The Reach
& Gatsby's Green Light DONATE to make “The Catwalk of Life” and keep the tour happening
Contact Ken: Ken@kencoulson.com
Booking, press, and collaboration Hive@kencoulson.com
The Story: Storytelling is what makes us uniquely human.
Here’s Ken’s story:
He was born in Columbia, MD in 1975 to hardworking, aspiring middle-class parents, both first in their families to graduate college. Growing up in a diverse planned community like Columbia left an impression which would not be realized until recent years, which was when Ken’s own philosophy and songwriting came into focus.
When he was 15, the family moved to Connecticut, where his mother transitioned from a social worker to a full time housewife, while his father took on an arduous 3 hour daily commute, on top of a 13-hour workday, for the next 13 years.
It was during this time when Ken was exposed to classic rock, The Grateful Dead and other great music from the 60s and 70s. He became the devoted fan of a groove he did not quite yet understand. The power and collective vibrations of a crowd would be a feeling he chased for the next 14 years, seeing shows and traveling around the country with bands like Phish, The Dead, Widespread Panic and Dave Matthews Band. In fact, hearing Dave Matthews Band in a small club in Greenville, SC in ‘94, as the band was about to start their meteoric rise, remains a vivid example of how the power of music cannot be contained.
Graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Ken took with him an appreciation of the environment, the Frisbee, microbrew beer and the mountains. He went on to work in the 'real' world for the next 13 years, only to find his way back to the appreciation of music instilled in him so many years ago.
After adventuring through the wilds of Europe's pubs and ski slopes for 5 years, Ken returned to the United States and was struck by an America fascinated not with the diversity, family focus and cultural progress he had known, but of one searching for a new identity. The country appeared confronted with a growing breed of turbo-charged consumerist ideology with rapidly developing technology fueling the fire. The world around him was being condensed and illuminated at the same time. Ken began to write music.
His early work, a pioneer project, Mugdown, a rock jam project with jazzy overtones was punctuated and embedded with the dire need for the heart to change, often likened to the music of the Doors. Mugdown produced 2 CD in 2005’s Life on TV and 2006’s Side of the Road.
As Ken continued along his journey of musical exploration, he continued to develop himself as a songwriter. In 2008, Ken was introduced to Raymond Bryant through his friend Kim Geary -- the result was his next project, Kite.
Re-energized and growing through the new relationship, Ken and Ray with producer/engineer Alex Theoret and drummer Hari Ganglberger made 3 exploding groove albums laced with funk, reggae, rock, and pop: the self-titled Kite in 2008, Future Perfect in 2009 and Exercise in Levitation in 2010. The new albums represented a musical growth for the group and their families and a spiritual one for Ken. Kite solidified Ken’s goal of changing the lives around him through music and also helped him to develop a broader understanding of music itself. Kite’s deep funk and rock and roll groove, complete with soaring guitar, fretless bass, and explosive drumming represented a watershed musical experience for Ken.
In 2009, Kim, now married to Ray, began to sing with the group, who had begun to trend toward acoustic playing. Ken’s songwriting was also taking influences from Americana and folk music. The Other Corner Jug Band was formed on fine fall day in October. With themes on raising children, the earth, religion, to light hearted songs about loving one’s life and opportunities;
OCJB released 2 CDs, Other Corner Jug Band in 2009 and Grow in 2010. To this day, the band continues to write and perform these and new music, enjoying a healthy exposure through radio and grassroots concert performances.
In the winter of 2010, Ken began a new vein of writing and rhythmic playing that has become Gatsby’s Green Light. The songs flowing forth from the inspiration of the project seem to fit the concept of a bigger band, formats of multi-instrumental musicians and working equally-well as solo acoustic performance. Ken has since embraced the understanding that there are no genres only music, reinforced itself in world music that fuses Latin, Americana, pop, island, theatre and more.
With Gatsby’s Green Light, Ken Coulson embarks on his own, followed closely and joined often by friends and family across the country. Ken seeks to connect and build community through music, speaking and cultural projects. As he says, “There is a right place for music - it’s in all of us and flowing between us as we communicate. Music is much bigger than is typically associated in the mind. It is something of beauty that works in nature, a good conversation, a spark of new knowledge or awareness: the first and the last step to the top of the mountain. We are, with the world connected and that it’s through this connection that we can grow, thrive, and sustain this beautiful planet and a people capable of the unimaginable. Music is the natural language to accomplish our goals and enjoy our existence. Dive in and enjoy. Step into the light!”
