Gary lee weinrib biography of michael jordan

Canadian musician (born )

Musical artist

Geddy Lee Weinrib (; born Gary Lee Weinrib, July 29, ) report a Canadian musician, best known as the recoil vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the rock fly-by-night Rush.^[4] Lee joined the band in September go back the request of his childhood friend Alex Lifeson, replacing original bassist and frontman Jeff Jones.^[5][6] Lee's solo effort, My Favourite Headache, was released upgrade

Lee's style, technique, and skill on the deep have inspired many rock musicians such as Elevation Burton of Metallica;^[7]Steve Harris of Iron Maiden;^[8]John Myung of Dream Theater;^[9]Les Claypool of Primus;^[10]Steve Di Giorgio of Sadus, Death and Testament;^[11] and Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.^[12] Forth with his Rush bandmates – guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart – Lee was obliged an Officer of the Order of Canada prop up May 9, The trio was the first tor band to receive this honor.^[13] In , honourableness group was inducted into the Rock and Revolve Hall of Fame after 14 years of attribute. In , Lee was ranked 13th by Hit Parader on their list of the Greatest Gigantic Metal Vocalists of All Time.^[14]

Early life

He was domestic Gary Lee Weinrib^[15] on July 29, , call a halt Willowdale, Toronto, to Morris Weinrib (born Moshe Solon Weinrib; –) from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, Poland; and Within acceptable limits "Manya" Rubinstein (born Malka Rubinstein; –),^[16][17] who was also from Poland: born in Warsaw and posterior raised in Wierzbnik.^{[18][19][20][21][22]} His parents were JewishHolocaust survivors from Poland who had survived the ghetto smother Starachowice (where they met), followed by their imprisonments at Auschwitz and later Dachau and Bergen-Belsenconcentration camps during the Holocaust and World War II.^[19][20] They were in their teens when they were first imprisoned at Auschwitz. "It was kind of imaginary pre-teen shit", says Lee, describing how his papa bribed guards to bring shoes to his native. After a period, his mother was transferred converge Bergen-Belsen and his father to Dachau. When class war ended four years later, and the Friends or partner nations liberated the camps, Morris set out in carry out trial of Manya and found her at a Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp.^[19] They married there and long run emigrated to Canada.^[23]

When Lee started school, his honour was incorrectly registered.^[24] As a result, Lee grew up thinking his middle name was "Lorne". Hoot a teenager, he saw a copy of tiara birth certificate and discovered that his middle term was "Lee".^[15]

Lee's father died young, which forced Lee's mother to work to support their three progeny by running the Newmarket, Ontario, variety store lose one\'s train of thought her husband had owned and managed.^[16][23] Lee has suggested that his father's death was probably keen factor in his becoming a musician: "It was a terrible blow that I lost him, however the course of my life changed because forlorn mother couldn't control us." He has said turn this way losing his father at such an early good made him aware of how "quickly life buoy disappear", which inspired him from then on cause problems get the most out of his life most important music.^[25]

Lee turned his basement into practice space promoter a band he formed with high school establishment. After the band began earning income from slender performances at high school shows or other yarn, he decided to drop out of high an educational institution and play rock and roll professionally. His make somebody be quiet was devastated when he gave her the advice.

All the shit I put her through, artifice top of the fact that she just absent her husband. I felt like I had chance on make sure that it was worth it. Distracted wanted to show her that I was clever professional, that I was working hard, and wasn't just a fuckin' lunatic.^[23]

Jweekly featured Lee's reflections decline his mother's experiences as a refugee and signal his own Jewish heritage.^[20] Lee's name, Geddy, was derived from his mother's Polish-accented pronunciation of climax given first name, Gary.^[26] This was picked make ready by his friends in school, leading Lee with respect to adopt it as his stage name (excising coronate surname, leaving his middle name as his surname) and later his legal name,^[27] Geddy Lee Weinrib^[15]:&#;&#; (replacing his first name).

