THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411040245
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Let's face it: McCartney was better with Lennon. Jagger is better with Richards. Has Glenn Frey written anything as good as ``Desperado,'' ``New Kid in Town'' or ``Best of My Love'' without Don Henley?
John Lennon would have laughed Paul right out of the room if McCartney had submitted ``The Girl Is Mine'' or ``Say, Say, Say'' for a Beatles recording session. Could Mick Jagger have written ``Ruby Tuesday'' or ``Brown Sugar'' without Keith Richards?
I think not. It's the dynamics of disparate duos.
Vernon Martin and Ron Ross feel that synergy of opposites working together. Martin, 36, is a big, burly, gravelly-voiced veteran of several country and rock 'n' roll bands. Ross is a baby-faced 21-year-old multi-instrumentalist. Martin and Ross is a 4-month-old bouncing baby band.
The duo plays at the Jolly Roger Restaurant in Kill Devil Hills this month.
Martin worked as a solo artist until four months ago. He liked the feeling of playing in a band but knew the cost of putting together a four- or five-piece band was prohibitive. So he searched for one other player. Someone who had a broad sense of music. He found that player in Rocky Mount.
Ron Ross was playing guitar with a country band called ``Crossroads.'' Martin was in the audience.
``He was exactly what I was looking for,'' recalls Martin. ``He was versatile, and unlike most young musicians, he wasn't overly aggressive.''
The men talked that night. Martin found that Ross played not only guitar, but piano and sequencer as well. As the men talked, it was evident that although they were in different places in life, Martin and Ross were in the same musical sphere. The duo debuted several weeks later at a club in Rocky Mount.
Now, four months into the partnership, both men are comfortable with the direction the band is taking.
Vernon Martin: ``We have the sound and energy of a five-piece band without all the ego problems. Both of us have a high standard of quality, and we never compromise on that.''
Ron Ross: ``We're into simplicity. Our songs are lean. It's much easier to put something in than take something out.''
In addition to the Jolly Roger gig, the duo plays four or five nights a week around eastern North Carolina. Martin and Ross get most of their work through ``on-the-spot'' auditions.
Joanne Davis is manager of the Jolly Roger lounge. ``The response was so good, I booked them right on the spot.''
What's ahead for the dynamic duo?
Both men write songs. About 40 percent of the live show is original material. One possibility is selling some songs in Nashville.
``There's no one way to make it in this business,'' says Martin. ``Pitching our original songs is something we plan to do.''
I caught Martin and Ross in the act last week. Their first song was ``Wooden Ships'' by Crosby, Stills and Nash. On the record, Crosby sings lead. At the Jolly Roger, Martin sings lead with his Stephen Stills-sounding voice. No matter, Ross has the nice tenor like Crosby.
Other artists covered by Martin and Ross are Don Henley, Dan Fogelberg, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Simon and Kenny Loggins.
One suggestion, guys: Turn it down. Who needs distortion when you sound this good? Also, my old ears ain't what they used to be. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Vernon Martin, left, and Ron Ross feel a synergy of opposites
working together.
by CNB