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Dennis Alexander Born the last day of the year (dad was determined to get that tax break with a little 'Jeeping' trip!), 1967, in Denver, Colorado. His fathers father is Scotch/Irish which might mean that the great-grandfather was Scottish and ...mother was Irish, yet, the tradition of Irish music was passed to him more by his mostly German mother who sang folk songs around the house and made sure her children went through the tortures of AT LEAST 4 years of piano lessons (and quite thankfully too!). He played his first tune (The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald) at the age of 3 on the household organ. Never being one to just pound on the keys and flip the different sound tabs on the organ (as the vast majority of kids do), his mother became determined that he get lessons. In public school he played the trombone in concert and jazz band. And in one particularly cramped apartment, the family piano resided in his bedroom. After his parents moved out of the house (and state) he eventually started buying all sorts of musical gear (mostly electronic) and composed several hundred songs that someday he still hopes to finish someday. One of the few songs he did complete was not his own but part of a tribute to Thomas Dolby, one of his main inspirations, of which a copy resides in the hands of the great musician himself. Listening to a vast array of music (Depeche Mode, Barbara Streisand, Journey, The Chieftains, Smashing Pumpkins, Thomas Dolby, Tchaikovski, Simon and Garfunkle...) he eventually began to desire 'traditional' music and it's instruments. Attending the Renaissance Festival (in costume of course) and Scottish/Irish Festival every year eventually pulled him towards the music of his birthright, the Celtic lands. Seeing Tim Sullivan perform with his brothers in the coffee shop a few times inspired him to dig out that Tin Whistle he bought years ago and give it a try (those recorder lessons in Elementary school finally paid off!) Now he performs with Mulligan Stew when possible (Tuesday evenings are not the best for him), but performs with Tim the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at Common Grounds downtown location, and was recently invited by the band that plays the other Wednesdays downtown to join them as well. Besides just the tin whistle, he also plays the piano (of course!), guitar (acoustic, electric and bass), bohdran (Celtic drum) and just all sorts of electronic midi gear. He also wants to learn the violin, psaltery, saxophone, harp, flute, dulcimer, trumpet, banjo, and the bagpipes, but only time and money will tell. (ambitious?... read on!) Other hobbies and interests include: Nutrition and herbs His motto, "There's only one way to do things the right way... The Right Way!" Favorite line, "I take great pride in my humility." You're never quite sure of the ingredients and the spices change from time to time, but the flavor's just right for a taste of home.
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©2003 Mulligan Stew
