The doctor’s got SNRG

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

By Aaron Davis

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-April and May seem to be great months to start a band. This off-season spawned a few new local outfits, many of which contain members of one or more other bands you’ve seen before. But you may have not recognized Dr. Ronald Harvey, a keyboardist-producer who arrived to town a year ago, and began sitting-in with several local bands including Soul Impressions and Jackson 6. He recently formed a 70s funk-rock quintet called SNRG (Synergy).

Harvey has played alongside some of R&B’s greats—including Southeast Asia tours with Al Green and Marvin Gaye, stints with Grover Washington, and writing credits with Con Funk Shun. It all started at age 8, singing in his father’s church choir. It didn’t take long before his talents were evident and his parents allowed him to go on the road at age 13 with 70s go-go band The Soul Searchers—not as a keyboardist, but as a bassist and drummer.

“I’ve always had a Type-A personality about working hard and trying to being the best at anything I pursue,” said Harvey, who has a medical degree, attended seminary school, and is a secondary black belt in martial arts. “I had two heart-attacks, and my doctor said that I needed a lifestyle change, so I retired eight years ago and decided to get back into music.”

Harvey relocated to Jackson from Atlanta where he spent two years getting his new business together, Harvey Enterprises and Sunset Studios.

But it was his 14-year stretch in Nashville where he hooked up with some of the Music City’s hottest country acts of the day—playing with Reba McIntire, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Judds and Randy Travis. You can also see him on Austin City Limits backing up Jonny Lang.

Harvey’s visions of a new band came to fruition when he enlisted the rhythm section of both Soul Impressions and The Monkey Wrench Gang—bassist Andy Calder and drummer Andy Peterson—as well as guitarist Kris Towles (formerly of Jackson 6 and Steam Powered Airplane) and vocalist Jeff Bratz (Jazz Foundation of JH).

“The songs we’re playing are near and dear to my heart ... stuff I grew up on,” Harvey said.

The dance-friendly cover material suits Harvey’s background—Stevie Wonder, Clapton, Hall & Oates, Michael Jackson, and even some Gino Vinelli and Donald Fagen. While playing other people’s music is a good foundation, Harvey has been writing material tailored for SNRG and producing the band in the studio is one of his priorities. He has also recorded six albums of his own, the most recent being “Gotcha Covered,” featuring 12 cover tunes. JHW

COURTESY PHOTO
SNRG makes their debut at 43 North, Thursday.


PERMALINK:
The doctor’s got SNRG | Planet JH News Article: Music Box

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