Boom Gaspar
Encyclopedia
Kenneth E. Gaspar more commonly known as Boom Gaspar, is an American
musician who has performed with the American rock
band Pearl Jam
as a piano/keyboard/organ player since 2002.
, Hawaii
. He started playing music when he was eleven years old. After graduating from Kailua High School, Gaspar spent the next thirty years doing local shows throughout Hawaii with acts such as the Mackey Feary Band, Harmony, Simplisity, and played in Seattle with a second billing group called Streetwalker and also played first billing with the famous blues
guitarist
Albert Collins
.
first met Gaspar while in Hawaii. Gaspar was introduced to Vedder through Ramones
bassist C. J. Ramone
. Gaspar has appeared on the Pearl Jam albums Riot Act
(2002) and Pearl Jam
(2006). He has a songwriting credit for the song "Love Boat Captain
" which is on Riot Act. According to Gaspar, the song initially developed out of a jam session
he had with Vedder shortly after the two first met. When they were done, Vedder asked Gaspar if he was "ready to go to Seattle." He has become known for his long solos during "Crazy Mary", a song originally written by Victoria Williams
, which has become a fan favorite during live Pearl Jam shows. This often culminates in a guitar/organ duel between Gaspar and guitarist Mike McCready
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician who has performed with the American rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
as a piano/keyboard/organ player since 2002.
Early life
Boom Gaspar grew up in WaimānaloWaimanalo, Hawai'i
Waimānalo is a census-designated place in the City & County of Honolulu, in the District of Koolaupoko on the island of Oahu. This small windward community is located near the eastern end of the island. In the Hawaiian language Waimānalo means "potable water"; it is so named for the many brackish...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He started playing music when he was eleven years old. After graduating from Kailua High School, Gaspar spent the next thirty years doing local shows throughout Hawaii with acts such as the Mackey Feary Band, Harmony, Simplisity, and played in Seattle with a second billing group called Streetwalker and also played first billing with the famous blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Albert Collins
Albert Collins
Albert Collins was an American electric blues guitarist and singer whose recording career began in the 1960s in Houston and whose fame eventually took him to stages across the US, Europe, Japan and Australia...
.
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie VedderEddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
first met Gaspar while in Hawaii. Gaspar was introduced to Vedder through Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
bassist C. J. Ramone
C. J. Ramone
Christopher Joseph Ward , better known as C. J. Ramone, is an American musician best known as working as the bassist of punk rock group Ramones from 1989 to 1996.-Background:...
. Gaspar has appeared on the Pearl Jam albums Riot Act
Riot Act (album)
Riot Act is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released November 12, 2002 through Epic Records. Following a full-scale tour in support of its previous album, Binaural , Pearl Jam took a year-long break. The band then reconvened in the beginning of 2002 and...
(2002) and Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam (album)
Pearl Jam is the eighth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam and its debut and only release for J Records...
(2006). He has a songwriting credit for the song "Love Boat Captain
Love Boat Captain
"Love Boat Captain" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music co-written by Vedder and keyboardist Boom Gaspar, "Love Boat Captain" was released on February 18, 2003 as a single from the band's seventh studio album, Riot Act .-Origin...
" which is on Riot Act. According to Gaspar, the song initially developed out of a jam session
Jam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
he had with Vedder shortly after the two first met. When they were done, Vedder asked Gaspar if he was "ready to go to Seattle." He has become known for his long solos during "Crazy Mary", a song originally written by Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams is an American singer-songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. She is noted for her descriptive songwriting talent, which she has used to immerse the listener of her songs into a...
, which has become a fan favorite during live Pearl Jam shows. This often culminates in a guitar/organ duel between Gaspar and guitarist Mike McCready
Mike McCready
Michael David McCready is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
.
Pearl Jam discography
| Year | Title | Label | Track(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Riot Act Riot Act (album) Riot Act is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released November 12, 2002 through Epic Records. Following a full-scale tour in support of its previous album, Binaural , Pearl Jam took a year-long break. The band then reconvened in the beginning of 2002 and... |
Epic Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A... |
Some |
| 2003 | 2003 Official Bootlegs (Australia, Japan, and North America) | Epic | Some |
| Big Fish: Music from the Motion Picture Big Fish (soundtrack) Big Fish is the soundtrack, on the Sony Classical label, of the 2003 film Big Fish. The original score and songs were composed by Danny Elfman.The album was nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.... |
Sony | "Man of the Hour Man of the Hour "Man of the Hour" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by vocalist Eddie Vedder, "Man of the Hour" accompanies the closing credits of the 2003 film Big Fish, and is the first track on the film's soundtrack album. It was released as a single on November 26, 2003... " |
|
| 2004 | Hot Stove, Cool Music, Vol. 1 | Fenway Fenway recordings Fenway Recordings is an artist management company based in Boston, MA.Fenway was founded in 2001 by Mark Kates. Previously Kates had held an A&R position at Geffen Records before leaving to become the president of the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal Records... |
"Bu$hleaguer" (live) |
| Live at Benaroya Hall Live at Benaroya Hall Live at Benaroya Hall is a two-disc live album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, recorded on October 22, 2003 at Benaroya Hall, Seattle, Washington and released on July 27, 2004 through BMG.-Overview:... |
BMG | Some | |
| For the Lady For the Lady For The Lady is a benefit CD set dedicated to freeing Aung San Suu Kyi, the then-imprisoned Burmese opposition leader, and the people of Burma, released by Rhino Records on October 26, 2004. Sale proceeds of the double CD set go to the U.S... |
Rhino Rhino Entertainment Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes... /WEA Warner Music Group Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies... |
"Better Man Better Man "Better Man" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by vocalist Eddie Vedder, "Better Man" is the eleventh track on the band's third studio album, Vitalogy... " (live) |
|
| rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003) | Epic | "I Am Mine I Am Mine "I Am Mine" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by vocalist Eddie Vedder, "I Am Mine" was released on October 8, 2002 as the first single from the band's seventh studio album, Riot Act . The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart... ", "Save You Save You "Save You" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on February 11, 2003 as the second single from the band's seventh studio album, Riot Act . Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music primarily written by guitarist... ", and "Man of the Hour" |
|
| 2005 | 2005 Official Bootlegs (North America and South America) | Ten Club | Some |
| 2006 | Pearl Jam Pearl Jam (album) Pearl Jam is the eighth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam and its debut and only release for J Records... |
J J Records J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:... |
Some |
| 2006 Official Bootlegs (North America, Europe, and Australia) | Ten Club | Some | |
| 2007 | Live at the Gorge 05/06 Live at the Gorge 05/06 Live at the Gorge 05/06 is a seven-disc live box set by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on June 26, 2007 through Rhino/WEA. The box set documents the band's 2005 and 2006 shows at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington.... |
Rhino/WEA | Some |
| Live at Lollapalooza 2007 Live at Lollapalooza 2007 Live at Lollapalooza 2007 is a live album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam that was released as an iTunes exclusive on September 18, 2007.-Overview:... |
Self-released | Some | |
| 2008 | 2008 United States Official Bootlegs | Kufala | Some |
| 2009 | 2009 Official Bootlegs | Self-released | Some |
| 2010 | 2010 Official Bootlegs | Self-released | Some |