum lessons with Herman Jackson. Two
years later, all three boys began their daily practicing
together, thinking it would be a lot more fun that
way. What started out as “fun” soon blossomed into
a bona fide band that needed a name.
Don Gros, the boys’ piano
teacher at the time, is credited
with the clever name for the
band. He and Kay Solar were
brainstorming, trying to use the
family name, Solar, to create a
catchy band name. They envisioned
flames everywhere—on
high tops and shirts and logos—
and came up with the winning
name, Solar Heat. Currently,
the fiery group can be seen and
heard on Saturday nights at La
Carreta restaurant on
Government Street from 6:30 to
10:15pm.
Despite their young ages,
this exciting trio is already
enjoying the adulation from
audiences that have begun following
them from gig to gig.
Family eateries and restaurants
where young people can freely
attend are great venues for the
boys to perform and their following
can listen to their latest numbers. South Louisiana reveres its musicians and
proudly places them high on the “list” of not-to-be
missed local attractions for residents and visitors
alike. This clean-cut and handsome threesome is
deservedly entitled to a place at the top of that list.
These multi-talented teenagers (proficient on the
guitar, drums, bass guitar, and keyboard) are unique
in that they may be the youngest musical performers
in town and have been performing in public for five
years. To date, they have already accumulated over
400 songs in their repertoire. When he was ten years
old, C. J. performed “Bad Moon Rising,” by the
well-known group Creedence Clearwater Revival, at
the Whistle Stop Coffee Shop!
A desire to perform in public came at an early age
for the boys when Stan Campbell, C.J.’s guitar
teacher, invited his students to sit in when he frequently
played at family-friendly venues. It was
then that C. J. acquired a love for classic rock.
Through the years, the boys have perfected their
multi-instrument skills and developed several song
sets that lend themselves to the various styles and
renditions of songs in genres including classic rock,
southern rock, country, blues, and some popular new
alternative rock. Along with their natural aptitude
for music, C. J. has become rather adept at reading
the audience and its particular song preferences and
adapting the set to whatever the crowd prefers—a
country set or a ‘50s crowd is always granted their
requests, as well as other selections. Cody and C. J.
both sing with the band and take vocal lessons from
Skip Harris, while Mack likes to stay behind the
drums. They all love southern rock, and when they
first began taking lessons, the boys played nothing
but Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes. In fact,
Cody, with his deep voice, is often referred to as
“little John Fogerty,” according
to his proud mother. All three
boys are admirers of the music
of Lynyrd Skynyrd and usually
perform the group’s all-time
favorite, “Freebird,” as the Solar
Heat finale. It is a given that the
Solar boys inherited their musical
talent from their parents. Dr.
Cutis Solar played guitar growing
up and still plays today. Dr.
Kay Solar studied piano for years
but, unlike her sons, who play by
ear, she perfected the instrument
by reading music.
With the support and encouragement
from musicians like
Marc Broussard and Chris
LeBlanc, Solar Heat had a
diverse and successful year in
2007. Their impressive list of
gigs includes Fest For All,
Zippity Zoo Days, the United
Way of Acadiana’s campaign
party, and the special Sunday night band performance at Sullivan’s ringside this
past summer, which was open for all ages. The boys
have also received raves and applause at local eateries
such as Jones Creek Café and Cypress Grill in St.
Francisville. The band also opened for Aly and A.J.
last summer at Blue Bayou.
Often, with talent comes ingenuity, and the Solar
brothers are no exception. C. J., Cody, and Mack are
quite the entrepreneurs, promoting Solar Heat
through self-designed flyers and the chic business
cards that they distribute around the city. Lucky fans
at their gigs receive the inflatable flame guitars and
wash-off tattoos bearing the Solar Heat logo.
In addition to playing with Solar Heat, C. J. is
half of a guitar duo with his teacher Stan Campbell
and has recently organized a band called Guaranteed
Fresh with two of his Catholic High classmates,
Andrew Blanchard and Jeremy Dismukes. As part of
his high school community service hours last year,
C. J. played on Sunday afternoons at Sunrise Assisted
Living Center. Cody and Mack enjoy their music
and sports, especially basketball. The boys have
begun writing music and are working on their first CD. Under the guidance and encouragement of their
parents and with the support of all of their teachers,
these delightful young men are firing up the musical
world with Solar Heat.
supersonic
