| Matt Beck's Official Fan Site |
| Matt's Bio (or as close to one as I could put together) With both parents being professional musicians it’s easy to assume the music was always going to be a important part of Matt’s life. His first instrument was the Suzuki Violin which he started playing at the age 2-½. At 5 Matt began to play the piano. Two years later at the age of 7 he was the youngest student accepted in the pre-college program at the Julliard School of Music. When recently asked if he was ever interested in pursuing something other than music, Matt stated that from the age of 14-16 he wanted to be a professional tennis player. With lots of trophies to celebrate this talent of tennis, music became too much of a calling for him to deny. Lucky for us fans he listened! Also around the age of 16 Matt picked up a guitar for the first time and his unique upside down right handed lefty technique was born. Teaching himself to play he developed some original voicings and different ways of playing. Once his years in the high school band were over Matt went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music. He would graduate receiving his Bachelors degree in Jazz and Commercial music on the guitar. After graduation this chess playing sushi loving New Yorker began his career in the music industry. After playing keyboards and guitar for a year and a half during the "Who’s Tommy" tour, Matt continued for two more years as a guitarist for the "Rent" tour. After his 3-½ years playing Broadway Matt went on to play for a number of musicians. Being an accomplished keyboard and guitarist, Matt also plays the Mandolin, B3, Banjo, Lap Steele, Dobro, Bass, Casaquinho and Melodica. He has played with Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories, Dweezil Zappa, Peter Stuart, Ejectrode, the Push Stars, James Katz, Tracy Bonham, Red Letter, Antigone Rising, Ari Hest, Cantinero, Ina May Wool and in 2003 toured with the boys of Matchbox Twenty where he was dubbed "the newest member of the traveling circus." This vocalist and self proclaimed "sound junky" admits to struggles with the writing of lyrics. However he has described his song writing as a rock, pop, songwritery or folk type of music. Raised on classical music he sites not only Mozart as his favorite composer, but also the impressionist DeBussy and Chopin. Under the influence of the Beatles and jazz he notes Led Zeppelin, XTC, Tom Petty and Jellyfish as a few of his favorites. While performing with Matchbox Twenty he was able to play Madison Square Garden, a place where he says he used to watch Rush, Yes & AC/DC perform. Playing MSG was a dream come true for this native New Yorker. Not only an incredibly sweet and humble man I believe Matt to be a kid at heart. During the Matchbox Twenty tour I caught up to him riding his scooter to a safe distance where he could eat a handful of Tootsie Rolls he had recently snagged. He would love to one day take the stage with Paul McCartney, XTC, Fiona Apple and Aimee Mann. In my opinion he’s headed in the right direction. The opportunities for Matt are opening up. A few years ago he auditioned to play with Five for Fighting however being asked to play with both Rob Thomas and Paul Doucette on their solo projects kept him pretty busy. He helped on the track Movie Stars with Kyle Cook whom is producing the band Virgin Millionaires. Matt toured for over a year and a half with Rob Thomas as his Band Director, Keyboardist and Guitarist. During 2007 Matt toured with one of a kind artist Rod Stewart all over the world. The end of 2007 brings about the start of a new Matchbox Twenty tour and if we fans are lucky a Matt beck solo CD!! (More on that to follow) I’m sure if a 4 years ago you had told Matt he would have his own fan following he may not have believed you. Even now we continue to wow him with all the fan appreciation. Never one to disappoint a fan he takes the time to talk with us, both in person and via email. At shows he makes himself available for autographs and pictures. He will also take the time to just "chat" with us fans after a show. He spent a long and entertaining, full of computer problems, almost 3 hours chatting with us fans. Something not too many artists still have the time to do. Lucky for us he was not deterred and came back to participate in two other chats. If you have the chance to meet Matt while he is on tour, take it you won’t be sorry! You will walk away from the experience a fan of Mr. Beck, I guarantee it! |