Bios

Matthew Kenneth Gray learned how to read at a very early age, and remembers reading the dictionary to a family friend. He memorized "Jesus Christ Superstar" as a child, and when coaxed, he would get up on the mantle of his Grandma and Grandpa Unruh's house and sing it in front of their guests. Early report cards of Matthew's from Westlake School and Moreland Notre Dame hint that his strengths were reading, spelling, writing and art. He attended Aptos High School as a freshman, where he concentrated on tennis. During the beginning of his Sophomore year, he transferred to Watsonville High School, where he took many classes that impacted his growth and challenged him to rise up and be himself. Also, during High School, Matthew was active in the Summit Organization where he learned a lot about the power of positive feelings. The summer before his Senior year, he was given a trip by his parents to Milan, Italy, where he visited friends. This trip would forever change his life, as he stayed with Ennio Buongiovanni, a writer; Andrea Buongiovanni, a sportswriter for Gazzetta Della Sporta, and Viviana D'Agostinis, an amateur songwriter. The Buongiovannis took Matthew to Sicily, where he fell deeply in love with Viviana, and she the same. Their love of music, poetry and songwriting brought them together. When Matthew returned from Italy, he was a new young man, with a clear sense of what he wanted to accomplish with his talents. After graduating, Matthew worked for his parents at their Hallmark store for a few months, then the following year he was asked to join his friends who were writing a musical for Watsonville High School. "Stop Running Away" would prove to be the most original musical ever produced there, but never given the credit due- the school did not acknowledge it exisiting in their Centennial Memory Book. After "Stop Running Away," Matthew went to Belgium as a Rotary Summer Exchange student, and did such things there as tour factories, play tennis and a day trip to Paris, France. When he returned, Cabrillo College was in his future, and he took classes that interested him, not required ones. A Songwriting course he took with fellow friends Chris Harrington and Jonathan Fesmire would prove to be most memorable for him. In 1992, he decided to attend Trebas Institute Of Recording Arts in Hollywood, CA. He studied Music Business Administration with emphasis on Media Relations and Management. While attending Trebas Institute, Matthew interned for both Epic Records and NARAS, and 'temped' briefly for Bobby Colomby at Sony, Inc. He has written songs with Chris Harrington, professional author Jonathan Fesmire, Outside Pedestrian's Anthony Fesmire, Barbara Lopez and George Petroutsas. He does not read music.

Phillip Stafford Harrington spent his early years growing up with his mother and brother in Albany, CA, and visiting his father in Arizona over summers. Phillip started playing drums at the age of nine. Preferring music and art in school, Phillip was labeled a difficult student and eventually obtained his GED left high school early to pursue music at Cabrillo College. Once there, he studied theory, ear training, arranging and songwriting. He went on to attend Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA for one semester. In his late teens he became a firm believer in Christ and the Bible. He attended The Coastlands Aptos Foursquare Church in Aptos, CA for a few years, where he met his wife, Christin. Phillip and Christin are now excited to be new parents. Songwriting has become Phillip's means of deep expression in his life. His songs often reflect a growing relationship with Christ while others pay musical tribute to friends. While Phillip has been a student of music for over fourteen years now, guitar is the most recent addition to Phillip's musical landscape. His happy chord progressions and sing-a-long style melodies are at the core of Matt and Phil's music. Phillip hopes to see the this band evolve into a welcomed friend and recognized voice in the folk idiom. "Heck, being rich and popular wouldn't be that terrible either," comments Phil.

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