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Mitch Bright
Percussion/Vocals
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"Monk"
Mitch Bright can't remember a time when music didn't play a major role in his life. Whether playing, singing...or merely listening...
he can't imagine a world without music - good music.
Mitch's earliest memories of music go back to childhood, perhaps before his first steps. To a time when his dad would hold him as he laid on
the floor in front of the home-made Hi-Fi and absorbed the sounds of The Limeliters, Peter, Paul & Mary and other artists of the 60's.
Mitch's passion for the drums probably began with the British Invasion; witnessing the likes of Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker and Charlie Watts.
But it was the masters like Louis Bellson, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich that really made Mitch sit up and take notice. The unmistakable feel of
Swing captivated Mitch every bit as much as Rock-n-Roll, maybe more. Hour upon hour was spent trying to absorb the grooves he discovered while
listening to Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. It never mattered to Mitch how "old" the music was. Good is good, no matter when it's recorded
But Mitch would have to wait a while before having real drum set of his own. So other objects would have to do. From spoons to coffee cans...
and table tops to bongos, Mitch tapped on anything that would sit still. He doesn't remember what year it was, but his first drum kit came from
a rummage sale. A simple red, 4-piece set of Slingerlands which his mom bought for him. Throughout Junior High and High School, Mitch was fortunate
enough to play with a handful of fine young musicians from Northwest Indiana, and took his talents to some Southern states a time or two, traveling
with a singer/arranger/choir-director, playing drums for some big churches (with BIG choirs)
In the early 80's, marriage and family took center stage and, for the most part, Mitch "retired" from the drums, never regretting focusing on his wife,
3 children and his Church. But sometime around 2004, he picked up the sticks again when asked to join The Lazarus Band. Shortly thereafter he also agreed
to play drums for Valparaiso's very-own Ransom Band. Over the last few years, Mitch has also enjoyed sitting in with The Crawpuppies and Chris & Lou of
Acoustic-X fame.
Being asked to join the eXRayz was a pleasant surprise and Mitch looks forward to laying down the best grooves of his life. Mitch plays Sonor drums,
Zildjian cymbals and employs his Roland HandSonic for acoustic gigs. Mitch also lends his voice to the mix and has been known to strap on an acoustic
guitar in coffee houses around the Region.
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