The Cake at Veteran's Park, October 2004 (from
left to right) Todd-E-Bones, Mike, Dennis, Sue, Glen, Rob
What is Spaghetti Cake?
Spaghetti
Cake is an original rock band for the whole family. Their performance
is high-energy, wholesome, and fun for all ages! The music of
Spaghetti Cake spans the entire range of musical styles from rock
to country, bluegrass to blues, reggae to world grooves. Children
who attend a Spaghetti Cake concert get the opportunity to move,
dance, sing along, even perform with the band! Spaghetti Cake
consists of six professional musicians who are all experienced
educators. Their
music delivers a positive message of believing in who you are,
and celebrates the kid in us all.
One
of the most frequently asked questions at live shows is where
the name Spaghetti Cake comes from. It is a favorite family recipe
that Glen's stepdad Buck used to make for supper. "Comfort
Food", if you will. Glen & Sue both decided it would
be the perfect title for a family rock band. The original recipe
to make Spaghetti Cake is located on their home page.
Who is Spaghetti Cake?
Spaghetti
Cake is an original six-piece rock group that
performs for all ages. The band features Susan
Birk on lead vocals, Glen Nelson on keyboards and vocals, Todd "E
Bones" Howard on bass guitar and vocals, Mike Tierney on drums,
Dennis Fancher on electric guitar, and Christopher "Mr. E"
Eddy on percussion and vocals. The stage show is a lively mix of
descriptive performance, Q & A, and real life hands-on musical
experience for kids that is regularly met with startled faces, scores
of air guitarists, and a generation of will-be musicians. The all-star
group of veteran musicians and educators in Spaghetti Cake shine
as brightly on the auditorium stage as in front of festival crowds.
Spaghetti
Cake's performance and presentation aligns with any school or church
music curriculum, as well as the National and Connecticut State
Standards for Music. They offer full-band
performance,
afterschool
songwriting workshops, artist-in-residency
workshops, and are
available to perform as a duo or quartet, depending on your organization's
individual needs. SpaghettiCake.Com
awaits creative minds who seek more, featuring cool links, photos,
interactive activities, and age-appropriate discussion.
Susan
Birk & Glen Nelson, the creators of Spaghetti Cake, are musicians,
artists, and school teachers. In 2000 they released their
debut album, Jam
Food,
which won the 2001 Children's Web Award for "Best New Artist
for Older Children". That same year they released the follow-up,
Sunflower.
Spaghetti Cake has performed as a full-fledged professional rock
band for kids ever since, traveling across the U.S. from Maine to
Colorado. The group is also endowed by The
Connecticut Commission on the Arts.
Spaghetti
Cake is meant for all generations. Brought
to life believing that a child's earliest musical encounters influence
lifelong learning,
the eclectic musicians and infectious songs span musical styles
at every turn and bridge the gap between the music of early childhood
and adolescence. Susan, Glen, their faithful dog Bodhi, their son
Fox, their daughter Vayle, and some very talented friends are continuing
their journey to bring families and memories together through the
beauty, the passion, and the power of music.
Glen
Nelson – Keyboards, Vocals, Songwriter, Founder of Spaghetti
Cake
Glen was born on July 18th, 1971 in Los Angeles, CA, with his
family soon thereafter settling in New Hartford, CT. Inspired as
a child by his mother’s piano and the music of the Beatles,
Glen daydreamed of becoming a rock and roller and a songwriting
musician. By age 10, Glen was composing songs, authoring science
fiction serials, and developing his unique style of cartooning.
(Seen today as the colorful characters in Spaghetti Cake art design.)
Cutting his musical teeth on the drums, Glen later devoted his talent
to the piano. While attending Western Connecticut State University,
Glen realized his passion for jazz, and for the Hammond B3 organ.
Today, Glen works as a music teacher at Polk Elementary School in
Watertown CT, and continues to be a performer, songwriter, and a
producer. At Polk School, he has released seven original CDs of
music with his students. In addition to a Music Education Degree
from Western Connecticut State University, and a Master’s Degree
in Music Technology from NYU, Glen recently completed his Sixth-Year
Degree in Educational Administration from Sacred Heart University.
Other musical credits include a stint with 1950's doo-wop singing
group The Five Satins (who recorded the #1 hit "In The Still
of the Night") and guest appearances with numerous jazz, rock,
and pop artists, both live and in the studio. Glen has also been
a member of the popular CT jam rock band, Flipper Dave, for nearly
a decade. Spaghetti Cake, Glen's proudest musical achievement with
wife and songwriting partner Susan Birk, has propelled him ever
nearer to his childhood daydream, while allowing him to share his
other true forte, educating young minds through music. Spaghetti
Cake has two CDs of original music to their name, has performed
for kids and families across New England extensively since 2000,
to critical acclaim, and is endowed by the Connecticut Commission
on the Arts.
Susan Birk – Vocals,
Lyrics, Graphic Design, Founder of Spaghetti Cake
Susan was born on June 14th, 1969 in Stamford, CT, and spent
her first eighteen years growing up in Avon, CT. After earning a
B. F. A. in Film, Photography, and Visual Arts from Ithaca College
in upstate NY, her work brought her all over Europe and the United
States. Susan’s career in the arts began in Los Angeles, CA
as an assistant on the set of the film "Hook" and the
filmed television series "Pros and Cons" starring James
Earl Jones and Richard Crenna. During her junior year she interned
with John Henshall Associates in London, England. Two weeks after
graduation she relocated to London, England for two and a half years
where she became the resident lighting designer for MTV Europe,
lighting many of the musical acts on tour during 1990-1993, including
Lenny Kravitz, Suzanne Vega, and Paul McCartney. While in London
she had the opportunity to work with the Jim Henson Puppeteers on
the very popular "Spitting Image", and a pilot episode
of "The Winjin' Pom". In addition, she was sent to the
1990 Olympics in Barcelona Spain, Amsterdam, Holland for Sony Digital,
Greece, and Portugal. After her European experience, Susan moved
to New York, NY where she began working with Business Link, a graphic
design, pre-press house in their imaging department, creating and
assisting designs for Benneton and Fox Television. Within three
months she was promoted to head of the art department. Susan soon
thereafter worked for the largest and most prestigious lighting
design firm in television, Imero Fiorentino Associates. While there,
she worked with HBO Productions, Showtime At The Apollo, Def Comedy
Jam, The David Letterman Show, MTV America, The Jon Stewart Show,
VH-1, and Politically Incorrect, even lighting a special with Sting
at Carnegie Hall. Through all of her many successes, however, Susan’s
first love was music. A student of music theory, she had earned
a scholarship to Weslyan University in music, playing the flute.
Now an art, photography, and pottery teacher at Shepaug High School
and Middle School in Washington, CT, Susan has returned to music,
partnering with husband Glen Nelson as lyricist, vocalist, and graphic
designer for Spaghetti Cake.
Spaghetti Cake in March 2006: (top) Mike, Christopher,
Dennis (bottom) Glen, Sue, Todd-E-Bones
|
