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GrooveLily Timeline
1994: Valerie
Vigoda releases her debut solo CD “Inhabit My Heart.” Val
and Brendan begin writing songs together. Gene Lewin subs on
drums occasionally.
1995: The
Valerie Vigoda Band plays weekly in the East Village, attracting
a devoted local following.As a trio (violin/keyboards/drums)
they move to Amsterdam for 13 weeks, playing immediately after
an American comedy troupe 4-6 nights a week. Back in New York,
they begin recording “jungle & sky.”
1996: First
college gigs.“jungle & sky” is released in May, and the
band name is officially changed to “GrooveLily’.”
1997: More
college gigs.Valerie accepts gigs backing Cyndi Lauper & Joe
Jackson. “GrooveLily Sampler” is recorded during tour
breaks, and is released in October. Gene Lewin joins full-time
on drums. Brendan and Gene begin recording “brendan & the
extenuating circumstances.”
1998: Val’s
parts are added to “brendan & the extenuating
circumstances,” which is released in July. GrooveLily plays an
alarming number of college gigs.
1999: More
college touring.Val back out with Cyndi Lauper, who invites
Groove-Lily to open for her at selected shows. Tons of demos
recorded.The band turns down two indie record deal offers.
2000: Recording
of “Little Light.” Microsoft distributes 50,000 GrooveLily
compilation cds as part of the philanthropic “Equal Access”
program.Lots of festivals.
2001: “Little
Light” & “Folk Appetizer” released; each gets some
national airplay on AAA/Folk radio. GrooveLily plays the main
stage of the Kerrville Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk
Festival, and Ottawa Folk Festival. RV bought to accomodate
5-piece touring version of the band, plus sound guy.
2002: 150
shows this year.RV sold on Ebay after many breakdowns. Band
streamlines back down to core trio. Live album,“Just The Three
Of Us,” released in November.“Striking 12,” the GrooveLily
Holiday Show, runs for the month of December at the Prince Music
Theatre in Philadelphia.
2003: Recording
begins on “Are We There Yet?”, the new studio album.The band
hits the road in intrepid new van, “Millie Van Lily.”
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Look, up on the stage. It's a jazz band.
It's a power pop trio.
It's a performance
art ensemble. No, it's GrooveLily,
which is all those things
and a whole lot more.
—Michael
Miller,The State (Columbia, SC), 3/1/2002
GrooveLily plays
smart pop, with a contagiously effervescent sound that combines
a sharp wit with intelligent
original songwriting. Unabashedly combining elements of rock,
jazz, folk and popular music, their vocal harmonies weave
through a lush musical landscape
textured with keyboards, drums and the blazing electric violin
of lead singer Valerie Vigoda.
Valerie Vigoda ,
electric violinist and singer, is the founding member of
GrooveLily. Originally from
McLean,VA, she has toured the world with Cyndi Lauper, Joe
Jackson, and the Trans-Siberian
Orchestra. She is thrilled to be back with GrooveLily as they
take the country by storm.Valerie is a
classically-trained musician, former Army lieutenant, and
an honors graduate of Princeton University. She founded
GrooveLily (originally "The
Valerie Vigoda Band") in 1994, with a critically acclaimed
CD called "Inhabit My
Heart." Dirty Linen Magazine wrote: "to call Valerie
Vigoda talented barely seems to do
her justice. She has a great voice, is an intelligent
lyricist...and an ace violinist. Methinks
we'll hear more of her."
Brendan Milburn plays
keyboards and sings. His two-fisted, rhythmic piano playing is
reminiscent of early Billy Joel, or more
recently, Ben Folds Five. Before joining GrooveLily,
he graduated from Pomona College and NYU's MFA program in
Musical Theatre Writing, and played
with both Ben Harper and Clarence Clemons. He often yearns
for his native San Francisco.
Gene Lewin plays
the drums, and hails from Princeton, NJ. His eclectic, joyful
work on the drum kit has been
favorably compared to that of Carter Beauford (of the Dave
Matthews Band).After graduating from
Princeton University, Gene earned a Master's degree
from the Manhattan School of Music. He has appeared on CDs with
George Coleman, John Patitucci, and
many others.
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