'Futurist’ – One who predicts newly emerging technologies with marketing trends and financial opportunities. Futurists are deep thinkers with strong organizational skills... Also known as… Those who constantly push the envelope… And think outside the box.
The much-anticipated arrival of the band simply known as ‘BOLD’ came to fruition on May Day, 1969 in Northampton, Massachusetts. At Child’s Park there were well over a thousand people in attendance. No school in Hampshire or Franklin counties had ever experienced such a large number of student absentees on that day.
Fans were anxiously waiting for ‘BOLD’ featuring Drummer Tim Griffin, Keyboardist Michael Chmura, Guitarist’s Dick LaFreniere and Robert "Bobo" Lapalm, with Steve Walker on Bass and vocals. Sadly, within a year the members of ‘BOLD’ will have gone their separate ways.
"I first met Tim Griffin when he was the drummer with the great Valley band 'BOLD' along with Steve Walker, Bob LaPalm, Dick LaFreniere, and Mike Chmura. 'BOLD was, for Valley Music the progenitor. They were an inspiration to the bands coming up behind them because of their songwriting, chops, showmanship, and road heroics. My first memory of Tim was in the student union ballroom at UMASS Amherst. Most of us just stood there all watching his right foot as he brought the Boogaloo Beat back from New York City and teaching it to everybody. 'BOLD' was big time -- but they were utterly approachable and unselfish... Sharing their knowledge of music, and the music business with all the younger players.
Also, more importantly, they shared the stage -- promoting younger bands, and players. Eclectic to the extreme, they were playing Cream, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, and Wilson Pickett. Later, to complete his arc, Tim was a principal in the great country/rock/folk combo 'Clean Living'. He also played with the brilliant Pam Bricker, and Mitch Chakour - stretching to Jazz Fusion. Tim never met a genre he couldn’t master. I, also believe that Tim is the drumming connection for later Pioneer Valley players... The early Valley drum legends Joe Morello, and Hal Blaine."
--- Peter Newland
Soon afterwards, Tim Griffin began a decade of passionate invention in addition to his various musical projects. Tim designed the very first plastic loud-speakers which were flight cases as well. Amanita had bridged the gap between wooden enclosures and foam-lined carrying cases. At present: Tim holds six patents for his designs.
“I am sure my designs may have been a little too soon. We started the company in the early 1970s, but it took a while for me to get my patents. Had a lot of help from friends and for those people who got to use them, thank you so much. We even had distributors in Europe.”
-- Tim Griffin
THE ‘PRESSURE COOKER’
From Griffin Research and Design comes news of the ‘Pressure Cooker’, a new electronic concept in practice drum kits. The ‘Pressure Cooker’ looks very much like a set of practice drums with a kick drum, snare drum, and two toms. But unlike a conventional practice kit these drums connect to a control unit where the sound of real drums is generated for the drummer to hear over a pair of headphones. This provides a real-sounding practice kit that won’t disturb the neighbors.
The sounds produced by the ‘Pressure Cooker’ are not synthesized drum sounds, but real drum sounds digitized and stored in solid-state memory. The ‘Pressure Cooker’ has inputs for a tape recorder or other sources of music so that the drummer can play along a line output to feed to a tape recorder or amplification set-up and dual headphone outputs so that someone else can listen in.
Full playing dynamics are preserved by the ‘Pressure Cooker’ system’s electronics. For the truly discriminating user, there is the ‘Custom Pressure Cooker’, which is the same as the regular model except that the sounds are custom programmed from a tape furnished by the customer.
“I was at the old Ludwig Drums Company, with both Bill III & Bill senior during their Selmer purchase negotiations… Both of them were victims of "OLD" bad union deals, that lowered the value of the company, due to "CAN"T MOVE FROM CHICAGO" clauses in strike threat settlements. The Ludwig’s did not make out as well as they had hoped in the sale.”
“Bill III and his Dad had been working with my company for nine months on my design of the FIRST digital drum set in the world (not analog). Selmer squelched the deal (Not Bill senior or III). The unit was to have Ludwig endorsee recordings as parts of the set settings.”
-- Tim Griffin
Tim began the ‘Griffin Performance Media’ Company and also managed the Western Massachusetts division of ‘Music Gallery’ that did audio and theater installations.
