Originally Posted By: Bass Thumper
For years I would imagine someone playing steel drums in the Morning Dance song by Spyro Gyra, 6:30 in the above video I posted. Come to find out today that it's the dude playing his keyboard.


Funny that you mentioned that specific tune on that specific album. Spyro Gyra was originally from Buffalo, and they played Cleveland a lot in their formative years, mainly at a club here called The Agora. One show found me sitting right in front of Tom Schuman, and as they came forward to take the group bow at the end I reached up just to get a high five. Instead he tore his access pass off his thigh and gave it to me. Roll the tape forward to 2002 when they played an outdoor summer festival on the street in downtown Akron (where I lived then), I went to see them. The main stage was right in front of a restaurant, and I went in there to get something to drink. There he sat, ordering some food. I walked by and just said "Oh wow. Hi Tom." He gave me a handshake and asked what was good at that place. I said "Everything." He laughed and said "Well, THAT narrows it down." I smiled and said "Hang on a sec." Now that place happened to be owned by a chef I knew well (My wife of the time was the food writer at the paper in that city.) so I walked back by the kitchen and said "Roger, can you come out and greet one of the Spyro Gyra guys?" So he came out and I introduced them, and he told Tom "I will take care of you myself", took his menu and told him "I got you covered." At that point Tom said "Man! You a playa, huh?" and invited me to sit down. I told him the access pass story and we talked about music, gear and sobriety (He used to drink a lot, as did I) until his food came out, at which point I left so he could eat in peace. REALLY nice guy. Great sense of humor. Also, he has dropped a LOT of weight. Plays at a level I would say is "exquisite".