Tiger & the Helix
Encyclopedia
Tiger & the Helix was a Los Angeles
based rock group that formed in the early nineties, fronted by Richard Gannaway
, who later founded the acclaimed world music
project Aomusic
. The group also featured keyboardist
, Jay Oliver
, whose other credits include Sheryl Crow
, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett
, Wynona Judd, Glenn Frey
, Peabo Bryson
, Chick Corea
, Dave Weckl
, Maynard Ferguson
and Aomusic
. The group was heavily influenced by an 80s rock
sound (The Police
, The Outfield
, Stevie Ray Vaughan
). Each of the band's members were originally from St. Louis, MO
. In 1994 the group released the self-produced album, "Peace Face
" on indie label
Arcturian Gate
, on which each founding member contributed as a co-writer.
, who had been a composer
in Los Angeles
since 1986, convinced Oliver
to move his home studio to Manhattan Beach
, CA
. Oliver
was touring with Jimmy Buffett
at the time, and though he had a formidable reputation as a St. Louis based music producer, his longtime friend, jazz drummer, Dave Weckl
, also lived in Los Angeles
, so he relocated in November of that year. Oliver
then introduced Gannaway
to guitarist
Andy Georges and drummer
Mike Lawrence, who moved into the same Manhattan Beach
, CA
home studio. While Oliver
was on tour as Buffett's
keyboard player, Gannaway
, Georges and Lawrence began composing and recording. In 1994 Gannaway
and Oliver
mixed ten of the songs, which became the "Peace Face
" album, released on Gannaway
's indie label, Arcturian Gate
. Tiger & the Helix did not tour as the four founding members, though after the album’s release, Gannaway
toured the project throughout Western Europe
with backing musicians from Canada
before retiring the project in late 1997.
Richard Gannaway
and Jay Oliver
went on to form the acclaimed world music
ensemble Aomusic
, featuring Miriam Stockley
(the voice of Karl Jenkins
’ "Adiemus
" project). Andy Georges became a Los Angeles
based film score composer and is actively involved in the Aomusic
recording sessions. Mike Lawrence became a member of the alternative rock
group Sun 60
, on the Sony BMG label. Arcturian Gate
did not mass produce the "Peace Face
" album, which became quite rare as a collector's piece after the band stopped touring. The album was never promoted in North America
, though track 4 “Somewhere Blue” received a fair amount of airplay in Central
and Northern Europe
.
Contributing artists:
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
based rock group that formed in the early nineties, fronted by Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world/new age musical group Aomusic . The group features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Deniece...
, who later founded the acclaimed world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
project Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
. The group also featured keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
, whose other credits include Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
, Wynona Judd, Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
, Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
, Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
, Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl is a highly acclaimed jazz fusion drummer. Weckl attended Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, MO and graduated in 1978. He majored in jazz studies at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut...
, Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
and Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
. The group was heavily influenced by an 80s 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...
sound (The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
, The Outfield
The Outfield
The Outfield are an arena rock-influenced English pop rock/power pop power trio based in London, England. The Outfield are unusual for a British band in that they enjoyed commercial success in the U.S., but never reached the album or singles charts in their homeland...
, Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
). Each of the band's members were originally from St. Louis, MO
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. In 1994 the group released the self-produced album, "Peace Face
Peace Face
Peace Face is a studio album from Tiger & the Helix, released September 21, 1994, through Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "Love is the Only Way" - 3:57# "Unknown Worlds" - 4:25# "Moonfire" - 4:05# "Somewhere Blue" - 4:08# "Imaginary Fire" - 3:53...
" on indie label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate is a record label founded in 1994 by AOMUSIC's Richard Gannaway under the LLC "AO Music". In addition to its function as an independent label, AO Music / Arcturian Gate is also the publishing entity for its artists...
, on which each founding member contributed as a co-writer.
Formation
In 1989 GannawayRichard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world/new age musical group Aomusic . The group features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Deniece...
, who had been a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
since 1986, convinced Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
to move his home studio to Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach may refer to:PlacesIn the United States:* Manhattan Beach, California* Manhattan Beach, Minnesota* Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York...
, CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
was touring with Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
at the time, and though he had a formidable reputation as a St. Louis based music producer, his longtime friend, jazz drummer, Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl is a highly acclaimed jazz fusion drummer. Weckl attended Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, MO and graduated in 1978. He majored in jazz studies at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut...
, also lived in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, so he relocated in November of that year. Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
then introduced Gannaway
Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world/new age musical group Aomusic . The group features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Deniece...
to 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...
Andy Georges and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Mike Lawrence, who moved into the same Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach may refer to:PlacesIn the United States:* Manhattan Beach, California* Manhattan Beach, Minnesota* Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York...
, CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
home studio. While Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
was on tour as Buffett's
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
keyboard player, Gannaway
Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world/new age musical group Aomusic . The group features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Deniece...
, Georges and Lawrence began composing and recording. In 1994 Gannaway
Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world/new age musical group Aomusic . The group features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Deniece...
and Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
mixed ten of the songs, which became the "Peace Face
Peace Face
Peace Face is a studio album from Tiger & the Helix, released September 21, 1994, through Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "Love is the Only Way" - 3:57# "Unknown Worlds" - 4:25# "Moonfire" - 4:05# "Somewhere Blue" - 4:08# "Imaginary Fire" - 3:53...
" album, released on Gannaway
Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world/new age musical group Aomusic . The group features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Deniece...
's indie label, Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate is a record label founded in 1994 by AOMUSIC's Richard Gannaway under the LLC "AO Music". In addition to its function as an independent label, AO Music / Arcturian Gate is also the publishing entity for its artists...
. Tiger & the Helix did not tour as the four founding members, though after the album’s release, Gannaway
Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world/new age musical group Aomusic . The group features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Deniece...
toured the project throughout Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
with backing musicians from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
before retiring the project in late 1997.
Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway
Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world/new age musical group Aomusic . The group features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Deniece...
and Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
went on to form the acclaimed world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
ensemble Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
, featuring Miriam Stockley
Miriam Stockley
Miriam Stockley is a British singer. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and her work is influenced by the African music in her home country. Her unique vocalese style gained international acclaim when Karl Jenkins' launched the "Adiemus" project with "Songs of Sanctuary", featuring...
(the voice of Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins
-Other works:*Adiemus: Live — live versions of Adiemus music*Palladio *Eloise *Imagined Oceans *The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace...
’ "Adiemus
Adiemus
-Concept:Each Adiemus album is a collection of song-length pieces featuring harmonised vocal melody against an orchestral background. There are no lyrics as such: instead the vocalists sing syllables and 'words' invented by Jenkins...
" project). Andy Georges became a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
based film score composer and is actively involved in the Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
recording sessions. Mike Lawrence became a member of the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
group Sun 60
Sun-60
Sun-60 were a Los Angeles Alternative rock band from 1987-1996.The band was notable for the vocal gymnastics of Joan Jones, the guitar riffs of David Russo, clever song-writing, and an eclectic combination of styles, including folk, alt rock, pop, and blues.Despite a cult following, considerable...
, on the Sony BMG label. Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate is a record label founded in 1994 by AOMUSIC's Richard Gannaway under the LLC "AO Music". In addition to its function as an independent label, AO Music / Arcturian Gate is also the publishing entity for its artists...
did not mass produce the "Peace Face
Peace Face
Peace Face is a studio album from Tiger & the Helix, released September 21, 1994, through Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "Love is the Only Way" - 3:57# "Unknown Worlds" - 4:25# "Moonfire" - 4:05# "Somewhere Blue" - 4:08# "Imaginary Fire" - 3:53...
" album, which became quite rare as a collector's piece after the band stopped touring. The album was never promoted in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, though track 4 “Somewhere Blue” received a fair amount of airplay in Central
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
.
Band members
- Richard GannawayRichard GannawayRichard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world/new age musical group Aomusic . The group features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' "Adiemus" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Deniece...
(vocals, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
) - Jay OliverJay OliverJay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
(keyboards, production) - Andy Georges (electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, vocals) - Mike Lawrence (electric guitar, vocals)
Contributing artists:
- Marc Torlina (bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) - Sasha Alexandra (vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) - Leslie White (backing vocals)