July 2024 – The Chicago Electric Piano Co.

Jul102024
Rare Gem: the Musser AmpliCeleste
By Mike Novak
Celeste meets electric piano in this unique mashup of 1960s ingenuity. The late 60s were a special time for innovation…
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Mike Novak

electricpianoco

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electricpianoco Nov 5

Quincy Jones was out of this world. So much so that at the age of 31, he arranged Sinatra/Basie’s version “Fly Me to The Moon”, the first song played in space.

He had already spent three years as America’s first Black major label executive, as Vice President of Mercury Records. He arranged countless records at Mercury, for artists like Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, and many more.

Before that, he spent his late 20’s in Paris, studying theory with Nadia Boulanger, who famously wouldn’t even take George Gershwin as a student.

Before formal schooling, at age 20, he went on the road as a trumpet player with Lionel Hampton, rooming with Clifford Brown, one of bebop’s greatest geniuses.

Even earlier in life, at age 14, he and Ray Charles become buddies in Seattle, playing for Bumps Blackwell’s Junior Band. They often played clubs 5 nights a week as teenagers.

In 1956, he music directed Dizzy Gillespie’s band. They toured Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

By the time he met Michael Jackson on the set of ‘The Wiz’ in 1977, he already had 23 film soundtracks under his belt.

Their collaboration carried on for years. Perhaps most notably, they made ‘Thriller’, the best selling LP of all time, in 6 weeks. Quincy often credits the lack of “paralysis from analysis” for Thriller’s success.

In the 80’s Quincy got into film production, co-producing ’The Color Purple’. He “discovered” Oprah, watching her as a newscaster from his hotel room in Chicago. He would cast her for the film and she would go on to become the world’s richest woman.

He produced “We Are The World” in 1985, raising over $80,000,000 for famine relief in Ethiopia and Sudan, and subsequently the US.

These accolades don’t even scratch the surface. An Oprah quote from her journal can sum it up best. “He is the light. No shadows. He brings joy. Just being around him is joyous—makes me glad I was born.”

RIP Quincy Delight Jones Jr

Here’s a version of Q’s “Love and Peace” done by @matt.blocher

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electricpianoco Oct 31

Who you gonna call 👻👻
Happy Halloween from CEPCo, here’s the iconic theme song from Ghostbusters, composed by Ray Parker Jr.

Garrett @spuly_ - Clavinet d6 and Wurlitzer 106p
Matt @matt.blocher - ARP Axxe
Keegan @krazykeegan - Farfisa Compact Duo
Mike @novakshreds - ARP Pro Soloist

#ghostbusters #1984 #halloween #lickoftheweek #clavinet #arp #axxe #prosoloist #comboorgan #farfisa #wurlitzer #linndrum #rayparkerjr #👻👻 #cepco

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electricpianoco Oct 25

Showdown! 🛸
Our Denver friends Honey Blazer stopped by the piano co for this electric piano fueled cover of ELOs Showdown, featuring two mellotrons, a Wurlitzer 106 and clavinet along with drum and bass accompaniment 💫

Gann @gannmatthews - mellotrons
Zach @zachholcombmusic - Wurlitzer 106p
Matt @sooperknot - Drums
Brad @bakorn - bass
Josh @fuzz_monk - Clavinet
#electriclightorchestra #showdown #electricpiano #wurlitzer #clavinet #1973 #mellotron #liveinshop #vintagekeys #cepco

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electricpianoco Oct 22

Built only for a few years at the end of Rhodes production, the 54 key model is pure mid range magic! This one, from 1980, received the full CEPCo stamp of approval including new tolex as well as a complete set of new pickups from our friends in the UK @rhodes.piano
#electricpiano #vintagekeys #rhodes #54key #1980 #repairshop #fullyrestored #madeinchicago #cepco

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electricpianoco Oct 18

Winter is coming 🥶
One of the most iconic TV themes of the past decade, we are honored to have restored this Rhodes suitcase for a special someone involved with the Game of Thrones series 🐉🤴👸🏼⚔️

Garrett - 1974 Fender Rhodes Suitcase + Marxophone
Keegan - Mellotron m4000d
Matt - floor tom
#vintagekeys #electricpiano #rhides #marxophone #mellotron #gameofthrones #winteriscoming #GoT #whitewalker #redwedding #motherofdragons #lannisteralwayspayshisdebts #cepco

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electricpianoco Oct 16

Another CEPCo custom shop exclusive: plexi tops for Rhodes 88 pianos! Here is a recent restoration featuring one of these lids in a smoked finish. We love the subtle depth and elegance these add to Rhodes pianos 🤩🎹🎩
#rhodes #plexiglass #customshop #electricpiano #vintagekeys #madeinchicago #rhodes88 #cepco

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electricpianoco Oct 13

Mendelssohn’s wedding march to a disco beat 🥂🪩💒
Matt plays our latest custom silver sparkle Wurlitzer accompanied by Kellen on the Rhodes piano bass and Korg drum machine.
Special shoutout to our own Garrett @spuly_ who tied the knot this weekend. Congrats!!!
@matt.blocher @kellenbeanzma @surethingchapel #weddingmarch #mendelssohn #wurlitzer #vintagekeys #electricpiano #pianobass #korg #drummachine #surething #hitched #disco #cepco

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electricpianoco Oct 8

💍🪩✨Wurlitzer 214 in full silver sparkle built for the Sure Thing Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
Seamlessly blending elements of disco, the sparkle of the city that never sleeps and the flair of Liberace, we are honored to have this one-of-a-kind Wurlitzer accompany lovers down the aisle.
Who knows, maybe even Elvis will get to play it 😎
@surethingchapel #customshop #wurlitzer #elvis #electricpiano #sincity #vintagekeys #surething #weddingchapel #liberace #disco #vivalasvegas #cepco

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electricpianoco Oct 1

Lick of the week - “Vehicle” by the Ides of March.
We found our recent Chevelle inspired Wurlitzer 200 to be the perfect “vehicle” for this song 😉
Hailing from Berwyn Illinois (just outside of Chicago), the Ides of March were billed alongside the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin after the release of this 1970 chart topper.
Matt - Wurlitzer 200
Kellen - Vox Continental
@matt.blocher @kellenbeanzma #lickoftheweek #wurlitzer #voxorgan #voxcontinental #comboorgan #electricpiano #vintagekeys #vehicle #idesofmarch #cepco

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electricpianoco Sep 27

The latest Wurlitzer 200 from our custom shop 💚🤍
Built in 1970, this Wurlis forest green sparkle finish with white racing stripes was inspired by a rare Chevy Chevelle from the same year. This piano is track ready under the hood featuring a full CEPCo seal of approval. Video coming your way soon 🏁
#wurlitzer #electricpiano #vintagekeys #chevychevelle #chevelle #forestgreen #racingstripe #1970chevelle #customshop #fullyrestored #cepco

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Archive for July, 2024

Rare Gem: the Musser AmpliCeleste