“Thinking back though to my time working with Tim, I have nothing but fond memories. When I joined The Mission Band with Mitch, I knew right away that I was in a special place. Every member of the group was an essential part. There was a direction established by the “leader” of course, but what made it so magical was the way everyone listened to each other.
Tim was perhaps the most influential in that regard. He was different than most Rock and R&B drummers that I had worked with. For sure, the fundamental time-keeping was there but what set him apart was his seasoned ability to swing with the tune and add embellishments to the playing of his band-mates. Ears open, and making eye contact with other players he propelled the rhythm with what seemed like an effortless ability. He always made me play better.”
-- Dan Kretzer
Tim has played with: (not just the opening act, but actually played with) The Crystals, The Shirelles, The Five Satins, The Temptations, The Dootones, The Dovells, He later left the New England area and moved to New York City and started touring with “BOLD’ on ABC records. Bernard Purdie brought him into the "Drummers Club" which got him a lot of recording sessions that Bernard was too busy for.
‘BOLD’ played the Penthouse at the New York Playboy Club for 6 months, Tim drummed with Chuck Berry for 5 concerts, Little Stevie Wonder, Orpheus, Tom Rush, Christine Lavin, Joe Walsh and the "early" James Gang, Mitch Chakour and the Mission Band (Mitch played in Joe Cocker’s back-up band for four years) Andy May, Roger Mason, Kenny Kosek, John Coster and the Medicine Band, Chris Kleeman, Henri Nigro, Jeff Potter (The "Last Bricker Band" with Pam Bricker, Tim, Reed Butler, Jeff Pevar -- one night with Bonnie Raitt, The Sail Cats, Bev Rohlehr - John Colby, and Bruce MacKay. Tim also recorded at George Martin’s “Air-Studios” On the Island of Montserrat (before volcano) with Jim K and Guy Devito.
“Tim Griffin... Top Gun drummer of the 1960's, 70's and beyond. --- Western Massachusetts, New England, and New York City. I remember hearing 'BOLD' at the 2nd Congo in Holyoke, Mass. and was completely blown away. Tim ruled the drum throne… Very tasteful drummer and a great guy. I admire Tim Griffin, and feel very lucky to know him.”
--- Chet Pasek
Tim’s latest projects include live performances with Jimmy Allen, Michael Oakland, Bob Hennessy and Bill Roundtree. In 2012, Tim Played 22 cities in 12 European countries with Val Elam… Also- recorded on Claudia Schmidt's CD "New Whirled Order", and working live and in the studio with Becca Byram.
“I’ve some years of experience playing with the talents of Tim Griffin. Aside from impeccable sonic sensibilities, whether on a digital or acoustic set, he is The Groove Machine! Locked On tempo-ist! ‘An attentive Listener always’, for where the muse is going. And he’s fun as hell. When he’s happy about the music, he gets a “bobble-head -Tim thing going with an unbreakable smile.”
Love him, Michael Oakland
To date, Tim has recorded over 37 national albums and was endorsed by Sonor drums while playing with Orpheus and Clean Living. Also recording two Vanguard albums with them.
"I've enjoyed Tim Griffin‘s drumming since I was a high school kid listening to him play with The Crystal Tones at the old Mountain Park Ballroom (Holyoke, MA) in the 1960’s. At the time, The Crystal Tones were the house band and backed up many of the groups traveling the circuit in those days... This required Tim to play virtually any style of music on any given night. Tim was more than talented and versatile enough to nail every gig.
My next recollection of Tim‘s playing was while he held down the drum chair in 'BOLD' , an original band that had a huge influence on my own fledgling rock band that ended up being called 'FAT'. Tim also played with an early version of 'The James Gang' with Joe Walsh followed by years of playing country rock with 'Clean Living'.
In the 1980’s I had the pleasure of working in several original bands with Tim. He not only played and sang but also designed and built musical gear all types and holding numerous patents. I respect and admire Tim as a drummer, inventor and longtime friend who walks the walk and can hang with any situation. It has been a pleasure walking down that proverbial musical memory lane with Tim Griffin."
--- Guy DeVito
“ The least conspicuous of Tim’s talents as a drummer, but perhaps the most important, is his ability to listen and create musicality with his playing. He has great ears. Tim drives the beat, but feels the song. That makes him a valued collaborator, and a pleasure to listen to.”
— Bill McManus
Tim Griffin
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