Jim Duwel - Keyboard, Guitar & Vocal

Where were you born?
Milwaukee, WI

When did you start to play?
I began playing piano and trumpet at age 6. When I was 9 I started taking guitar lessons and joined my first band at age 10. 

Tell us about some of your previous bands.
During high school and college I started a band called Daebreak with current Off The Record member Jack Burrus. Our song list consisted of album rock songs that were being played by local FM radio stations WZMF and WQFM. We played throughout the state at colleges, high schools and popular night spots like The Electric Ballroom, Shuffle Inn, Sunset Bowl, Rev’s Flying Circus, Beneath The Street and Mothers Nite Club.

After college I continued to play in various area bands like the popular ‘60s nostalgia bands The Rogues and The Rockerfellers (along with Jack). If you attended Summerfest or any of the summer fairs and festivals during the 1980s or ‘90s you are most likely familiar with both of these bands.

In 1996 the first incarnation of Off The Record was formed, playing area festivals and night spots. Then in early 2013 I called on my lifelong friend and former band mate Jack to help launch the current Off The Record. 
  
Who are your influences?
The Beatles, The Moody Blues, Cream, ELP, Jethro Tull..., just look at the bands Off The Record is playing to see the complete list!

If you had to take one album to your desert island, what would it be and why?
Abbey Road. I never tire of listening to that album.

What gear do you gig with?
For guitars I use a 1988 Fender Stratocaster, a Taylor CE-314E acoustic 6-string, and a Seagull S-12 acoustic 12-string. I run all the guitars through a Fender Mustang floor effects device, then direct into the sound board.

I cover the piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, and orchestral sounds using a Roland Fantom X-6 keyboard direct into the sound board.

My vocal microphone is vintage Yamaha MZ-101 that gets routed through a TC Helicon Voice Live 2 vocal processor.

To hear myself and my bandmates I use a wireless Galaxy in-ear monitor system with Shure SE-215 ear buds. 

One obscure interesting fact about yourself.
While pursuing a degree in music, my major instrument was the tuba!