      
Todd
Banks
Born in 1962 in northwest Indiana, Todd Banks
has experienced a wide variety of musical styles as a
performer and a writer. He began his classical training on
piano at eight years old and after several years
he began writing lyrics and added bass, guitar, and
Native American flute. Being left-handed, his first bass and
guitar were upside down right-handed instruments but later
progressed to left-handed
instruments.
While attending Purdue University in 1984, he
formed Psychic Warrior (with Ken Hagen of Daddy O and Rod
Kean) and had his first release "Airy-ell”. He
played bass, keyboards, vocals and was the primary writer
for this progressive/ alternative project and received
his first airplay. At the same time he played bass for
four other bands in college (Equalizer, Black Dragon, The
Partz, and The Storm) and played in the surrounding cities
before moving to Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles, he helped form the fusion rock
band Foundation as the bassist and
lyricist. Additionally, he recorded a hard rock
project with Barry White Jr. and later formed the
progressive band Triad (with Randy Dart from Barry White Jr.
project and Tom Akers from the Motels). Triad was later
featured on Lefty Bass Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol. 3 which were
international compilations from Germany. In 1988 Todd joined
Eskimo/Dr. Dream recording group, The Black Watch, as the
bassist on their second release, “Short Stories” (with Janna
Jacoby of Rod Stewart/Dixie Chicks and M.P.
of School of Fish).
They continued to tour and record with national
and international press and album sales. In 1991, Todd
helped form Carbon 14 as the bassist and
songwriter and released a series of well received and
reviewed recordings on the Vampyre label. After extensive
touring and member changes, Todd decided to change
directions and return to his roots,
piano.
In 1994 he released a wonderful ambient
album of twelve original piano
compositions entitled, “Landscapes”. It was re-mastered
in 2002 and is featured by Metaphysical Reviews. Reviewer
Richard Fuller wrote,"Landscapes is ambient, relaxing and
meditative music that most composers can only dream of
writing."
In 2000, this was followed by the breathtaking
release of sixteen original piano compositions entitled
“Dreamscapes” that was also featured on Metaphysical
Reviews. The reviewer stated, "Todd Banks has combined his
superlative talent at the piano with creativity that can only
come from God, to offer tribute to mankind. Here is music that
is ambient, yet at the same time involving like a healing
quality, impossible to quantify."
In 2003, Todd released, “Spirit
Walk”, on Device Records and plays bass,
guitar, vocals, and percussion.Spirit Walk is a very melodic
blend of progressive and Native American influences with songs
ranging from highly energetic to mystic to sadly sweet. He
wrote and performed all the songs including seven
instrumentals and four vocal performances. Two of the vocal
songs are original Cherokee songs “Spirit Walk” and “Osiyo”.
“Osiyo” is a Cherokee father’s welcoming and naming song for
his newborn son. It captures the hope and emotion of the bond
that naturally occurs. “Spirit Walk” or Adonvdo Aisv is an
emotional tribal chant that reflects a journey of the
soul. “The Dance
of Water” and “Because of You” were featured on the
international musicians collections, “Lefty Bass Players Vol.
2” and “Lefty Bass Players Vol. 3”.
In
2005, He released “Lifescapes”. In this dramatic
collection of fourteen piano compositions written and recorded
on a restored 1917 Artimus upright baby grand piano, he
masterfully captures the significant milestones of our lives
from birth to passing. With this
CD, he captures the very beautiful songs of love with “The Joy
of My Heart”(written for his son), “Joline’s Walk” (a wedding
march for his niece), and “Under
Starlight”(inspired by his wife).
In 2011, Todd released his fourth piano cd and
newest release, "The Roads We Walk" which features "Bohemian
Love" (inspired by a trip to Czech Republic), "I Can't Hold on
Forever" (inspired by a friend's struggle with illness),
"Coronation" (for his nephew), as well as the technical pieces
"Illuminations", "The Chase", and "Joy and Sorrow". Todd
would like to thank Engineer Kevin Penner, who did
an wonderful job of capturing the sounds that had eluded
Todd on previous attempts to record this album.
Todd plays a 2008 Gebr. Perzina upright grand
piano, a variety of left-handed basses and guitars
(custom Rickenbacher 4003 bass, Dean 5 string
Bass, Martin acoustic bass, Washburn
acoustic/electric guitar), Navaho and Apache flutes, and
Native American percussion. He uses GK amps and cabinets with
an Art Multi-verb III effects rack and Electro Harmonics bass
synth. He lives with his wife and son in the foothills of the
Angeles National Forest in Southern California.
|