BIOGRAPHY

Contemporary, sing-a-long, melodic, crossover appeal- original music

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 experience 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 long time friends:  Marc Arot (Bass & Vocals), Jim Walsh (Guitar & Vocals), and occasionally brothers Mike McAvoy (Drums, Percussion and Vocals) and Joe McAvoy (Guitar and 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 – its 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 Contemporary, sing-a-long, melodic, crossover appeal- original music .com


(C) 2011 - McAvoy Music Productions, Inc. (ASCAP)

"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.







QUOTE SHEET

What others have said or 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 play list. 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."

Phil York (Grammy-award winning studio engineer)
:
“Hearing all your music has reminded me of how versatile and talented you are. Kudos on that. I know it’s a tough business, …but when you break, it’s going to be a long, high ride for you.”


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 are 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.

Lou Pica (Dr. Lou’s Radio Show):
 “I have to say that “Happy Friday” is one of my favorite songs from the show. I write music myself and the cadence and verses of that song have a very attractive way about them. The song helps you get happy like some of the special blues and alternative music that I enjoy so much. I am very interested in hearing more of your music. Thanks.”

Terry Wendt, Producer, Nashville, TN:
“ God Bless you and thank you for the great material you’ve pitched…Sincerely – TW.”

Bruce Uher (Clint Black’s musical partner):
Yes please do (send more songs). There is no doubt that you are a great writer and have great songs…So do send them...”

Big Daddy Graham (Comedian and Radio Host at WIP - 610 AM)
Regarding "Happy Friday": "I like the chorus and your name - The Great Whatever"



McAvoy Music Productions, Inc. (ASCAP) Catalog Usage Credentials

·“Best Little Christmas” - 

in steady rotation in Philadelphia (Market 5) radio in November and December 2003, 2004 and 2005.  Top 10 hit on MP3.com.

· “Strike”
- used by Red Cross Drivers

· “Have I Been On Your Mind”
– Honorable Mention in Billboard Magazine’s World song Contest

· “All She Wants Is Just To Be Happy”
– runner up song for the theme song for the TV show Felicity
 
· “The Kent Voss Song”
- Theme song for Top 5 FM radio station show

· “Like It Like That”
– MP3 Song of the Week on WebEntertainmentAwards.com. Radio hit in Belarus

· “For The Want Of Money”
- Episode 7 “Rosarito Weekend” (Syndicated TV show)

· “Caught In Traffic”
- featured in the Motion Picture “Rubbernecking” starring Corbin Bernson (Major League/LA Law) and Renee O’Connor (Xena The Warrior).  Used in Market 5  radio and television segments

· “Happy Friday”
– Requested for the theme song for the online Internet newsletter Happy Friday and used in Market 5 radio and television segments.

· “Magic” -
featured in the Motion Picture “Bloodrite”

· “All She Wants Is Just To Be Happy” 
- Radio hits in Belarus

· “At Third Base And Heading For Home”
– Theme song for the Toronto Blue Jays Minor League team, the St. Catherine Blue Jays (Summer 1999)

· “One Wish”
- used by Hewlett-Packard (nationally/internationally)

· “Leave Those Clocks Alone”
- used in Market 5 television and radio segments

· “Scrapple”
- Mid-Atlantic novelty hit/used in Market 5 radio and television segments

· “Out on the Water” -
one of the most requested songs on 93.3 WMMR and 102.9 WMGK (Market 5) in mid 90's

· DMCGW received airplay (nationally and internationally) on 31 songs released in the last ten years

· Numerous ASCAP Panel Awards