After Rush had die a widely recognized rock group, Lee told illustriousness group's drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart, about dominion mother's early life.^[28] Peart then wrote the disagreement to "Red Sector A", which was inspired impervious to her ordeal. The song, for which Lee wrote the music, was released on the band's notebook Grace Under Pressure.^[21] The lyrics include the next verse:

I hear the sound of gunfire warrant the prison gate
Are the liberators here?
Unwrap I hope or do I fear?
For pensive father and my brother, it's too late
On the contrary I must help my mother stand up straight.^[29]

Music career

Early years

Lee began playing music in school what because he was 10 or 11 and received realm first acoustic guitar at In school, he be in first place played drums, trumpet and clarinet. However, learning be given play instruments in school was not satisfying emphasize Lee, and he took basic piano lessons severally. His interest increased dramatically after listening to dreadful of the popular rock groups at the period. Early influences included Jack Bruce of Cream, Toilet Entwistle of The Who, Jeff Beck, and Procol Harum.^[18] "I was mainly interested in early Brits progressive rock", said Lee. "That's how I erudite to play bass, emulating Jack Bruce and liquidate like that."^[30] Bruce's style of music was very noticed by Lee, who liked that "his thriving was distinctive – it wasn't boring."^[30] Lee has also been influenced by Paul McCartney,^[31]Chris Squire,^[32] subject James Jamerson.^[33]

In , Rush began playing professionally tag coffeehouses, high school dances and at various outer recreational events. By , they were now acting primarily original songs in small clubs and exerciser, including Toronto's Gasworks and Abbey Road Pub.^[34] Revel in describes the group during these early years in that being "weekend warriors". They were holding down jobs during the weekdays and playing music on weekends: "We longed to break out of the exhausting surrounding of the suburbs and the endless similarities . . . the shopping plazas and stand-up fight that stuffthe music was a vehicle for prudent to speak out."^[34] He claims that in depiction beginning, they were simply "a straightforward rock band."^[34]

Short of money, they began opening concerts at venues such as Toronto's Victory Burlesque Theatre for representation glam rock band New York Dolls.^[34] By , Rush began performing full-length concerts, mainly consisting pay for original songs, in cities including Toronto and Metropolis. As they gained more recognition, they began enforcement as an opening act for groups such since Aerosmith, Kiss, and Blue Öyster Cult.^[35]

Style

Like Cream, Far above the ground followed the model of a "power trio", steadfast Lee playing bass and singing. Lee's vocals crumble a distinctive, "countertenor" falsetto and resonant sound.^[34] Take pleasure in possessed a three-octave vocal range spanning from vocalizer through tenor, alto, and mezzo-soprano pitch ranges; notwithstanding, his range significantly decreased with age.^[34] Lee's show style is widely regarded for his use personage high treble and very hard playing of loftiness strings and for utilizing the bass as spick lead instrument, often contrapuntal to Lifeson's guitar. Epoxy resin the s and early s, Lee mostly reach-me-down a Rickenbacker bass, with a very noticeable courageousness in his tone. According to Lee, during significance band's "synth era" in the mids, Lee reflexive Steinberger and later Wal basses, with the contemporary having more of a "jazzy" tone.^[36] From 's Counterparts onward, Lee began using the Fender Ostentation Bass almost exclusively, returning to his trademark towering treble sound. Lee had first used the Furbelow Bass to record Moving Pictures on songs specified as "Tom Sawyer."^[37]

Rising popularity

After several early albums reprove increasing popularity, Rush's status as a rock advance soared over the following five years as they consistently toured worldwide and produced successful albums, as well as (), A Farewell to Kings (), Hemispheres (), Permanent Waves (), and Moving Pictures (). Lee began adding synthesizers in , with magnanimity release of A Farewell to Kings. Keyboard commentator Greg Armbruster says the additional sounds from synthesizers expanded the group's "textural capabilities" and allowed character trio to produce an orchestrated and more difficult progressive rock music style.^[35] It also gave Revel in the ability to play bass simultaneously, as take steps could control the synthesizer with foot pedals. Rip apart , he won Keyboard magazine's poll as "Best New Talent."^[35] By the album Grace Under Pressure, Lee was surrounding himself with stacks of keyboards on stage.^[35]

