SAMUEL SMILED

Rocco Tavani:
Three weeks into Junior High School, while doing his usual happy–go–lucky impersonation of himself while ambling down the halls, the vocal teacher insisted he join Boys Glee Club. Two weeks later he sang his first solo, portraying a girl. This led to a no-stopping-me-now attitude and his own form of theatrics. Eventually Rocco taught himself guitar and formed several folk groups (after all, that was the era.) From the Travelin’ Two to Roc and Donna to the New Freedom Trio; from junior high school to college, and beyond, he has been performing ever since. With many years spent in theatre and over 200 shows to his credit, he has also produced, directed, and taught Theatre, Children’s Theatre, make–up design, communications and marketing courses in several colleges. With a background that includes twenty years in television, his own advertising agency, and several years (and awards) for production and design of a four-county monthly newspaper, Rocco has never let the music stop. After becoming involved with his faith, he gave writing music a try and discovered that he loved it. It was a way to get his feelings onto paper and into the hearts of many, and as such, has become his own heart.
_______

L.J. Nickisch:
Raised in Minnesota, L.J. Nickisch was strongly influenced by three "North Woods" musicians: the amazing melodic rhythms of Leo Kottke, the power and poetry of Bob Dylan's lyrics, and the intense imagery of Neil Young. Some teased that he just loved bad voices. He learned to play recorder at a young age and transitioned to trombone in grade school, with a little harmonica thrown in on the side. Through college he enjoyed the many styles of jazz and symphonic music that the trombone afforded him as well as the camaraderie of fellow musicians, and he seriously considered a career in music. Then physics got hold of him as he became fascinated by the notion that the regularity and diversity of the world could be described mathematically, and almost before he knew it he was pursuing a Ph.D. in theoretical physics. During college years, L.J. picked up the recorder again and for the first time found himself playing freely and creatively. During his last year of graduate school his wife, Laurie, bought him his first guitar, which soon became his primary instrument. He still plays recorder, harmonica, and has since picked up the hammered dulcimer. L.J. began writing songs at the age of 36 upon becoming a worship leader at his church. He likes to work with rhyme and alliteration in his lyrics, using rhythm to carry one image quickly to another. L.J. believes it is the same creativity that is used by the physicist in bringing forth a theory that is used by the poet-musician in bringing forth a song. "It's the same part of the brain that fuzzes out and explores the possibilities, sifting the good ideas from the bad," he says. L.J. uses his physics to describe the creation. He uses his songwriting to describe his Creator.