Al Vescovo: Bio
Born: Memphis Tennessee
Started playing music at age 7 on a Sears Robuck "Gene Autry" guitar. Had to use a "bar" because his fingers were too small to reach the chords. That's hoew his interest in Steel Guitar was sparked.
When he was 9, he quit playing regularly for a few years to play sports. About three years later, he returned to playing music. He took some lessons for about a year and then decided it was time to give up "Gene Autry" and moved onto a lap-model electric steel guitar.
When Al was about 13 years old, he started playing in some local hamburger and beer-bars around Memphis, with local musicians.
At age 14, Al went to work with "Stuffy" Buck Turner, on radio station WREC. The program came on at 5 o'clock AM and Sam Phillips was the engineer and Buck Turner's partner. Al also worked on the road with the Turner band during summer vacation. About a year after starting with Turner, Al left to work with Gene Steele at WMC. Both Turner and Steele were "local heros" in several southern states during the early 1950's. When Al wasn't playing and practicing, he was studying music on his own.
Al continued his playing at station WMC until he graduated from high school and decided to go "see the world" He ended up in Denver, Colorado.
Two days after hitting Denver, Al landed a 6 night a week job playing at a cowboy night-club. He stayed there a year, did some more traveling, and returned to Denver. He was offered a job with a casual band and learned to play standard guitar, in addition to steel. Al lived in Denver about 8 years, was married to Norma Jean Martines, and began teaching guitar and steel. In 1962, Al, his wife and two children decided to move to Los Angeles. He hooked up with his old high-school buddy Johnny Burnette. He went on the road with, Johnny as his musical director and conductor and travelled to Europe. In the years that followed, Al went on tour with Spike Jones and the Beverly Hillbillies show, featuring Homer and Jethro. He then worked in Hawaii for a year, with a group he helped form the "Embers". In Hawaii, he befriended Billy Hew Lin. Al also worked in Las Vegas, at the Desert Inn, for three years. There he met and was friends with Curly Chalker.
When he returned to Los Angeles, he began playing in the theater, starting with the show "Your Own Thing" and climaxing with "Hair" at the Aquarius Theater.
While working in "Hair", Al wrote music for the play "Minus One", which won top awards at a International play-festival in France, and was booked into Paris.
Also, during the run of "Hair" Al launched his studio and recording career. Among the many groups and individuals Al has recorded with are:
Beach Boys-Bill Cosby-Exotic Guitars-Burl Ives-Lawrence Welk-Tex Williams-Eddy Arnold-Molly Bee-Ertha Kitt-Kay Star-Johnny Mathis-Ray Anthony-Sonny and Cher-Stan Kenton-Sarah Vaughn-Joe Williams-Herbie Mann-Frank Sinatra-Pat Boone-Sons of the Pioneers-Mills Brothers-Jimmy Haskell-Al Kasha-Joel Hirshorn-Stanley Turrentine-Monk Higgins-Freddy Robinson etc
Other Credits:
Newport Jazz Festival - Bill Cosby Moscow Circus - Los Angeles
Republican Party Show - H. B. Barnum - Chicago
Black Image Awards Show - Monk Higgins Bolshoi Ballet - Los Angeles
Television Shows:
Dean Martin-Smothers Brothers-Bill Cosby-Julie Andrews-Sonny and Cher-
Bob Hope Specials-Jim Nabors Show-Fantasy Island-Gun Smoke-Dirty Sally-
Eight is Enough-Hec Ramsey-Mickey Mouse Club-Movin' On-Academy of Country Music Awards-"Elvis" Dick Clark Production-etc
Motion Pictures:
Enter the Dragon-The Love of Lassie-Pete's Dragon-Ressurection Pennies from Heaven-Oh, Giorgio-W. W. and the Dixie Dance Kings-Stand by Your Man-Sweet Dreams-L.B.J.-Bully of the Town-Rock Hard
Mentioned in Books: Who's Who in Country Music-Stan Kenton Discography
Award Nominations: ACM-Steel player of the year/Dobro player of the year
N.A.R.A.S-Studio Musician of the year-guitar