My musical path began at the very tender age of 18 months! This was when my parents
discovered I could sing reasonably in tune. From then on, I was regularly presented at various
family events, where — toy guitar in hand — I would deliver whatever song came to my mind at
the time.
Getting a bit more serious
I got my first real guitar at the age of 11. It was an electric, and I played it as loud as possible
(which may have made my parents question the wisdom of the gift.) But they were supportive, even giving me a chord chart at one point. Listening to records, I did my best to pick up what I could hear.
At 13, I started my first band. Like many of my generation, I spent the next eight years playing high school dances, socials, church carnivals, and any other venue that would hire us.
Besides the cover music we were playing, I began writing songs immediately. Heavily influenced by some of my favorite groups like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, I penned my first tune — “Mr. Ghost Rider” — in their image.
Moving into the mainstream
By the time I was 21, my style had evolved more towards classic rock. At that point I met someone in the music industry who liked my band (“The Drive”). He guided us into the studio to make a record, and worked with us to put together a few mini tours. It was fun, and we sold some albums, but eventually that band broke up.
However, I was hooked on writing and recording. The next album was a solo creation, with me playing all the instruments and doing all the vocals. Once that was done, I formed “Javany and the Rescue” to tour the album.
A few years later I joined forces with a keyboard player. For 25 years we performed as a duo, playing night clubs, weddings, and other casuals. Up to this point, I had been playing mostly guitar, but going forward I would lean more toward the bass.
Continuing the journey
A little older (and hopefully wiser!), I began to split my time between a top 40 band (“Thief”) and an acoustic trio. While I still play with both outfits, a phone call from previous Savor vocalist Steven Elowe would eventually take me down a new path.
The Savor effect
Of course I was familiar with Santana’s music, and was (and still am) a huge fan. So when Steven called, I told him I was interested. Then I went to see the band at their final show with the singer I would be replacing (if it worked out).The thing that struck me was the combination of how good the band was, and how much they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Both were infectious, and the audience ate it up. After more than a year in the band, I still feel that.
And, it has pushed me to step up my game, which is especially gratifying. We are all driven, which is why the band continues to improve. I’m looking forward to seeing just how far we can take this.
Meet: Michael Caroff | Guitar
