The BandThe BandThe Thrice-Upon-a-Time Band led a fleeting existence in Stillwater, Oklahoma during the Fall
of 2004. In fact, after ten rehearsals they performed together
exactly three times, hence the name. The band was formed by Oklahoma children's musician
Monty Harper in order to record his latest release, The Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD.
Monty is a professional children's musician with four CDs of original
songs to his credit. He has penned many songs for clients such
as The Oklahoma Department of Libraries. He has collected three Children's Music Web Awards, a Parents' Choice, two Unisong International awards, an iParenting Media Award, and he once landed a song at number one on the MP3.com children's chart.
Monty began work on The Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD with a list of songs he felt would best be recorded in front of a live audience. Many of these were "greatest hits" from his school and library programs. Some he's been performing solo for ten years or more, but none of them had been recorded for release on CD.
"It was exciting working with the band," says Monty. "I was hearing these songs for first time they way they sound in my head - and they rock!"
Although the Thrice Upon a Time Band will not play together again
as such, Monty would like someday to form a more permanent group
for live shows and future recordings. In the mean time he's planning
a new one-man in-the-studio project.
Beneath John's quiet exterior rages the soul of a heavy metal thrash guitarist. Before his stint with the Thrice-Upon-a-Time Band, John was
the leader and songwriter for an alternative metal group called Fassaud, one of many groups he has played with since
he picked up the guitar at the age of nine. His extensive studio work also includes two previous projects
with Monty.
John brought an energy to The Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD rarely found on a children's recording. His playing colors each song uniquely, from the clean precise early Beatle accents in "The Frog Song" to the tripped out Pink Floyd inspired solo in "Trick or Treat Smell My Feet," to the crunchy modern punk Foo Fighter groove of "You're a Dinosaur."
John will graduate from Oklahoma State University in Fall, 2005
with a degree in business management. He plans to attend the Conservatory
Recording Arts School in Tempe, AZ and hopes to eventually start
his own recording studio.
Always quick with a suggestion or solution, Cody's creativity
helped shape each arrangement as the Thrice Upon a Time Band was
learning the songs. His playing is expressive and varied, while
providing a rock solid rhythmic bed for each track.
Cody graduated in May 2005 with a Music Education degree from
Oklahoma State University and plans to pursue a jazz studies masters.
During rehearsal breaks, the younger members of the group hung
on Bob's every word as he shared story after story about his extensive
experience in the Oklahoma music scene. Bob seems to have played
with everyone, including Moon Dog, Stiff Richard, The Curt Hill
Band, Sweet Brenda, Doc Blues Revue, and The Red Headed Step Child
to name a few. He has produced several independent recordings
and done opening dates for David Allen Coe, Michel Martin Murphy,
Elvin Bishop, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Jerry Jeff Walker,
and the Flaming Lips.
Bob's lively bass lines lend noticeable fills, flourishes, and features to each song on The Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD. His playing often creates intelligent interplay with the lyrics, such as the ascending bass fill following the line "See my ladder go up" ("Big Red Fire Truck") and the popcorn-like octave jumps in "Pop Up Sit Down."
Describing himself as a postmodern renaissance man, Bob has no
lack of future work lined up. Not only is he proficient on several
instruments including bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals, he also
works with young people teaching video production and has created
a vast body of work in the visual arts and writing.