Different Stages - Stage One by Jeffrey Backus

Dig the call response vocal near the end. Thanks for sharing and keep'em coming..."

"...Cool sort of country/rockabilly sound. Nice song..." - "...yea cool hook, fresh idea i've never heard a idea like that, real cool man..."

Jeffrey was born in Munich, Germany in 1970 to a professional ballet-dancer (mother) and a successful American songwriter and entertainer (Gus Backus of the Del Vikings, father) and is fluent in both written and spoken German and English. He grew up surrounded by music and soon developed a strong love for it. At an early age he got his first guitar, learned his first songs, and started performing at school-events and private parties.

Jeffrey started to gain recognition in his pre-teens when he made his first official live appearance in Munich, for a football club's Junior League Christmas Party, in front of 500 people. He concentrated all his efforts on getting booked again, practicing daily on his guitar, playing and singing. He was hired for community events, advertisments and balls.

In 1983 Jeffrey sang for the German TV/movie production "Blut und Ehre" (Blood and Honor).

Although he continued to perform solo, in 1985 Jeffrey joined his first band, the "Los Tornados", as their youngest member. The band had just reformed and Jeffrey joined as a rhythm guitarist also singing harmonies, they performed covers of German songs from the sixties and seventies. He was given a solo spot playing and singing Rock 'n' Roll and popular British hits of the era. The band performed at a variety of venues throughout Munich and Southern Bavaria.

In 1987 Jeffrey teamed up with musician friends (Eric Thöner & Ralph Bojen) he had met at Trade School to form the studio band "The Congress", writing mainly soul, funk and disco songs, also radio-advertising jingles. Jeffrey played rhythm guitar, sang harmonies and also co-wrote the music, this was the first project that involved him in production.

In 1989 he was introduced to the sound of new style country music and began to write his own songs that showed a marked country influence. He left Germany for the U.S. for the first time in 1991, to learn more about the country he always felt bonded to, as well as about the music. Living in Dallas, Texas for six months and then in Syracuse, New York for further six months showed him the country music of the South and the rock music of the North. Whilst in New York he played two original songs live on a local radio station and performed at various venues in Syracuse. Jeffrey continued to write a number of folk and country- influenced songs on this trip.

In 1992 he returned to Germany with his songs and decided to promote "New American Music" - the new style of Country Music. He began touring solo again, singing covers and some of his own material. Jeffrey was among the first musicians to introduce this kind of music to Germany and he started to build a reputation as a country performer. Whilst touring he met "The Patty Burns Band" and was invited to join them as a guitarist, later becoming the band leader and sharing the lead vocalist position with Patty Burns. He often made guest appearances with other musicians as part of duo and trio acts and as a guitarist and vocalist with other bands.

In 1993 Jeffrey formed his own Country-Rock band "Jeffrey Backus & Gundust". Still performing mainly covers, they toured all over Germany and Austria. He still performed solo and his reputation as a top country performer spread. He appeared in Radio interviews for "Radio Trausnitz" and "Radio Gong", was featured in Newspaper articles for both Local and National press and was a favorite at Country Festivals. The Band played at the German Country Music Fan Fair in 1995, received an encouraging response from the media, and are featured in the Video "Highlights of the Fan Fair 1995". Jeffrey and the band recorded the album "Bits and Pieces" as a promotional demo in 1994.

In 1993 he met the Heavy Metal band "Sarepta". He co-wrote the song "So Close" with the lead singer, Manuel Hippel. This was featured on their CD "Mind Wipe" which was recorded in 1995. During 1993/1994 "The Congress" recorded their album "Good Old Friends", a selection of their best music as a showcase for friends and family.

By now Jeffrey had tried rock and roll, soul, funk, disco, country and folk music and felt at ease with all of these styles, importing a little of each into the other.

In 1996 Jeffrey decided he had to go to Nashville - Music City, USA - to pursue his music career and permanently left Germany for Nashville. He arrived in New York in July and played at The Eagle Hotel, Leroy, NY. He purchased a motor home, taking the opportunity to travel through America and Canada for a few months. Jeffrey arrived in Nashville in October 1996 and started performing on a weekly basis at the "Le Garde Twins Hall of Fame Lounge". He also joined the Friday and Saturday night band playing at "Paul's Country Club" and took part in several talent contests including the Opryland Talent show held at the Acuff Theatre. He also appeared at Open-Mic and writer's nights singing his original songs.

Jeffrey continued with his songwriting and became involved with the recording, arranging and production of other songwriter's material, often acting as the session guitarist. He became a member of "BK Junction" with whom he appeared at such venues as the "Bluebird Café", The "Clarion Hotel" and the "Broken Spoke Songwriters' Café". Jeffrey, along with two songwriter friends (Jim Kirby and Australian Natalie Howard), moved into a house and built a basement studio, which became fondly known as "The Bucket". This became the venue for monthly writer's nights as well as a general meeting place for musicians and songwriters.

His songwriting partnership with Keith "Opie" Allen created a fan base for their material. Performing as "The Cropdusters", they presented their songs at writer's nights at various venues in Nashville including "The Boundary"; "The Seanachie"; "The Broken Spoke Songwriter's Café" and "The Wheel". Two performances are featured events on "Liveonthenet.com", May 29th 2000 at the Bluebird Café and July 29th 2000 at the Broken Spoke Songwriter's Café. "The Wheel" hosted the National Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Songwriter's Contest. As the winners of this contest they appeared on the Opry Star Spotlight show on "WSM 650am Radio", the home of The Grand Ole Opry.

Jeffrey met his wife Jae Avery, during one of her trips to Nashville. After years of deliberation, they decided to move to London in order to be closer to both their families. Jeffrey has since appeared at some major German Country Music Festivals and is starting to entertain the British audiences "Jeffrey Backus Style".

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