"Reckless Abandon" is the unique, creative music ensemble gathered together by Page Wilson to present his distinctive approach to live performance. It is not only the name of the group, but also the approach to the music; to play with "reckless abandon." Rooted in the blues, folk, bluegrass, and country traditions of their native Virginia soil, the performances are spontaneous and original; yet with the professional musical expertise to go anywhere with a song, and take their audience along with them.
Page Wilson / Vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica.
Autumn of 2004 will mark Page Wilson's 29th year of "living off" music, in some form or another. Weeks-long stands in smokey bars, boho hitch-hiking journeys to appease fickle muses, endless songwriter marathons and "one-night-only's", sharing concert stages with the likes of Stephen Stills, Taj Mahal, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and many others; surviving while striving to master the art of "living" off his art: music.
Embracing both Richmond city and Hanover County as native home-ground, Page sunk seed back to Virginia roots in the early 1980's. After two critically acclaimed albums in 1983 and '85, Road Tired, Wired and Ready and Best of the Situation, this singer/writer/picker/ producer expanded his horizons in April, 1986, by taking his tastes in music to the radio airwaves with the Out O' the Blue Radio Revue. Metamorphosis gave birth to the unique genre of "Purebred American Mongrel" music. On the air since March, 1996, at Richmond NPR affiliate 88.9FM WCVE, Saturday evenings 8:00-10:00pm, the program continues to feature eclectic music not heard on today's traditional radio stations, and live performances around the 'Kitchen Table" from Home in the Chickahominy Swamp. In 1999, the live recording, Bridge of Love, was released on Planetary Records.
Page still strokes the creative muses while continuing to "live off" music; performing live "with Reckless Abandon," writing prose, poetry, songs and such, and pursuing voice-over acting and singing in radio and television commercials.
Billy Lux / Vocals, upright bass.
Billy Lux brings over 28 years of professional performance to the Reckless Abandon stage. Jazz practitioners Ray Brown, Edgar Myer, and Victor Wooten are cited as major influences of this stellar performer, whose credits include being a member of the legendary bluegrass ensemble "Heights of Grass." Lux is an accomplished stylist, whose credits include both the VCU Orchestra and VCU Marimba Ensemble, along with Colonial Williamsburg Foundation presentations for governors of Virginia and international heads of state.
Billy has appeared on stage with the likes of Mac Wiseman, the Country Gentlemen, Butch Robbins, the Osbourne Brothers, John Starling, the Reno Brothers, Robbin Thompson, Rickie Simpkins, George Turman, Alan Watkins, and Malcolm Pulley. His constant demand as a session player for varied musical projects and commercial jingles, and numerous appearances on The Grand Ole Opry prove this man's worth to stand as a world-class talent on the "reckless abandon" musical stage.
Chris Fuller / Vocals, mandolin.
Bringing the influences of such varied artists as Bill Monroe, Chuck Berry, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Sam Bush, Flatt & Scruggs, and New Grass Revival to his stage performance, Chris Fuller is a longtime collaborator in the "reckless abandon" tradition. With magical tenor harmonies, and growth in his native mandolin stylistic approach, Chris anchors the spontaneous combustion necessary for any musical genre.
Jay Gillespie / Acoustic guitar.
Influenced by such diverse stylists as Jimmy Page, Leo Kottke, and Tony Rice, Jay brings a freshness of attitude, and over 20 years of guitar expertise and attitude to his performance. Drawing on classical, bluegrass, jazz, blues, and folk music focus, the cumulative knowledge brought to the "reckless abandon" stage cuts a singular swath of creative approach adding timber to the fire of each performance.
Jim Skelding / Fiddle.
Richmond native Skelding has moved back home after years in Nashville, most notably touring with Martina McBride. Jim stays busy performing session work, and onstage with various groups in the Richmond area. He brings his country / bluegrass / spontaneous talents to the "reckless" stage.
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