BIOGRAPHY
Don McAvoy and the Great Whatever ® (DMCGW) aren’t your everyday rock band. As a matter of fact, they aren't a rock band at all. They might be better characterized as a talented musical family who cannot be pigeonholed to a specific genre. They are a tight knit group. They play songs about life in an honest and upfront way that everyone can relate to. Their music is eclectic (in a non-gen x coffee house way), energetic and infectious. Whether you are 9 or 90, Don McAvoy and the Great Whatever ® have something for you!
Fronted by Don McAvoy (lead vocals & various instruments), backed by his brother Michael McAvoy (Drums / Percussion / Vocals), plus long time friend Marc Arot (Bass & Vocals), this band is a solid team that plays together as one. The band's roots go back well over a decade in one form or another.
The band began with Don's solo effort “Sometimes the Characters Speak Louder than the Lesson of the Story”, a 27-song epic that displayed Don's ability to write songs prolifically and in a wide variety of styles. The album produced two radio hits in Belarus, Russia “Like it Like That” and “All She Wants Is Just to be Happy”. “Like it Like That” was also recently featured as the MP3 Song of the Week on WebEntertainmentAwards.com, and the band was also named as one of its TOP 5 Independent Bands on this site. “For The Want Of Money” is featured in the Syndicated TV Series “Rosarito Weekend” in episode #7. “At Third Base And Heading For Home” was used as the theme song for the minor league baseball team the St. Catherine Blue Jays. While the band was touring for this CD, Canadian music star, Kim Mitchell, personally selected the band to open for him in 4,000 seat arenas. This CD was named a top 5 CD by Out On The Town Magazine.
Their Second release, “Peace, Love and Scrapple” yielded a top ten hit on MP3.com (Nov. 1999 – Holiday Music Chart) for the song “Best Little Christmas” performed with vocal greats The Encounters. Texas music producer Phil York calls this song a “future American classic”, and WSNI 104.5 FM in Philadelphia continues to play this song in their holiday rotation. This song was also included on Volunteer Records “Holiday Heart” compilation in 2005. The song “Strike (On Strike)” was used as a rally cry for striking Red Cross workers. This release also earned the band a regional Mid Atlantic hit with “Scrapple”. A song about certain breakfast meat indigenous to the region.
While sitting and talking with the band and listening to them play, you get a full sense of what this band is about. They are about music... they are about life... they are about family. They play together in-sync like each knows what the other is going to do. They are talented musicians and perform meaningful songs.
Their sound is constantly evolving, and nowhere is that more apparent than their live shows? "We try to play to our audience," Don points out. He says that they play a coffee shop in a completely different way than they would a bar. They change everything from their equipment to their set list depending on venue.
The band’s energetic material has caught the attention of fans that have written or stated, “They’re dynamic, personal and enthusiastic… They have wonderful voices possessing heart, soul and melody…their guitar players have their own unorthodox way of playing… They use a lot of different chord structures and formations.”
Further reviews from live shows concluded that the band had “great guitar playing ability and a nice blend of musical styles…. They are strong singers who sing with enthusiasm and effort… They also possess excellent harmonizing ability.”
Don McAvoy is constantly writing music. He's writing on the train to work, he's writing when he gets home from work, he's writing before he goes to sleep at night. And by all accounts, he will be writing music for years to come. Don has written over 2100 copyrighted songs.
DMCGW are currently mixing their third album, “There’s Time Between The Bridge And The Water”, which they hope to release soon. One of their songs from this upcoming release, “Caught in Traffic”, is featured in the motion picture Rubbernecking, starring, Corbin Bernson (Major League) and Renee O'Connor (Xena). While, “Have I Been On Your Mind” received an honorable mention award in Billboard Magazine 2003 world songwriting contest.
In 2003 DMCGW performed for 15,000 people in Nottingham, PA – it’s largest crowd to date!
This is a high energy, fun to watch band!
Portions of this bio were printed with permission of Bruce Sarte – Web Entertainment Awards .com
QUOTE SHEET
What others are saying about Don McAvoy & The Great Whatever (R)......
Patti LaBelle :
"Sounds great ... Keep on going with your music ... It sounds great to me. It is hard out here in this business, but there is real hope for you..."
Livingston Taylor (brother of James):
"Keep the good sounds coming."
Tom Cook (Former Music Director, 104.5 WSNI-FM in Philadelphia [Adult Contemporary]):
"The first time I heard Don McAvoy & The Great Whatever, I knew they were far from "whatever"! Each year our listeners look forward to hearing "Best Little Christmas" as part of our playlist. Keep cranking out more music that is worth listening to!"
Chuck Eddy (Rolling Stone Magazine, Village Voice):
"I can really hear something going on with your music. I like the keyboards...
"Leo's Train" is a favorite... You have your own type of sound."
Bill Womack (DJ, 103 WMGK-FM in Philadelphia [Adult Contemporary]):
"I love the songs you've sent me ... what sold us on "Out On The Water" and "I Love You" was the singing and harmony."
Julie Roberts (Morning show producer, 103 WMGK-FM, Philadelphia):
"I really liked your songs; "Out On The Water" is very pretty."
Cyndy Drue (DJ, 93.3 WMMR-FM, Philadelphia [Rock]):
"Everybody in the station has heard your tape ... You've got great material and great potential ... You also have a nice-size following ... Keep it up ... Send me more material."
Andre Gardner (Program Director, 92.3 WXRK-FM, New York, formerly with 94.1 WYSP-FM, Philadelphia [Rock]):
"There is so much of that run-of-the-mill jazz out there ... Your music is really great; I wish I could play you all the time. This album should be all over the radio. I immediately gave it to programming."
Robin Lee (Program Director, WZZO FM, Allentown, PA) :
"Your songs are very, very good ... Keep up the good work ... Keep in touch."
Dave Hoeffel (Friday Morning Quarterback):
"This album has very interesting lyrics and good music. It's deep from the soul. It's better than major label material. I admire the entire project. There's lyrical and musical chops."
Tori Thomas (DJ, WZZO FM, Allentown, PA):
"You have one awesome CD there. I love just about every tune. The production is jus awesome!"
Kevin Gunn (Former morning show Producer, 93.3 WMMR-FM, Philadelphia [Rock]):
"I love these songs. Don McAvoy is a great songwriter."
Herb Gart (Don McLean's Manager for 18 years):
"You're really saying something with your lyrics. You're very talented."
Quen Ho (Former Membership Coordinator, WXPN-FM, Philadelphia [AAA]):
"'For The Want Of Money' should be on every radio station! It's really catchy.
Ben Hampe (Signed Huey Lewis & Pat Benetar):
"I thought the production was great. The vocals and pitch were great and the lyrics were fabulous."
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"Don McAvoy & The Great Whatever" and "People Make America Beautiful" are registered trademarks owned by McAvoy Music Productions, Inc. and its affiliates and is registered in the United States Patent & Trademark Office. No portion of the web site nor its contents may be copied or used in any manner without consent of the owners.
DMCGW are presented to you by Ribsy Records & EKIM Management.