Annelise
Originally from Broome County, New York, Annelise Huggins says that music is in her blood. "I don't really know how I got into music, other than it's just a gift God has given me. It's something that's always been there. When I was a baby and my mom couldn't get me to stop crying, she would blast Guns and Roses while she vacuumed and I'd apparently fall right to sleep." To this day Annelise lists G&R as one of her favorite bands, along with classical music and the Randy Rhodes era of Ozzy Osbourne as major influences. Despite her jaw dropping technique and proficiency, the real shocker is that Annelise hasn't even been playing guitar for very long. "I got my first guitar back in 1994 or '95, but I didn't really play regularly till I married my hubby Lee back in 2009. The first instrument I played for real was flute back in 4th grade. I really hardly touched the guitar for most of my life, but when I did I just listened and fooled around. I don't have any formal training." If you've seen her play, you'll probably agree she's done just fine on her own.
Beyond her love of the outdoors and of dogs (she and her husband own a dog walking business called A&L Dog Walking), Annelise states proudly that the only thing she loves more than playing music is spreading the word about her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and what He has done for her and can do for others. "I'm pretty much living my dream. The only thing that would make it better would be to have it all on a larger scale. God is good, and He's given me so many wonderful gifts in my life, and that includes my Hubby!"
Why's she here?
"I love playing music with Gary Mitchell. It always keeps me on my toes and forces me to do things I otherwise wouldn't do (like sing and play piano). I couldn't ask for a better group of people to play with. I believe God has put all of us together for a reason, and I'm very grateful for that. I love it."
Beyond her love of the outdoors and of dogs (she and her husband own a dog walking business called A&L Dog Walking), Annelise states proudly that the only thing she loves more than playing music is spreading the word about her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and what He has done for her and can do for others. "I'm pretty much living my dream. The only thing that would make it better would be to have it all on a larger scale. God is good, and He's given me so many wonderful gifts in my life, and that includes my Hubby!"
Why's she here?
"I love playing music with Gary Mitchell. It always keeps me on my toes and forces me to do things I otherwise wouldn't do (like sing and play piano). I couldn't ask for a better group of people to play with. I believe God has put all of us together for a reason, and I'm very grateful for that. I love it."
Thomas
What's better than playing a musical instrument? For N.C. State freshman Thomas Burroughs, the answer is playing ALL of them. Here in the Gary Mitchell Band, you'll see this up and coming musical machine rock percussion (including the cajone, or box drum), vocals and the keyboard, but guitar, bass, harmonica, accordion, hammer dulcimer, and tenor sax are all within his bag of musical tricks. "I started playing music when I was 7, when my parents put me into piano lessons (as parents tend to do). Because of my tendency to play by ear instead of reading the notes, I was 'pushed out' of classical lessons by my teacher and switched to a blues/jazz teacher in Durham." Thomas says that after that, he began to enjoy the simple act of "sounding bad" and learning new instruments to improve. It's no surprise then, that so far Thomas' favorite course at NC State is his bagpipes class.
But beyond his artistic talents, this Chapel Hill/Hillsborough native has his eyes on the skies. "I spend a lot of time immersed in model aviation, building and piloting scale model flyable helicopters and airplanes. Kind of a strange hobby, but I figure I gotta have some aspect of my personality that people have to dig to find." So does that mean we can expect to see this Dominican Dynamo soaring over our heads or building a better machine to dominate the skies in years to come? His response is, who knows. "Honestly, I have no idea what I wanna do with my life (deep, I know). If being an aerospace engineer is in my future, I'd be fine with that. But plans are made to be broken, and I always feel like thinking too far into the future involves losing some of our existence in the present. I'd feel like I was missing out on all the fun that's around me right now." And while Thomas sites Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, and the Vince Guaraldi Trio as musical heroes, one thing he is looking forward to in his future is carving out his own musical legacy alongside his band mates in the GMB.
Why's he here?