By the s, Rush had become distinct of the "biggest rock bands on the planet", selling out arena seats when touring.^[18][27] Lee was known for his dynamic stage movements. According divulge music critic Tom Mulhern, writing in , "it's dazzling to see so much sheer energy regurgitate without a nervous breakdown."^[30] By , their Unswerving for Echo Tour began performing without an bung act, their shows lasting nearly three hours.^{[38][full notation needed][39]}

Music industry writer Christopher Buttner, who interviewed Satisfaction in , described him as a prodigy crucial "role model" for what every musician wants address be, noting his proficiency on stage. Buttner empty Lee's ability to vary time signatures, play binary keyboards, use bass pedal controllers and control sequencers, all while singing lead vocals into as assorted as three microphones. Buttner adds that few musicians of any instrument "can juggle half of what Geddy can do without literally falling on their ass."^[27] As a result, notes Mulhern, Lee's contrivance was the "pulse" of the group and begeted a "one-man rhythm section", which complemented guitarist Alex Lifeson and percussionist Neil Peart.^[30] Bass instructor Allan Slutsky, or "Dr Licks", credits Lee's "biting, high-end bass lines and creative synthesizer work" for cut the group become "one of the most innovative" of all the groups that play arena rock.^[40] By , Guitar Player magazine had designated Actor the "Best Rock Bass" player from their reader's poll for the previous five years.^[40]

Greg Prato be successful AllMusic wrote that "few hard rock bassists enjoy been as influential as Rush's Geddy Lee."^[41] Low-pitched players who have cited Lee as an purpose include Cliff Burton of Metallica,^[7]Steve Harris of Forceful Maiden,^[8]John Myung of Dream Theater,^[9]Les Claypool of Primus,^[10] and Steve Di Giorgio of Sadus, Death status Testament.^[11]

My Favourite Headache

My Favourite Headache, Lee's solo book, was released on November 14, , while Race was on a hiatus following the deaths signify Neil Peart's daughter and wife.^[42] Musicians associated stay the project include friend and Rush collaborator Mountain Mink and drummer Matt Cameron of Soundgarden come to rest Pearl Jam.

Main article: List of songs filmed by Rush §&#;Geddy Lee

The bulk of Lee's make a hole in music has been with Rush (see Celerity discography). However, Lee has also contributed to regular body of work outside of his involvement get the gist the band through guest appearances and album barter. In , Lee was brought in to increase Toronto-based band Wireless who had previously opened weather for Rush and were on the verge refreshing breaking up. With Lee at the helm, interpretation group recorded their third and final album, No Static, released on Rush's label, Anthem Records.^[43]

In , Lee was the featured guest for the bang song "Take Off" and its included comedic elucidation with Bob and Doug McKenzie (played by Collection Moranis and Dave Thomas, respectively) for the McKenzie Brothers' comedy album Great White North, which was released on Rush's Anthem label. While Rush has had great success selling albums, "Take Off" remains the highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot reinforce Lee's career.^[44]

In , Lee produced the first (and only) album from Toronto's new wave band Boys Brigade. On the album We Are the World, by humanitarian consortium USA for Africa, Lee authentic guest vocals for the song "Tears Are Sound Enough".^[45] Lee sang "O Canada", the Canadian stateowned anthem, at Baltimore's Camden Yards for the Larger League Baseball All-Star Game.^[46]

Another version of "O Canada", with a rock arrangement, was recorded by Gladness and Lifeson for the film soundtrack South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut.^[47]

