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I owe my musical heritage to my father
Mike Zigmont and his father Joseph Zigmont.
As a young boy, I remember the sound of my dad’s tenor sax and
remember dad leaving to play gigs at night.
Joe Zigmont had played many of the brass instruments as a young man
and is rumored to have played with the Dorseys.
It was my dad who gave me my “ear” and
encouraged me as a young percussionist to pursue music and performance.
Dad also turned me on to rock and roll including the Beatles, jazz
as well as other genres of music.
Somewhere in there, I got my first guitar and learned a few basic
chords.
While studying percussion, music theory and
singing as a school kid, I was taken by the sound of many of the 60’s
and 70’s groups such as the Beatles, Bee Gees,
Chicago
and the Eagles. Through high
school, I played drums in jazz band, percussion in band and in orchestra.
I also sang in chorus and succeeded in making all-state chorus.
I continued my music after entering
Providence
College
, where I minored in music, played in every form of band offered,
continued singing and took more theory /arranging courses.
I also played my first professional gigs as a drummer while at
Providence
and was in a few “garage bands” as well.
Sadly, when I transferred out of
Providence
to pursue a different course of study, my music faltered.
Although I occasionally jammed with a few talented guys sat in with
my cousin Jerry’s Jazz band and played a few open mic nights with an
awesome guitarist named Glenn Brand, my music remained on hold for about
twelve years.
Fortunately, one night at a party in 1996, Tony
Piacenta and I were the only people who “could” sing when the Karaoke
machine was started. After the
party, Tony and I talked and learned of our mutual love of the Beatles.
I told him that I had a guitar, but only knew a few chords.
He said he knew a few more chords; we thought we’d try a few
tunes together. What Tony
could sing, I couldn’t play and what I could play, Tony didn’t know.
After a couple of years of practicing our as**s
off, we landed a few gigs and have been on the road since.
We’ve put the knowledge and talent we have to good use.
We both sing well and have complementary vocal ranges.
We’re both improving as guitar players all the time too.
But our success has always been found in our musicianship and in
the arrangement.