The Story: Storytelling is what makes us uniquely human. Here’s Ken’s story:
He was born in Columbia, MD in 1975 to hardworking, aspiring middle-class parents, both first in their families to graduate college. Growing up in a diverse planned community like Columbia left an impression which would not be realized until recent years, which was when Ken’s own philosophy and songwriting came into focus.
When he was 15, the family moved to Connecticut, where his mother transitioned from a social worker to a full time housewife, while his father took on an arduous 3 hour daily commute, on top of a 13-hour workday, for the next 13 years.
It was during this time when Ken was exposed to classic rock, The Grateful Dead and other great music from the 60s and 70s. He became the devoted fan of a groove he did not quite yet understand. The power and collective vibrations of a crowd would be a feeling he chased for the next 14 years, seeing shows and traveling around the country with bands like Phish, The Dead, Widespread Panic and Dave Matthews Band. In fact, hearing Dave Matthews Band in a small club in Greenville, SC in ‘94, as the band was about to start their meteoric rise, remains a vivid example of how the power of music cannot be contained.
Graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Ken took with him an appreciation of the environment, the Frisbee, microbrew beer and the mountains. He went on to work in the 'real' world for the next 13 years, only to find his way back to the appreciation of music instilled in him so many years ago.
After adventuring through the wilds of Europe's pubs and ski slopes for 5 years, Ken returned to the United States and was struck by an America fascinated not with the diversity, family focus and cultural progress he had known, but of one searching for a new identity. The country appeared confronted with a growing breed of turbo-charged consumerist ideology with rapidly developing technology fueling the fire. The world around him was being condensed and illuminated at the same time. Ken began to write music.
His early work, a pioneer project, Mugdown, a rock jam project with jazzy overtones was punctuated and embedded with the dire need for the heart to change, often likened to the music of the Doors. Mugdown produced 2 CD in 2005’s Life on TV and 2006’s Side of the Road.
As Ken continued along his journey of musical exploration, he continued to develop himself as a songwriter. In 2008, Ken was introduced to Raymond Bryant through his friend Kim Geary -- the result was his next project, Kite.
Re-energized and growing through the new relationship, Ken and Ray with producer/engineer Alex Theoret and drummer Hari Ganglberger made 3 exploding groove albums laced with funk, reggae, rock, and pop: the self-titled Kite in 2008, Future Perfect in 2009 and Exercise in Levitation in 2010. The new albums represented a musical growth for the group and their families and a spiritual one for Ken. Kite solidified Ken’s goal of changing the lives around him through music and also helped him to develop a broader understanding of music itself. Kite’s deep funk and rock and roll groove, complete with soaring guitar, fretless bass, and explosive drumming represented a watershed musical experience for Ken.
In 2009, Kim, now married to Ray, began to sing with the group, who had begun to trend toward acoustic playing. Ken’s songwriting was also taking influences from Americana and folk music. The Other Corner Jug Band was formed on fine fall day in October. With themes on raising children, the earth, religion, to light hearted songs about loving one’s life and opportunities;
OCJB released 2 CDs, Other Corner Jug Band in 2009 and Grow in 2010. To this day, the band continues to write and perform these and new music, enjoying a healthy exposure through radio and grassroots concert performances.
In the winter of 2010, Ken began a new vein of writing and rhythmic playing that has become Gatsby’s Green Light. The songs flowing forth from the inspiration of the project seem to fit the concept of a bigger band, formats of multi-instrumental musicians and working equally-well as solo acoustic performance. Ken has since embraced the understanding that there are no genres only music, reinforced itself in world music that fuses Latin, Americana, pop, island, theatre and more.
With Gatsby’s Green Light, Ken Coulson embarks on his own, followed closely and joined often by friends and family across the country. Ken seeks to connect and build community through music, speaking and cultural projects. As he says, “There is a right place for music - it’s in all of us and flowing between us as we communicate. Music is much bigger than is typically associated in the mind. It is something of beauty that works in nature, a good conversation, a spark of new knowledge or awareness: the first and the last step to the top of the mountain. We are, with the world connected and that it’s through this connection that we can grow, thrive, and sustain this beautiful planet and a people capable of the unimaginable. Music is the natural language to accomplish our goals and enjoy our existence. Dive in and enjoy. Step into the light!”
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