Lift Sounds History

LIFT quickly gained popularity at Local Universities This photo was taken Spring '75 at one of many concerts for Tulane University. L to R: Richard Huxen, Courtenay Hilton-Green, Chip Grevemberg, Cody Kelleher, Chip Gremillion

	Local club performances were often standing room only with musicians and fans enjoying the show equally. LIFT continued to cover ever increasing and complex pieces of progressive music. LIFT would often begin it's show with the Genesis tune, "Watcher of the Skies". Imagine the condition this created in a southern audience in 1973. Aside from standard southern bands, LIFT covered, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Uriah Heap, Robin Trower, ELP, Yes, King Crimson, Moody Blues and gradually introduced original material as it was composed. In the summer of 1974 producer Sonny Fox put LIFT in the studio and recorded four songs; Simplicity, Caverns, Buttercup Boogie and Tripping Over the Rainbow. Most band members were barely 19 at the time. LIFT continued to perform in the New Orleans area and increase in popularity. LIFT incorporated the recorded songs as well as additional original material into their live sets. In the late Fall of 1975, at the suggestion of Sonny Fox, LIFT relocated to Atlanta.

The night before entering studio to record Simplicity/Caverns Album.

L to R Top:
Chip Gremillion, Chip Grevemberg and Richard Huxen

L to Right Bottom:
Leo Ledet (Sound), Courtney Hilton-Green and
Cody Kelleher

ATLANTA 1975-79

From the outset Atlanta was a challenge. Nothing went according to plan! Just months after relocating and based upon the material from the 1974 "Caverns" session, LIFT went to Philadelphia to re-record modified versions of "Simplicity", and "Tripping over the Rainbow" as well as a newer instrumental tune entitled, "To Undulate Rapidly." (The band was unaware of the pending release of the bootleg LP. Members only became aware of the "Caverns of Your Brain" release in 1990 when Greg Walker from Syn-Phonic contacted Chip Gremillion to release a CD from the original master tapes. The title originally was to be "Simplicity" or simply "LIFT".)

LIFT drove from Atlanta to Philadelphia, set up, recorded and mixed the three tunes with no sleep. The session was described by producers as "very hot." LIFT was involved in a short mixing session, listened to a good playback of each tune and headed back to Atlanta with promises of dupes and Masters to follow. To this day no one has ever received a copy of that session.

The Winter of 1975 -76 was harsh for Atlanta and for LIFT. By early Spring, bassist Cody Kelleher and lead vocalist, Courtenay Hilton-Green left the group. Nearly a 7 month search ensued for replacements with virtually no luck.

In early Fall of 1976 Laura "Poppy" Pate a soprano voice teacher answered an ad placed at a local music store. She claimed to be checking us out for a student. After hearing our music she was immediately part of the group. Within weeks a chance meeting between Chip Grevemberg, Mike Mitchell and Tony Vaughn in an apartment hallway resulted in what can only be described as musical critical mass!

In less than six months of intense rehearsals LIFT added five new compositions to its catalog and completed rearrangements the "Caverns" material to better fit the new personnel line up. In spite of no live performances LIFT quickly garnered the respect of local musicians who frequented rehearsals and also the curiosity of British record producer Michael Stewart.

Stewart was in Atlanta producing the Atlanta based hard rock group, Hydra. With Stewart at the helm, Hydra had signed with Capricorn records and was working on their second album. Stewart was impressed by LIFT and felt the group had enormous potential. However, the existing recorded material did not represent the group in its current form. Michael put us back in the Studio.

Taken before the Atlanta Session -
(L to R)

"Poppy" Pate, Chip Gremillion, Tony Vaughn, Mike Mitchell and CHip Grevemberg.

Rich Huxen (Above) Overslept and was a little late.

Working in the studio as a group and the rehearsals that followed caused LIFT to develop a very tight "live" sound. As the band rehearsed to duplicate the studio performance we all felt our time was approaching.

Atlanta Post Session
(Included in picture: Engineer Lee Petersell - Left of Chip Gremillion and Producer Michael Stewart - Right of Chip Gremillion

A professional photography session was booked, A&R reps from different record companies began expressing interest and enthusiasm was mounting. Based upon one listen to the new material, LIFT was booked as the opening act for an upcoming major show at Atlanta's leading concert venue of the time, Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom. A&R people from up to four interested labels were to be in attendance. LIFT was ready!

Promo Shot and A little Fun

LIFT, life experience lesson #13; Even eyes in the back of your head won't help you see the brick falling from above. (The Three Stooges demonstrated this repeatedly with pies stuck to a ceiling!)

Two weeks prior to the scheduled show Poppy informed the group she was leaving immediately for personal reasons. Decision Final!

Shortly after Poppy's departure and our withdrawal from the concert Richard Huxen left the group.

Over the next six months Chip Gremillion, Mike Mitchell, Chip Grevemberg and Tony Vaugn invited a number a guest musicians to rehearse in an attempt to recreate LIFT'S capabilities, but to no avail.

However, the remaining foursome soon realized that we were quite capable of producing a unique sound. In that remaining period some of LIFT'S best material was composed. Six to seven additional compositions were created; ironically it was this music that potentially had the greatest chance of commercial success. LIFT disbanded in February, 1979.

LIFT OFFERS SINCERE THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL PEOPLE:

Beryl Kelleher - "endless" patience and love

Margaret L - friendship, humor and biggest fan (occasional roadie)

Charles & Ibsie Gremillion - most conscious effort to comprehend - and emergency project assistance

Ellis Bullock - friend, early supporter, "artist / creator" of the original cover art that captured the music and idea of LIFT

Chris Young - "touché whit", accurate "fly catcher" characterture drawing, Lyric for Simplicity and co-author of Caverns Lyric

John Jung - for the enthusiasm, belief , endless gadgets, video tape

Louie Jung - "Life lesson"! John's gadgets cost $$$, or a B-3! ...resulted in our purchase and use of the Guilbransen Organ

Marc Lewis - keeping everything working, custom rigs, & most importantly the original "Elephant Talk"!

Bill Evans - Studio in the Country, friend, Lift supporter, possible perpetrator behind the release of the ' '77 Caverns of Your Brain LP

Sonny Fox- a belief in LIFT his promotion of the band and his efforts that resulted in the "Caverns" session

Lee Abrams - guidance, effort and support during the Atlanta years. (how's my old M-400 Mellotron doing?)

Bill And Suzi management team at Hartwood Apts. - dream rehearsal space

Toni & Steve James - sanctuary, rehearsal space, belief, and continued support, cats

Please see Present Day