Crystal Phoenix

Description

OVERVIEW: Jimmy Lee Young (formerly Crystal-Phoenix), incepted by singer/ songwriter James Lee Young and drummer Gil Gabaldon II. The band is presently comprised of 5 members including the wonderfully smooth Dave Chalala on lead guitar, backing vocalists Carl Rabun and the lovely Amanda Guthrie, everpresent visitor Vic Grady filling in on bass, and, of course, Gil on drums and jimmy on lead vocals/ rhythm guitar.. Gil worked under the 6500 ABW doing moral support for troops stationed at the very remote, Edwards Air Force Base. Today Gil jokes: "I was a basketball hander outer! You know -"towel anyone? " I worked pretty much cake hours but the work could get rough. We basically did everything you need to keep troops occupied in their free time, from the gym to the soccer field. Jimmy worked in the weather office 12 sometimes 16 hours a day creating and sending weather reports, briefing pilots before takeoff- all that really official stuff. Jimmy shoots back: "I used to tease him by calling him Julie McCoy!!" Captain Stubing will be hosting shufflebaord in the rear aft!' But no kidding, we both really worked hard, and it taught us that you can accomplish anything if you're willing to work hard enough. Jimmy left his native New Orleans not only to finish school in the air force, but to settle in Southern California armed with his education and good discharge, to pursue a career in music. Almost everything he ’s done in his life pointed in that direction - even joining up. HOW JIMMY & GIL MET: As mentioned earlier, the two had met in southern California while doing stints in the Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base , in 1991. Jimmy worked in the space program doing weather for the space shuttle and flight testing, while supporting the Gulf war effort. They actually met in an odd moment off in an in-flight meals hall nicknamed "bagged nasty". Gil: "Jimmy works non-stop! In between all those work hours he would find some singing thing in town, or pull musicians together and entertain at these 4th of July concerts on base. He walked in with these black boots and a trench-coat with a keyboard tucked under one arm. I knew right away we could be great friends, but I had no idea then how far we'd go". Jimmy::"So gil asks if I'm a musician and we start talking about all these bands. We both really dig Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd-all the greats. So at some point later I asked him if he ever thought about becoming a musician. He said he'd like to play drums, and that was it. I foolishly didn't have any doubt at all-he might've turned out to not have any rhythm at all!" Gil: "Yeah lucky for you! So we just decided to stay in California and do it. Jimmy was full of all these stories about how Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks just stayed out here and worked till they made it. I mean this guy was admittedly having trouble writing songs and somehow I just knew we could do it! And if nothing else we would have that great 'pay your dues' rock experience!" And that is about when Jimmy's family was hit by tragedy. TRAGEDY STRIKES: Jimmy: "I was up in Glendale when I got "the call". I was told to go home immediately. My father was sick and his prognosis was not good.

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