Lee Shapiro and Jeff Ganz of the Hit Men spoke with students in the new Mix Room.
On Friday, Feb. 1, musicians Lee Shapiro and Jeff Ganz spoke with a group of Montco students in the new Mix Room in the Advanced Technology Center on Montco’s Central Campus in Blue Bell. The duo joined Sound Recording and Music Technology Director David Ivory for the latest Master Class, “The Business of Making Music.”
Co-hosted by Montco’s Lively Arts Series and the Sound Recording & Music Technology Program, Master Classes provide students and the community with opportunities to meet with and learn from professionals in the music industry.
Shapiro and Ganz are members of The Hit Men, a group of five musicians with legendary careers working with the likes of Carole King, Frankie Valli and many other legends of rock. The Hit Men concert tour stopped by Montco’s Central Campus on Saturday, Feb. 2 to perform as part of Montco’s Lively Arts Series.
The pair walked the audience through their careers, told stories about the production and craft of famous songs and shared advice. Shapiro recounted his journey which began at the age of 19 as a keyboardist and musical arranger for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Ganz has been playing music for most of his life. Though Lee Shapiro refers to him as “the best bass player,” Ganz assured the class that he is a musician first and a bass player second.
Shapiro’s and Ganz’s deep background has given them valuable insight into the world of music both past and present. Ganz remarked “if you can identify a singer’s voice in a few seconds, then they’re an artist.”
Both musicians name-dropped icons in the great American song book and spoke about modern artists who have become distinct. Shapiro noted that Bruno Mars’s music is influenced by classic funk and rock legends and that Lady Gaga’s voice and artistry is timeless. The musicians encouraged students to think about what makes them interested in music and to find a way to create something similar.
Master Classes are free and open to the community. Learn more about Montco’s Arts and Culture Opportunities by checking out our Lively Arts Series.