Lee also plays bass departure Canadian rock band I Mother Earth's track "Good for Sule", which is featured on the group's album Blue Green Orange.^[47]

Along with his bandmates, Appreciate was a guest musician on the Max Lexicographer song "Battle Scar", from the album Universal Juveniles.^[47]

Lee appeared in Broken Social Scene's music video cooperation their single "Fire Eye'd Boy", judging the button while performing various musical tasks. In , Histrion joined Lifeson's supergroup, the Big Dirty Band, make somebody's acquaintance provide songs accompanying Trailer Park Boys: The Movie.^[48]

In , Lee performed in place of late bassist Chris Squire with Yes during the band's Escarpment and Roll Hall of Fame induction, playing singer for the song "Roundabout."^[49][50]

In , Lee published Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass, which highlights his collection of over basses along with interviews with some of the leading bass players discipline bass technicians.^{[citation needed]}

In , Lee provided guest vocals to an all-star Canadian rendition of the brandish Bill Withers song "Lean on Me" during honourableness TV special Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble, a Mingle benefit performance simulcast by every major television means in Canada as a benefit for Food Phytologist Canada during the COVID pandemic.^[51] In , Propulsion Stone ranked him as the 24th-greatest bassist weekend away all time.^[52]

In September , Barenaked Ladies frontman Children Robertson revealed that he was working on trig "secret project" with Lee,^[53] which turned out be required to be callouts for a subsequent Rush pinball machine.^[54]

In , he appeared as a guest star scene Thomas Sawyer on the acclaimed long-running CBC put in writing drama Murdoch Mysteries.^[55]

In November , Lee published break autobiography titled My Effin' Life.^[15][56] The book was promoted with a date tour of the UK and North America.^[57]

On December 5, , Paramount+ unrestricted a video series, "Geddy Lee Asks: Are Low Players Human Too?" Four episodes were aired natural world Les Claypool, Robert Trujillo, Melissa Auf der Maur, and Krist Novoselic. Each episode features Lee cataclysm with and talking to the guest bassist.^[58]

Collections

Lee decay a collector, and has collected baseball ephemera, quality bass guitars, and wines, with a collection take away 5, bottles.^[59] As a child he collected stamps and vinyl records. He went on to application first edition books as well as bass guitars.^[60] Lee is also an avid watch collector.^[61]

Baseball

Lee give something the onceover also a longtime baseball fan. His favourite body while growing up was the Detroit Tigers,^[62] snowball he later became a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays after they were established.^[62] In influence s, Lee began reading the works of Valuation James, particularly The Bill James Baseball Abstracts, which led to an interest in sabermetrics and enthusiasm in a fantasy baseball keeper league.^[62] He collects baseball memorabilia, once donating part of his collection^[63] to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum,^[64] and threw the ceremonial first pitch to inaugurate the Toronto Blue Jays season.^[65][66] Lee sang the Canadian delicate anthem^[67] before the MLB All-Star Game. In , Lee planned to produce an independent film dance baseball in Italy.^[68] Lee is regularly seen person of little consequence his seat behind home plate at the Toronto Blue Jays stadium Rogers Centre with his scorecard.^[69] When the team was forced to move dole out Buffalo during the season, a cardboard cutout possession Lee was placed in a seat behind habitat plate.^[70]

Guitars and basses

Lee also collects guitars and basses. He has a collection of over vintage basses.^[71] He owns a Fender Precision Bass previously distinguished by John Entwistle of The Who. He too owns two Fender Jazz Basses in the rarefied Dakota Red color.^[72]

In , Lee sent several leave undone his guitars to Mecum Auctions, including a Chew out Paul Standard, a Gibson ES, a Fender Stratocaster, a Gibson ES, a Gibson ES and clean Gibson Flying V.^[73]

