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KEN |
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Ken Beck plays lead and rhythm guitar and sings lead and background vocals. He began playing with organized bands in 1965. "The Echoes" was a four piece top 40 cover group that Ken organized and played with through high school and his first year of college. In 1967 he left the group for a year and moved to Nashville. When he re-joined the group in 1968 a horn section had been added and the band was now doing R&B. The name of the group was changed to "The Peppermint Soul". In 1969 he performed as MC and male vocalist in the "Red Garter Saloon" at Frontierland theme park in Cherokee, N.C. until he was drafted for military service in September of that year. After being discharged from the army Ken spent a couple of years looking for the right combination of musicians. This finally came together in "Greenscreek" band. "Greenscreek" chose a format that combined Top 40 with the Southern Rock stylings that were just starting to gain popularity. "Greenscreek" was basically a Frat Party Band. The group toured the Southeastern College circuit during the 70's. Disco killed that music scene. In the Spring of 1972 Ken was hired by National Entertainment to MC and perform in shows at "Frontierland", "Magic Waters" and Ghost Town In The Sky" theme Parks in Western North Carolina. He worked for National Entertainment until 1989. While working at "Ghost Town" theme park Ken also was sound engineer for the concert series. In this capacity Ken worked with "The Diamonds", Lou Christy, Johnny Thunder, Dee Clark and "Dick Clark's Rockin' Robin Band". When National Entertainment ceased operation Ken began to devote more time to development and marketing of his songwriting talents. He Became a member of Broadcast Music Incorporated and the Nashville Songwriter's Association International. Three of his songs were assigned to a Nashville based publishing company. A publisher in Wilmington, North Carolina with Nashville contacts signed a complete folio of songs. This led to publisher financed recording sessions in Nashville. Canadian artist Karee Phillips recorded Ken's song, "Your Heart Won't Pay Me No mind" - with a Stevie Nicks flavor, this song continues to receive airplay. An up-coming artist from Texas was flown in to Nashville to record Ken's "There Ain't No Rush". That song got strong airplay in the mid-west. Ken did vocals on the remainder of songs from that session. Two of of them charted in Australia. In the year 2000 Ken decided to return to his roots..."Carolina Beach Music" and to perform hits from the fifties, sixties and seventies. He continues to write, record and perform songs that reflect that musical style. |
