BANDS:
- Hamilton Joe Frank And Reynolds [1971]
- Climax [1971-1972]
- The Grass Roots [1972-1974]
- Donna Summer Band
- Laura Branigan Band [1982-?]
- Formula 5
- American Rock All Stars [1998-2002]
BIOGRAPHY:
Very good keyboardist, I don´t have biographical data about him. First band I know with him is Hamilton, Joe Frank And Reynolds.
HAMILTON JOE FRANK AND REYNOLDS
This was their lineup around 1971:
|
HAMILTON JOE FRANK AND REYNOLDS # |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Danny Hamilton vocals | Joe Frank | Tommy Reynolds | Joe Barile | Virgil Weber keyboards |
CLIMAX
Climax was a band formed in LA by singer Sonny Geraci in 1971. They had a big hit in US charts in 1972 with the song ´Precious and few´ and a self-titled album, Climax. Recorded by Geraci and Walter Nims with session players, they assembled a live band for promoting it.
Steve York flew to South California in 1972. There, he was asked to join them:
Steve joined them for tours and TV appearances during nine months. While Geraci kept using the band name, Steve York came back to England after one year, to rejoin Vinegar Joe.
Steve York flew to South California in 1972. There, he was asked to join them:
|
CLIMAX #? |
1972-1973 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
êVinegar Joe |
||||
Sonny Geraci vocals | Walter Nims † guitar | Steve York bass | Virgil Weber keyboards | Robert Neilson drums |
Vinegar Joeê | ||||
Steve joined them for tours and TV appearances during nine months. While Geraci kept using the band name, Steve York came back to England after one year, to rejoin Vinegar Joe.
THE GRASS ROOTS
Legendary band, Virgil Webber joined around 1973, I think:
They recorded two albums, Move along and Alotta´ mileage. Virgil left the band in 1974.
|
THE GRASS ROOTS # |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rob Grill vocals, bass | Warren Entner vocals, guitar, keyboards | Reed Kailing guitar | Virgil Weber keyboards | Joel Larson drums |
They recorded two albums, Move along and Alotta´ mileage. Virgil left the band in 1974.
DONNA SUMMER BAND
Some years later, he joined Donna Summer band. He appears in the 2LP live album Live and more (it also contains a studio side, though), but I don´t know the exact live lineup, as I don´t have the album.
LAURA BRANIGAN BAND
His old mate in Climax, keyboardist Virgil Weber, got Steve York a new job, playing in Laura Branigan band. A very good singer, she had enjoyed several hits in the charts. Steve York joined her band in New Year's Eve, 1982:
During 1983, Cabaza is replaced by Brian Becvar:
In 1984, there were two changes in the band, both guitarists:
There's a live video called Laura Branigan live, available on VHS video and laserdisc. It was recorded in Lake Tahoe in 1984. The band was augmented with backing vocalists (Danny Hamilton was a bandmate of Virgil Weber back in 1971!) for this recording:
Steve stayed touring with Laura until 1985, also playing in TV appearances, such as Solid Gold (3 times) and Johnny Carson´s Tonight Show (twice), although he sadly doesn't appear in any of her studio albums.
I think there were more lineups of Laura Branigan band with Virgil, but I don´t have more details.
|
LAURA BRANIGAN BAND #? |
Dec 82-1983 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laura Branigan † vocals | Jeff Southworth guitar | Billy Branigan guitar | Steve York bass | Virgil Weber keyboards | Louis Cabaza keyboards | Richie Fontana drums |
During 1983, Cabaza is replaced by Brian Becvar:
|
LAURA BRANIGAN BAND #? |
1983-1984 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laura Branigan † vocals | Jeff Southworth guitar | Billy Branigan guitar | Steve York bass | Virgil Weber keyboards | Brian Becvar keyboards | Richie Fontana drums |
In 1984, there were two changes in the band, both guitarists:
|
LAURA BRANIGAN BAND #? |
1984-1985 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laura Branigan † vocals | Jim Behringer guitar | Carlos Casarez guitar | Steve York bass | Virgil Weber keyboards | Brian Becvar keyboards | Richie Fontana drums |
There's a live video called Laura Branigan live, available on VHS video and laserdisc. It was recorded in Lake Tahoe in 1984. The band was augmented with backing vocalists (Danny Hamilton was a bandmate of Virgil Weber back in 1971!) for this recording:
|
LAURA BRANIGAN BAND #? |
1984 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laura Branigan † vocals | Jim Behringer guitar | Carlos Casarez guitar | Steve York bass | Virgil Weber keyboards | Brian Becvar keyboards | Richie Fontana drums | Danny Hamilton backing vocals | Terry Ayres backing vocals |
Steve stayed touring with Laura until 1985, also playing in TV appearances, such as Solid Gold (3 times) and Johnny Carson´s Tonight Show (twice), although he sadly doesn't appear in any of her studio albums.
