Pro Sound Blog » Musicians

Lost one of my favorite clients

mediaguru — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:13:21 +0000

Rest in peace Kristen Merrill. Kristen was one of my best and funnest clients back in the studio days. Below is the obituary, because they obituary sites are slime bags and charge money to keep the piece up for more than a few days. I’m not sure why they chose such terrible quality photos of Kristen. I’m sure they have plenty good ones to choose from…

Kristen Dalton

Kristen Maier Merrill Lewis Dalton (Byla Saliva)
Oct. 5, 1951~Nov. 21, 2011

Kristen Merrill, who could recite Lord Buckley and Tom Lehrer, belt out rock ‘n roll, write perfect parody, melt you with a smile or a snide remark; she-of-the-smart brain and the smarter mouth, who loved to party, who brought such wit to life, died and left all who knew her with an empty space in their hearts, but grateful to have shared her singular life.

The nut didn’t fall far from the tree. Her father, Charles Smith Merrill, was an eccentric entrepreneur. Her mother, Marion (Ronnie) Merrill, was a beauty and a celebrated wit. Kristen remained close to her mother through her high school years in Oakland, and through the years the two of them rented out apartments in their sprawling Millcreek mansion. Some of Utah’s most remarkable characters rented from Ronnie and Kristen, although none were as remarkable as they.

Kristen could sing. Aficionados will remember Rowboat, Steamboat, the Bel Aires, the Kristen Merrill band, and the group that was most like her, the Saliva Sisters. For thirty years, she was the wit, the provocateur and the booming, velvety voice of Utah’s most irreverent trio. She boldly took them where no girl group had gone before.

Kristen was interested in stuff, especially bugs and plants, and seemed to know something about everything. She held court at parties. She charmed strangers in bars. She was the funniest person in the room. She was the perfect eccentric aunt to her friends’ children. There were chickens in her yard. She should have written a book. She shouldn’t have died so young.

She is survived by her husband, Guy Dalton, who loved her deeply; her stepchildren, Nick, Aujelle, Anthony and Amanda Dalton; her half-sister, Nance (Steve) Kohlert, her brother, Mark (Linda) Merrill. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Kevin Lewis, her mother, Marion Merrill and her father, Charles S. Merrill, her half-siblings Mary Lou Lundquist and Richard and John Merrill.

Remembrances can be posted on Face book at the Kristen Merrill Tribute Page. You can also learn how to help defray costs of the service. Thanks.

A gathering to celebrate her life will be held Sunday, December 4, 5:00 – 8:00 at Pierpont Place, 163 West Pierpont Avenue (240 South). Service at 5:30. Open mike. Cash bar. In lieu of flowers, tell a joke. And, Kristen, we didn’t love you or nothin’

Bummed to hear of the death of Ronnie James DIO

mediaguru — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:43:23 +0000

I’m very bummed to hear that Ronnie James DIO died. I really loved his vox. Saw him live with Black Sabbath twice. He had one of the coolest voices in early metal.

He brought Vinney Appice’s cool, solid drumming style to my attention as well.

RIP DIO

Scorpions to retire after this album and tour

mediaguru — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:19:41 +0000

Important Message to our Fans

It was always our pleasure, our purpose in life, our passion and we were fortunate enough to make music for you – whether it was live on stage or in the studio, creating new songs.

While we were working on our album these past few months, we could literally feel how powerful and creative our work was – and how much fun we were still having, in the process. But there was also something else: We want to end the Scorpion’s extraordinary career on a high note. We are extremely grateful for the fact that we still have the same passion for music we’ve always had since the beginning. This is why, especially now, we agree we have reached the end of the road. We finish our career with an album we consider to be one of the best we have ever recorded and with a tour that will start in our home country Germany and take us to five different continents over the next few years.

We want you, our fans, to be the first to know about this. Thank you for your never-ending support throughout the years!

We uploaded the very first snippets from our new album for you.

And now… let’s get the party started and get ready for a “Sting in the Tail”!

See you on the world tour,

Yours

Scorpions

Bass player dies from being “sick”

mediaguru — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:45:29 +0000

I just heard that a bass player for a band I used to record died. He was sick, like the flu. He was probably in his late 30′s or early 40′s. Not sure if that was a H1N1 death or what. I also suspect drugs were involved.

Either way, too bad for him.

News flash: Michael Jackson had lethal levels of drugs in his body… no shit.

mediaguru — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:22:13 +0000

I never saw the light with Michael Jackson and his whiny little girl voice. I also don’t see the fascination losers people have about him.

The big news today on the front page of CNN.com is that Michael Jackson had lethal levels of some sort of drugs in his system.

Gee really? Ya think that’s why he died?

New Bowling For Soup Song! My Wena

mediaguru — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:54:50 +0000

My golf buddies Bowling For Soup have a new video! Cool!

Michael Jackson Dead

mediaguru — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:00:38 +0000

I really didn’t like Michael Jackson or his music. I left town for a camping trip and came back to find he’d died. Maybe I should go camping more often.

I felt sorry for the guy really. He never had the chance to be a kid when he grew up. He was thrown right into the spotlight and had to perform and tour at a very young age. Later in life he tried to be a kid, but had the hormones of an adult. Not a good combination.

He owned the rights to the Beatles and married Elvis’ daughter. He really tried to be the King of Pop and whatever else he could. Then he died, apparently just like Elvis, via a prescription drug overdose. You have to wonder if that was actually his plan.

I for one am glad that chapter of the freak show is over.

Saddened by death of Ventures guitarist Bob Bogle

mediaguru — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:35:37 +0000

My rock & roll band covers many Ventures tunes like “Hawaii Five-O” and “Walk Don’t Run,” “Wipeout,” “Penetration” etc. There are no tunes more fun to play than those classic Ventures surf tunes.

Tribute to Bob Bogle

Bob Bogle, guitarist for the Venutres, died yesterday at 75. Hats off, wine glasses up to you man. Your plunky, reverberant guitar style is classic and influenced many guitar players. And your sound with that Fender Jaguar guitar through a Fender Reverb Amp is one of the best guitar tones in the history of rock & roll.

My Ventures memory

Years ago my band opened for the ventures and the coolest club in town. The place was packed and we had a GREAT time. It was an honor to share the stage with such legends and to meet them.

It was hilarious during their rendition of Hawaii Five-O when the drummer was doing his solo on his gigantic kit with his black gloves. The bass player’s amp went down and they were trying to figure out how to get it running again. The drummer kept soloing and soloing. He’d anxiously look at the bass player, who would throw his arms up in the air. The drummer got the most classic looks on his face because he was shot but had to keep soloing… Classic.

During that show I didn’t sit in the audience. I sat on the stage, with Bob Bogle’s guitar amp sitting next to me. I absolutely loved it. Every time he’d do one of those plucky riffs where he slid down the neck of the guitar made me a giddy as an elementary school girl.

And I can’t even find my car keys…

mediaguru — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:11:52 +0000

Got an email from a client today.

“Hey we recorded in your studio back in 1991. Do you still have our master tapes?”

Wow. And I can’t even find my car keys.

Real drummers are better than machines

mediaguru — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:31:35 +0000

Got a nice note from the client who I did some drum tracks for last week.

“I was thinking I’d leave my Groove Agent drums, but your accents of stuff really increased the vibe, great job! I appreciate your talent.”