The Urban Gypsies HistoryVision Biographies, and Resume

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The Urban GypsiesHistory/VisionBiographies, and
Resume The Struggle Continues The History Of
Black Folks
OnLiner Notes
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History/Vision

• The Urban Gypsies are a group of musicians
  dedicated to R.A.I.S. Music or Rhythm And
  International Soul. Formed by the collective
  thought of Bernie GX Gresham III, Felton
  Maurice Mackey, Marcos Rivera, Jeff Fields, and
  Chyse Smith, and Norris Old Mac McKinley the
  band was formed in the summer of 2004. Since its
  inception the band has had a number of members
  some of whom, have left and returned some of whom
  have gone on to different projects. They all are
  still considered Gypsies.
• Current Roster GX3, Maurice, Marcos, Aaron Hall,
  and Hugo Part timers Greg James, White.  

The first project for the Gypsies was initiated
by GX, It was in fact the impetus for me to
call these musicians together. I wanted the CD to
have a combined flavor of real instruments meets
modern technology, says the 30 something Chicago
native. The project is a play that I wrote
entitled The Struggle Continues The History of
Black Folks (The CD has the same name). It
traces the development and struggle of Africans
and African-Americans throughout history, from
3500 B.C. up until the 1970s power movement. The
music reflects the scenes in the play and the
music of those times with a modern Hip-Hop
flavor.
The vision of the Gypsies as a whole is to
resurrect a true super group in Chicago. Since
Earth Wind and Fire there has been no true
Funk/RB/Jazz band out of Chicago, says Maurice
guitarist, and one of the writers for the group.
Ive wanted, ever since I first heard EWF, to
make music that would change the world, and I
think that with the talent we have in the Gypsies
we will do it.
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The Urban Gypsies (Bios)
Writer, Singer, Sax man, Rapper, Keyboardist, and
producer Bernie Gresham III (AKA GX3, Burn or
BlakIce) is one key founding member of the
Gypsies. The opportunity to create original
music with a group of musicians such as these is
a blessing. Educated at the University of
Chicago Lab School, GX took up the saxophone at
the age of 10. I played sax throughout grammar
school and high school with the school band, but
while in high school I was blessed and took jazz
lessons from renowned jazz trumpeter Phil Choran.
I started writing songs while in college at
Boston University (BA Pol. Sci. 88), while
playing with the blues band Seed. After coming
from Boston I decided to form a live house band
Black Pearl, with some old friends. We performed
around and recorded quite a few great songs, but
they havent been released yet. The group
disbanded and I went to Loyola University School
of Law (JD 05).
GX 3
While in law school I was still writing and
actually wrote the first song on the soundtrack,
Africa in 1992. I continued writing and
practicing while in law school, and continued to
do so as well while obtaining my Masters in
Education from Chicago State University (MS 98).
While, getting my Masters and teaching, I was
inspired to write a play about the struggle of
African Americans, to be performed by young
people. And in my opinion, because of my musical
gifts the play had to infused with music. So I
wrote a soundtrack.
(Key-Founder Singer, SaxMan)

• When the opportunity to put together a band that
  could perform the soundtrack for the play
  presented itself, I had to make it happen, this
  was the summer of 2004. I also saw an
  opportunity to begin to build a true recording
  industry network here in Chicago. Because of my
  connections to the media (Staff Writer Chicago
  Communicator Newspaper), and my desire to promote
  positive causes (Advocate for The Tate Brothers
  Foundation for Sickle Cell Anemia) I believe that
  the Gypsies can do tremendous good for the image
  of artists in general and musicians in particular
  in our city. I want our music to make people
  dance and also change their minds.

Influences Bob Marley, Prince, James Brown,
George Clinton -Parliament/Funkadelic, John
Coltrane, Rakim, Chuck D Public Enemy, Rick
James Teena Marie, EPMD, The Temptations, Jimi
Hebdrix, and Led Zeplin..
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Maurice
(Key-Founder - Guitario)
Guitarist, Maurice, continues a musical legacy
passed on by his late grandfather L.C. Clark (A
former gospel singer with the immortal Sam
Cooke). Maurice has loved music since he was a
child. Raised in an entertainment family and
singing in the church, music was second nature to
him. I was around music all my life, Wes
Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix, Grant Green, George
Benson, Jimmy Paige, Eddie Hazel, Curtis
Mayfield, Edward Van Halen, And Pat Metheny,
Earth, Wind, and Fire, all had a profound affect
on me as a musician. Music is the thread that
binds people together, and I want to weave a
tapestry for the world. Maurice is a completely
self-taught musician, who plays many instruments.
He has spent the last few years building his
studio Sanctuary Studios. He is certified in
sound engineering. And has developed a
partnership with Discmakers packaging and
distribution
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• - Marcos
• (Co-Founder Keyboardist)
• As a child growing up with separated parents who
  loved to listen and perform music, I am fortunate
  to come this far. Music is one way I express
  what I feel it is my strength and weakness. With
  it I hope to share my thoughts. ..
• The destination I am trying to reach is a place
  where I can share the experiences and lessons I
  have learned in an environment where I can help
  mankind. My intentions are to learn and
  understand the context, of whatever situation I
  am placed in and to attempt to produce the best
  possible result, even when in the midst of
  failure. I am not perfect in this imperfect
  world. But I will continue to grow ....

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Greg James
(Bass Banger) 

• Greg started out playing drums in his own Rhythm
  and Blues band in high school band then switched
  to bass because he liked it better. He was also
  asked to play bass in the swing choir in school.
  They played at high school dances and gatherings
  for about two years then the band members went
  their separate ways. He then formed a Gospel
  band with Guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and two
  female lead singers. They played at many Church
  gatherings and Christian Coffee houses in the
  area. He then joined a Jazz combo playing such
  tunes as Maiden Voyage, and Chameleon. He then
  went to college and got his degree in Music from
  The University of Washington, with a performance
  major in Bass Trombone.

He has played in a Classic Rock , Rhythm and
Blues and traditional Blues. Greg currently works
with another blues band called John Juul and
Friends, but he feels a true calling with the
Gypsies His favorite bassist is Marcus Miller,
His favorite music is funk, including such bass
styles as Bootsy Collins, Louis Johnson, Larry
Graham, James Jamerson, Verdeen White. He plays
a five string Fender Jazz Bass and a Marcus
Miller signature Jazz bass with a four hundred
watts amp, four tens, and a tweeter.