J.C. UNGERElectric guitars, violin, lead and background vocals, songwriter and producer for the BEACHBUMSStarting with the violin at age 8 and the guitar at 12, J.
C's path in life seemed to be set. At 19, with the band THE DORIAN, their album, GARDEN OF LOVE was released world-wide on EMI in EUROPE and BIG TREE in the US. Stints in a Vegas-style showband followed in the mid-seventies while recording efforts never ceased. In 1976 J.C. teamed up with Detroit's GARY PRAEG, a producer for GEORGE CLINTON and KEN SANDS who had engineered at MOTOWN for MARVIN GAYE and STEVIE WONDER. They created the band SHIVERS and their version of the ISLEY BROTHERS song, THIS OLD HEART OF MINE (is weak for you) was selected by both BILLBOARD and CASHBOX magazine as their TOP TEN PICK of the week.
In 1978 UNGER built and operated his own recording studio near ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN producing hundreds of acts over twenty years.
In 1979 J.
C's song, NOW THAT I'VE FOUND YOU was recorded by MCA recording artist ONE WAY. The song was played heavily on DETROIT'S CKLW and WNIC radio and was the first cut on the ONE WAY album which also spawned the multi-million seller, GET UP AND DO YOUR THING.
In 1976, UNGER won a songwriting competition sponsored by Detroit radio station WHYT and BUD LIGHT. The GRAND PRIZE: An all-expense paid trip to HAWAII!J.C. created his own variety/talk show for WYANDOTTE CABLE TV in 1990. The J.C. UNGER SHOW show ran for five seasons.
In 2001, PICADILLY, a children's song co-written by UNGER won third place in the prestigious, JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING COMPETITION.
In 2002 J.C. became a regular musical guest on DETROIT legend MITCH ALBOM's drivetime radio show, simulcast on MSNBC.
In 2003, UNGER moved to FLORIDA and along with DALE WILLIAMS formed the popular band, WHEN BUFFETT MEETS SINATRA.
2006 brought the release of JOHN CHARLES UNGER's first book, A MUSICIAN'S STORY, available through BARNES AND NOBLE and AMAZON In 2007, J.C. became a founding member, along with JIM LANIER, of THE BEACHBUMS (BeachBumsBand ) Together they wrote, (It Don't Get) BETTER THAN THIS, a song and video chosen by the TAMPA BAY RAYS to be shown on their JUMBO SCREEN at all home games starting in the 2009 season. In 2008 J.C. won FIRST PLACE in PEOPLE MAGAZINE'S, 'LUCK BE A BEAUTIFUL LADY' CONTEST. The GRAND PRIZE: An all-expense paid trip to LAS VEGAS!JIM LANIERAcoustic guitar, lead and background vocals, songwriter for the BEACHBUMSAt the young age of fifteen, Jim added his guitar and banjo playing talents to the popular St Louis folk band, WOODFORD WAY. Jerry Turnbow, another alumnus from this group eventually joined PHINS, one of the Midwest's premier Trop-Rock bands. They would go on to win the prestigious HORIZON award. Jim's songwriting talents began to blossom in 1981 when his hit tune, SAY GOODBYE, was included on a compilation album released by St Louis radio station K-SHE. This collection sold over 25,000 copies and made LANIER a local legend.
Now married to the lovely Annette with two sons, Daniel and Sean, his young son's interest in the acting profession prompted Jim to research the craft and soon, he was hooked. Acting classes at COCA followed which led to signing with the DELCIA agency. Before long, LANIER was in demand for TV commercials, company catalogues, billboards and radio voice-overs. Among his many credits are RALSTON PURINA ADS which appeared in GOOD HOUSEKEEPING and BETTER HOMES and GARDENS.In 1998 LANIER landed a part in the NBC mini-series A WILL of THEIR OWN which also starred ELLEN BURSTYN, LEA THOMPSON, and ERIC McCORMACK.Eventually, Jim's passion for music resurfaced and in 2001 he joined the ST LOUIS PARROT HEAD CLUB which led to solo gigs at Parrot Head hangouts' GRAHAM'S GRILL and SUGAR CREEK WINERY in MISSOURI. He also rejoined his old friends in PHINS for some special guest appearances. Jim was invited to perform three years in a row at the "STARS FELL ON ALABAMA" MUSIC FESTIVAL in Gulf Shores, Alabama
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