THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 17, 1995 TAG: 9506160049
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
HE PLAYED ROCK guitar for years. She played bass in various rock bands. When they teamed up, they created beautiful music.
Literally.
The music now composed and performed by David Young and Lisa Franco under the name Celestial Winds will entertain art patrons, playing throughout the weekend at 28th Street at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk Art Show.
Although Young and Franco both cut their early performing teeth on the rock 'n' roll of the day, they now perform music far removed from the electrified power and fury of the rock bands they once fronted.
He plays acoustic recorders, sometimes two at a time, and she plucks the electric Celtic harp to produce a gentle, romantic instrumental music that's Celtic, New Age, modern classical and jazzy improvisation rolled into one.
``It's hard to pin down our audiences,'' Young said. ``We play in front of 7-year-olds with their moms and dads who are both fascinated with our music. We play in front of 60-year-olds, teens and bikers. We've had gang people in L.A. come into stores to buy our records and attend our concerts. I think it's because we have such a universal sound.''
The duo is promoting its third and newest recording, ``Oceans of Love.'' It has already released ``Celestial Winds I'' and ``Christmas Morning'' on the Universal Music label.
``Our music is recommended for anything to do with romance, relaxation and thought,'' Young added.
``All you need is an open heart to enjoy and appreciate our music,'' Franco explained. ``A lot of people tell us that they play us for a perfect musical background. People have told us they've conceived to our music, and one man even said he had open heart surgery while they played our music in the background.''
But it wasn't always that way for Franco and Young.
``Lisa played bass and I played guitar in many different rock bands,'' Young said. ``Our influences were Led Zeppelin, Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis and Elton John.''
Young began studying recorder in his hometown New York City when he was 7. He studied under Phil Levin, the first bassoon player in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. When he was 12 he became the youngest member ever to join the prestigious New York Recorder Guild. But his love for rock eventually led him to the guitar.
Franco began playing guitar in Southern California when she was 8. She played guitar and later bass in various high school rock bands. An aficionado of unusual instruments, she began to play mandolin and soon fell in love with the Celtic harp after hearing it at a Renaissance Fair.
``I was smitten with the Celtic harp,'' she said. ``It became the center of my world.''
She became so proficient at the harp that she earned a recording contract and released three international solo albums.
Finally, the two met at Venice Beach.
``I saw Lisa playing harp and we began to improvise together,'' Young said. ``It was wonderful and people gathered around us to watch and listen. That started it all.'' ILLUSTRATION: David Young and Lisa Franco, under the name Celestial Winds,
will entertain patrons of the Boardwalk Art Show this weekend.
BOARDWALK '95
The Boardwalk Art Show runs 10 to 7 today through Sunday from
15th to 32nd streets along the Oceanfront. Country/Folk Showcase
from 2 to 10 tonight at 17th and 24th Street Parks. International
Arts Showcase from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 17th and 24th
Street Parks.
Call: 425-0000.
by CNB