Errol G. Specter
- Composer
The Early Years... Errol's music career began at the age of ten with
the clarinet as his chosen instrument. During his very young years
(2-3) he became quite fascinated by the music he heard coming from a
neighbor's Victrola, mostly fairy tale music like "Old McDonald had a
Farm" and the such. This most unquestionably had a subconscious effect
as those tunes of fascination reverberated in his young mind. Also
during that period he saw for the first time a piano which created
great curiosity in that the black and white keys were intensely
interesting and attractive. Errol then sat down and played an
incredibly discordant tune that literally brought the house down! The
seed was planted that would eventually germinate into the opening of
the musical door for Errol.
During Errol's middle childhood years he began to listen to many of his parent's LPs and was most impressed by the music of the great clarinetist Benny Goodman. This ultimately influenced his decision to take up clarinet
His musical studies at that time included classical, popular and jazz forms. His skill as a clarinetist developed during his early high school years and he was elevated to first clarinetist in his Yorktown Heights High School orchestra. Eventually Errol was allowed to play with his tutor's dance band.
Professional History... In 1968 Errol was exposed to an LP entitled "Silver Apples of the Moon", music composed by Morton Subotnik, one of the first truly serious composers of the newly developed form of electronic music. He was greatly intrigued by the unusual quality of the music and was deeply influenced by what he heard. At that point he decided that electronic music would be his new musical direction.
It was not until 1974 that Errol began the development of his electronic music studio and career. Since then, Errol has composed fourteen albums of various themes of Visionary music and has also produced four albums of natural environments. Upcoming releases: "Mist of Time" and a collaboration CD with fellow composer Michael Osterhoudt entitled "Ladder of Light".
His music has been utilized in three documentary films by producer/director Paul Davids who also produced the HBO movie "Roswell". The first film, "Golden Anniversary UFO Briefing", celebrates the White Sands Missile Range Pioneers located in New Mexico near Roswell. "Timothy Leary's Dead" (named after the 1960's hit Moody Blues song), is a biography about LSD research guru and Harvard professor Dr. Timothy Leary. " The Life After Death Project", in Paul's words, "A fascinating quest for proof of life after death... a true-life enigma that begins with one small, odd incident and mushrooms into a huge scientific inquiry into apparent messages from the 'Other Side.'
Errol taught electronic music systems and synthesis at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California from 1986-92. He has also written a textbook entitled "Fundamental Technologies of the Synthesizer" which has been utilized in a number of colleges and universities nationwide. He also hosted a radio show in the mid 1980's on KUSP in Santa Cruz called "Vision of the Dawn".
During Errol's middle childhood years he began to listen to many of his parent's LPs and was most impressed by the music of the great clarinetist Benny Goodman. This ultimately influenced his decision to take up clarinet
His musical studies at that time included classical, popular and jazz forms. His skill as a clarinetist developed during his early high school years and he was elevated to first clarinetist in his Yorktown Heights High School orchestra. Eventually Errol was allowed to play with his tutor's dance band.
Professional History... In 1968 Errol was exposed to an LP entitled "Silver Apples of the Moon", music composed by Morton Subotnik, one of the first truly serious composers of the newly developed form of electronic music. He was greatly intrigued by the unusual quality of the music and was deeply influenced by what he heard. At that point he decided that electronic music would be his new musical direction.
It was not until 1974 that Errol began the development of his electronic music studio and career. Since then, Errol has composed fourteen albums of various themes of Visionary music and has also produced four albums of natural environments. Upcoming releases: "Mist of Time" and a collaboration CD with fellow composer Michael Osterhoudt entitled "Ladder of Light".
His music has been utilized in three documentary films by producer/director Paul Davids who also produced the HBO movie "Roswell". The first film, "Golden Anniversary UFO Briefing", celebrates the White Sands Missile Range Pioneers located in New Mexico near Roswell. "Timothy Leary's Dead" (named after the 1960's hit Moody Blues song), is a biography about LSD research guru and Harvard professor Dr. Timothy Leary. " The Life After Death Project", in Paul's words, "A fascinating quest for proof of life after death... a true-life enigma that begins with one small, odd incident and mushrooms into a huge scientific inquiry into apparent messages from the 'Other Side.'
Errol taught electronic music systems and synthesis at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California from 1986-92. He has also written a textbook entitled "Fundamental Technologies of the Synthesizer" which has been utilized in a number of colleges and universities nationwide. He also hosted a radio show in the mid 1980's on KUSP in Santa Cruz called "Vision of the Dawn".
