Freelight

Freelight  San Francisco based jazz fusion band - formed 1977 - who completed demos early in 1978 and went label hunting. Although they recorded several tracks, they never made it past a solid demo stage. Eventually litigation over the tapes resulted in their demise. The band broke up after a final and triumphant performance at the Troubador in Los Angeles when their manager Rod Beatty unfortunately died of an overdose in Mill Valley.

Mario and John Cipollina, and Whasington were also in Rocky Sullivan at the same time. Mario split quickly to what eventually became Huey Lewis and The News. He was replaced by Curt Olsen but this line-up too foundered quickly.

Tim Timmermans, who prior to Freelight was playing with David LaFlame and It's a Beautiful Day, formed a Jazz group called Windows. Windows were signed to many labels over several years and hit the jazz charts at # 2 with "Mr.Bongo" and # 1 with "French Laundry". In the 90's Tim did three solo CDs for the Higher Octave/Virgin Label. Currently he is working on a new solo project as well as a duo project with Andrew York from the world famous L.A. Guitar Quartet (Sony Classical). Years after Freelight Tim Timmermans met and became good friends with David Weber from Raven and Hutch Hutchinson. Hutch has played on several of his solo CD's. Tim Timmermans work with Windows includes the following albums 'Windows', 'Is it Safe', 'Mr Bongo', 'French Laundry', 'Blue September', 'My Red Jacket', 'Apples & Oranges'. Solo CDs are 'Poems of the Five Mountains' (with Skipper Wise), 'Life As We Know It' and 'Seven Bridges'.

Also read this article on Terry and the Pirates from Dark Star Magazine (1979) where John talks about Freelight.

PersonnelInstrumentExTo
Pam TillisVocals Solo
Gary SchwantesSaxophone, FluteSomaJob
Mario CipollinaBassAirplayHuey Lewis & The News
John CipollinaGuitarTerry & The Pirates 
Tim TimmermansDrumsSoma, David LaFlame, It's A Beautiful DayWindows
Jarrett WashingtonKeyboardsJazz bands 
Curt OlsenBass Ray Charles

 

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