"Playing music with Gary is where I feel I belong; where I fit, both musically and personally. It's part of my identity now, and where I feel God has placed me on earth."
But beyond his artistic talents, this Chapel Hill/Hillsborough native has his eyes on the skies. "I spend a lot of time immersed in model aviation, building and piloting scale model flyable helicopters and airplanes. Kind of a strange hobby, but I figure I gotta have some aspect of my personality that people have to dig to find." So does that mean we can expect to see this Dominican Dynamo soaring over our heads or building a better machine to dominate the skies in years to come? His response is, who knows. "Honestly, I have no idea what I wanna do with my life (deep, I know). If being an aerospace engineer is in my future, I'd be fine with that. But plans are made to be broken, and I always feel like thinking too far into the future involves losing some of our existence in the present. I'd feel like I was missing out on all the fun that's around me right now." And while Thomas sites Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, and the Vince Guaraldi Trio as musical heroes, one thing he is looking forward to in his future is carving out his own musical legacy alongside his band mates in the GMB.
Why's he here?
"Playing music with Gary is where I feel I belong; where I fit, both musically and personally. It's part of my identity now, and where I feel God has placed me on earth."
Lee
You just never know. So often the people who become important in our lives don't start out that way. They slide in under the radar as passing acquaintances or friends of friends, hanging around the edges of our lives sometimes for years, before circumstances move them front and center. So it was with Lee Huggins, who I went to high school and college with. And while not what I would have called a close friend during those years, Lee, who has an iron clad memory, frequently recalls our paths crossing within numerous musical and social circles. "Dude, the first time we played together was in the pit orchestra for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. You telling me you don't remember that?" "Oh, remember the time you, me and a bunch of people went to the Campus Crusade Tacky Prom at UNC?" The list goes on. And while I admit I only sort of remember those things, the Raleigh native simply laughs and finds a politely creative way of calling me senile. Beyond challenging my memory, Lee also brings enormous comic relief to the band, his relentless sense of humor providing an endless stream of jokes and antics. In terms of our band identities, he is our self professed "goofy white guy."
After years apart, Lee ironically became the second person recruited into the GMB, reconnecting again through Facebook. Seeking a bass player who also sang back up, I posted an open invitation on my wall, and Lee was the first person to raise his hand. Upon traveling to Raleigh to audition him, Lee immediately impressed me; not only had he grown into a capable bassist over the years, but when I walked in and said "Alright, play me something," Lee instantly won cool points by launching into one of my songs. "Well, duh, I've been listening to your music for years. Its cool. Afraid of the Dark is fun to play," he chirped, apparently ignorant of the actual difficulty of that particular song. The best part is, Lee's induction into the band was also a two-for-one special. He then introduced his wife Annelise and said, "I wanna show you what she can do on guitar." The rest, as they say, is history.
Why's he here?
"Why am I playing in the band? Hmm, lets see...I'll say Gary's musical vision and ability...his diverse musical style. AND his ability to attract top notch musicians. :-) Plus, it's fun."
After years apart, Lee ironically became the second person recruited into the GMB, reconnecting again through Facebook. Seeking a bass player who also sang back up, I posted an open invitation on my wall, and Lee was the first person to raise his hand. Upon traveling to Raleigh to audition him, Lee immediately impressed me; not only had he grown into a capable bassist over the years, but when I walked in and said "Alright, play me something," Lee instantly won cool points by launching into one of my songs. "Well, duh, I've been listening to your music for years. Its cool. Afraid of the Dark is fun to play," he chirped, apparently ignorant of the actual difficulty of that particular song. The best part is, Lee's induction into the band was also a two-for-one special. He then introduced his wife Annelise and said, "I wanna show you what she can do on guitar." The rest, as they say, is history.
Why's he here?
"Why am I playing in the band? Hmm, lets see...I'll say Gary's musical vision and ability...his diverse musical style. AND his ability to attract top notch musicians. :-) Plus, it's fun."