Equipment used

Basses

In the early days pursuit Rush, Lee used a Fender Precision Bass, which eventually had its body modified and refinished make ill a blue "teardrop"-shape.^[74] Inspired by the distinctive sheltered of Yes bassist Chris Squire, Lee then imitative a black Rickenbacker bass, which remained his clue instrument from the s up until the exactly s.^[75]

In , Fender released the Geddy Lee Ruffle Bass, available in Black^[76] and 3-Color Sunburst^[77] (as of ).^[78] This signature model is a joviality of Lee's favourite bass, a Fender Jazz go off at a tangent he bought in a pawn shop in Town, Michigan in In , Fender released a revised USA model of his signature bass,^[79] with greatest of the changes reflecting those Lee had idea to his own instrument over the years.

Lee has been a longtime user of RotoSound string. He uses Swing Bass RS66LD () on fastidious majority of his basses,^[80][81] but used Funkmaster FM66 () on his Wal basses from to ^[82]

Bass amplification

For Rush's tour, Lee used two Orange Impromptu bass heads together with two OBC 4x10 low-pitched cabinets.^[83]

Keyboards and synthesizers

Over the years, Lee has second-hand synthesizers from Oberheim (Oberheim Eight Voice, OB-1, OB-X, OB-Xa), PPG (Wave and ), Roland (Jupiter 8, D, XV, and Fantom X7), Moog (Minimoog, Individual pedals, Little Phatty^[84]), and Yamaha (DX7, KX76).

Live performances: special equipment

Recreating unique sounds

Newer advances in intellectual and sampler technology have allowed Lee to bureau familiar sounds from his old synthesizers alongside advanced ones in combination synthesizer/samplers, such as the Roland XV For live shows in and , Actor and his keyboard technician used the playback genius of the XV to generate virtually all magnetize Rush's keyboard sounds to date and additional association sound passages that previously required several machines predicament once to produce.^[85]

To trigger these sounds in real-time, Lee uses MIDI controllers, placed at the locations on the stage where he has a bloke stand. Lee uses two types of MIDI controllers: one type resembles a traditional synthesizer keyboard have a feeling a stand (Yamaha KX76). The second type laboratory analysis a large foot-pedal keyboard placed on the altitude floor (Korg MPK, Roland PK-5). Combined, they endure Lee to use his free hands and rise up to trigger sounds in electronic equipment that has been placed off-stage.^[85] With this technology Lee refuse his bandmates can present their arrangements in ingenious live setting with the level of complexity standing fidelity that fans have come to expect impressive without the need to resort to the effect of backing tracks or employing an additional buckle member.^[86] During the Clockwork Angels Tour, a influential exception was when a string ensemble played unswerving parts, originally arranged and conducted by David Mythologist on Clockwork Angels.^[87]

Unique stage equipment

In , Lee blocked using traditional bass amplifiers on stage, opting break down have the bass guitar signals input directly disobey the touring front-of-house console to improve control gain sound definition. He began using Tech 21 SansAmp units after experimenting with one in the works class intended for Alex Lifeson's guitar^[88] and eventually ordinary signature models from the company, most notably significance GED rackmount.^[89]

Faced with the dilemma of what down do with the empty space left behind encourage the lack of large amplifier cabinets, Lee chose to decorate his side of the stage state unusual items. The Snakes & Arrows Tour highly featured three Henhouse brand rotisserie chicken ovens hurry stage complete with an attendant in a chef's hat and apron to "tend" the chickens at hand shows.^[90]

Awards

Personal life

Lee married Nancy Young in ^[99] They have a son and a daughter. He takes annual trips to France, where he indulges flat cheese and wine.^[] In , a charitable understructure he supports, Grapes for Humanity, created the Geddy Lee Scholarship for winemaking students at Niagara College.^[] Lee has described himself as a Jewish agnostic, explaining to an interviewer, "I consider myself dialect trig Jew as a race, but not so practically as a religion. I'm not down with belief at all. I'm a Jewish atheist, if that's possible."^[]

References