Dennis Conroy got his first drum (a parade drum) in 1958 at age 10. After performing for 3 years
as a drummer in a young peoples orchestra on the southwest side of Chicago, Dennis bought his first
professional drum set, quit the orchestra and began performing as drummer in 1 then 2, 5 and 6 piece bands.
At age 17 (1966) Dennis recorded his first album with Columbia Records as drummer for the pop /
rock band "The Cryan'Shames."
"The Cryan'Shames" had 3 albums and several singles hits based out of
Chicago. The Shames were known for their vocal harmony and were very popular within a 400 mile radius of
Chicago.
In the early 1970's Dennis played drums and tabla (East Indian drums) for a Chicago based folk band,
"The Dooley Brothers". In 1974 Dennis moved to Carbondale, Illinois where he met folk / rock singer Shawn
Colvin and helped form the "Shawn Colvin Band".Shawn went on to record for herself and won a Grammy for
her first album, "Steady On" in 1991.
Dennis stoped performing in 1977 to attend the university at Carbondale to study design and to study
Richard Buckminisiter Fuller, philosopher, design scientist, and inventor of the geodesic dome.
In 1984 Dennis started to compose, record and perform his own music, mostly instrumental on grand
piano. He recorded "Spring," his first solo album, in 1984. "Spring" was performed on a Yamaha
C-7 grand piano and was recorded in natural stereo at a graduate recital hall at the University at
Carbondale. The album includes one song with soprano sax and cello accompaniment but is otherwise solo.
After one last concert in Carbondale Dennis headed to Lansing, Michigan following a woman from
Kathmandu, Nepal (in the Himalayan Mountains). But that's another story!
Dennis' second album as keyboardist on synthesizers is IBEX"There...And Back," 1988 and was
recorded with Jan Dart. Dennis and Jan are IBEX, composing, recording, and performing all 60 minutes of
the album. The album features at least 30 to 40 different voices (on keyboard) by just the two of them.
Ibex "There... And Back" is a widely ranging instrumental album performed on electronic synthesizers and
multichanneled tape recording.
Dennis' third album, "Earthling," was recorded in 1989. The album was primarily performed on a
Yamaha C-7 Conservatory model grand piano but also includes 3 songs performed on synthesizer. A violin
accompaniment by Andy Farmer was later added on two cuts and voice by Kathleen Mendoza was added to
"Let Go," a previously instrumental cut. All songs on "Earthling" (as on "Spring") were composed
and performed by Dennis.
In May of 1994 Dennis released his 4th tape "Astral Imprints." A synth album that does not sound
like one.
Dennis considers his music cross cultural in that it appeals to people of diverse language and culture.
A concert in Carbondale was attended by people from India, China, Ireland as well as North Americans.
Individuals from each of those countries said that the same song, "Spring," to them sounded as if it were
from their own country.
From 1988 to the present Dennis has performed benefit performances for nationally know organizations
for people with disabilities. His audio tapes have been used successfully as relaxation therapy and as
music for therapeutic recreation (swimming) for persons with disabilities.
His fifth tape from 1995 is "Geodyssey Earth," and his sixth from 1997 is "At The Interface".
Dennis' music is heard on National Public Radio (NPR)affiliates in Illinois and Michigan including
WKAR, FM 90.5, in East Lansing. Though it fits New Age, Jazz, Semi-classical and Adult Contemporary
music formats, Dennis' music can act as a bridge. A bridge across the space that can exist between
language, culture and ideology. A bridge between humans who are mostly the same inside anyway.
Dennis has been active as a peace activist in the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives. He
has given testimony on health care and housing issues to the Michigan State Social Service Committee and
subcommittees. Since 1983 he has worked with and for people with disabilities:
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- As a note taker and tutor for university students who are deaf
- As a reader and scribe for people who are blind
- Recording and performing for organizations which represent people of many diverse disabilities
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Having at least 4 diferent physical disabilities himself Dennis continues to perform and advocate
for the independence and right to self determination of / for persons with disabilities.
Dennis' music is mostly instrumental, predominately played on the Grand Piano and synthesizer.
The music spans a wide range of human emotions and moods. The balance being at once a stimulating
and yet a quite relaxing blend of music that reaches beyond spoken language, beyond ideology and beyond
the mostly-superficial-anyway differences between beings of a small planet, Earth.
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Reproduced with permission from Dennis Conroy
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Dennis Conroy Events:
"The Event" October 1,1997 5 PM.
Congress Of Persons with Disabilties and their Allies from all over Michigan.
Lansing Center, Lansing, Michigan.
Dennis to Perform on Grand Piano.
The 2nd Independent Living For The Milennium Conference:
"Disability And Popular Culture"
April 20,1998
10 am - 4:30 pm
Put on by the Michigan Association of Rehabilitation Org.
The event will take place at Michigan State University,
Kellogg Center in East Lansing,Mi.
Featuring many performers with music,poety,and comedy:
Dennis Conroy will perform on the grand piano.
John Kemp,Director of very special arts ,and New Mobility's person of the year.
Nancy Beck Kennedy,comedian
Also many other performers and sessions related to Disability Culture.
For more information contact:
Chandra Donnell
REACH
237 Erickson Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing,Mi.48824-1034
517-353-9444
E-Mail:donnell@pilot.msu.edu
Sponsored by The Michigan Disability Community
Details and Event ScheduleHere
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