I think there were more lineups of Laura Branigan band with Virgil, but I don´t have more details.
AND THEN...
Virgil has worked with many artists along the years: Formula 5 (with past mate Arthur Neilson), among others. Can someone help here, please?
AMERICAN ROCK ALL STARS
American Rock All Stars was a band formed in 1998, comprising veteran musicians from 3 bands (Paul Revere And The Raiders, The Buckinghams and The Grass Roots):
Sometimes they also act as a quintet (without Marty Grebb):
|
AMERICAN ROCK ALL STARS #? |
1998-2002 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drake Levin † vocals, guitar | Phil Volk bass | Keith Allison bass | Virgil Weber keyboards | Marty Grebb sax, keyboards | Joel Larson drums |
Sometimes they also act as a quintet (without Marty Grebb):
|
AMERICAN ROCK ALL STARS #? |
? |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Drake Levin † vocals, guitar | Phil Volk bass | Keith Allison bass | Virgil Weber keyboards | Joel Larson drums |
AND THEN...
I haven´t been able to find more info about him, so any info would be very appreciated.
DISCOGRAPHY: (6 albums known to me - Status: Completed)
ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (4 credits)
- Laura Branigan live - Laura Branigan ( - )
- Members: Terry Ayres, Brian Becvar, Jim Behringer, Carlos Casarez, Richie Fontana, Danny Hamilton, Virgil Weber, Steve York (RIP: Laura Branigan)
- Comments: Live VHS video and laserdisc recorded in Lake Tahoe in 1984.
- Move along - The Grass Roots (1972)
- Members: Warren Entner, Rob Grill, Reed Kailing, Joel Larson, Dennis Provisor, Virgil Weber
- Guests: Jimmie Haskell
- Producer: Steve Barri
- Alotta´ mileage - The Grass Roots (1973)
- Members: Warren Entner, Rob Grill, Virgil Weber
- Producer: Steve Barri
- Live and more - Donna Summer (09/1978)
- Members: Doug Livingston, Michael Warren, Virgil Weber, Carlena Williams
- Guests: Keith Forsey, Jay Graydon, Dick ´Slyde´ Hyde, Greg Mathieson, Don Menza, Bruce Paulson, Bobby Shew, Dalton Smith (RIP: Joe Romano)
- Producer: Giorgio Moroder
- Comments: Double album with 3 sides recorded live in 1978 and a 4th studio side. The CD edition had different content in the studio side.
- Anthology 1965-1975 - The Grass Roots (07/1991)
- Members: Reed Kailing, Reggie Knighton, Joel Larson, Virgil Weber
- Guests: Hal Blaine, Gary Coleman, Mike Deasy, Scott Edwards, Ed Greene, Jimmie Haskell, Bones Howe, David Kemper, Michael Omartian, Joe Osborn, Dean Parks (RIP: Ben Benay, Larry Knechtel)
- Producer: Lou Adler, Bill Inglot
- Technical: Ken Perry
- Rock & roll legends live! - VVAA (06/1999)
- Guests: Creed Bratton, Ron Dante, Spencer Davis, Joel Larson, Mark Lindsay, Chris Smith, Virgil Weber
- Comments: This album contains live performances by Mark Lindsay, The Grass Roots, Jean Knight, Spencer Davis and Merilee Rush.
WHAT'S NEW:
21/April/2010 - Page added to the blog.
24/October/2000 - Original page written by me (in the old site).
RELATED MUSICIANS:
Virgil Weber mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Steve Barri (3)
Warren Entner (3)
Rob Grill (3)
Joel Larson (3)
Creed Bratton (2)
Jimmie Haskell (2)
Reed Kailing (2)
Dennis Provisor (2)
Page created by Miguel Terol on: 24/October/2000 - Last modified on: 21/April/2010. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com
Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.
hola virgil life is good hope urok
ReplyDeletehope u r ok life is good take care my good friend