Cecilia
OriginNew York City, New York
GenresRock, Pop
Years active1999–2006
LabelsAtlantic Records (2001-2002)
MembersAllison Veltz
Drew Veltz
Jeannie Veltz
Ken Veltz
Laura Veltz
Past membersKevin "KJ" Jacoby
Lee Solomon

Cecilia was a pop-rock band based in New York. The band was from the Washington, D.C. area, then later moved to Astoria, Queens. While not a religious group, the band chose the name Cecilia from Saint Cecilia, patron saint of music and of the blind.[1] The band released one album, as The Veltz Family.

History

The band was formed by the members of the Veltz family, then living in Vienna, Virginia[2] in 1998 when the three Veltz youngsters, Allison, Drew and Laura, began performing songs written by their father, Kenneth Veltz, at local venues.[3] The group was originally an acoustic trio, playing local open mic gigs with Drew playing guitar for his sisters. When the family's financials were in a downturn, the band became the family business and Kenneth and mother Jeannie joined their children on drums and vocals, respectively. The group moved to New York in 2000. That same year they recorded Live at Zig's[4] at two live performances in August, which was released in 2001. After a string of temporary bassists, Cecilia added Kevin Jacoby in late 2000. Cecilia was in negotiations to join Blackbird Records an affiliate of Atlantic Records just before the merger of AOL and Time Warner, which ended Blackbird's affiliation with Atlantic. This led to Cecilia being signed by Atlantic Records in early 2001.[1]

In the aftermath of September 11 the group recorded an EP entitled September in tribute to the firefighters lost. They donated the proceeds from the album sales to firefighter charities and the group devoted much of their work in benefit of firefighters at that time. After disagreements with Atlantic, the group parted ways with the label in the fall of 2002 before recording an album. The EP Off The Record (album) contains demo cuts for that never-recorded album. That same fall the band played a series of acoustic shows in the window of the Manhattan Theatre Source and later released a live album from those performances. In 2004 the band recorded their first complete studio album, This, through the help of fan funding.[5] The band announced in late January 2006 that Kevin Jacoby would be leaving the band and at that time the final version of This had not yet been released. In September, 2006, This was released, under the band name The Veltz Family, rather than as Cecilia.[6]

Cecilia has toured extensively on the eastern coast of the United States, with regular performances in both New York and Washington, DC areas. Cecilia has shared the stage with other Virginia acts including Virginia Coalition, Pat McGee Band and Tim Reynolds, and performed at the legendary Wetlands Preserve before its closing in 2001.

Music

The band's pop music sound is focused around the three-part vocal harmonies provided by lead singers Laura and Allison along with backing vocals by their mother Jeannie, which are reminiscent of the Indigo Girls[7] and Mariah Carey. The vocals are supported by Drew's lead guitar riffs, often evoking Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds comparisons and Kevin Jacoby's melodic bass lines, often in the style of Fleetwood Mac's John McVie. Patriarch Ken plays drums as well as adding vocals and guitar parts (often simultaneously). Ken is known for playing a bare-bones "street kit" that includes a Djembe as an all-purpose drum.

The band's final lineup consisted of:

  • Allison Veltz - lead vocal, percussion
  • Drew Veltz - lead guitar
  • Jeannie Veltz - vocals, percussion
  • Ken Veltz - songwriter, drums, guitar, vocals
  • Laura Veltz - songwriter, lead vocal, rhythm guitar, accordion, percussion
  • Kevin Jacoby - bass

Discography

  • 1999 - It Just Doesn't Matter
  • 1999 - Kitchen Mix
  • 2001 - Live @ Zig's
  • 2002 - September
  • 2002 - Off The Record
  • 2003 - Live @ The Source
  • 2006 - This (as The Veltz Family)

Follow-up

  • Ken and Jeannie are also in Nashville, still performing as an acoustic duo in small, intimate clubs, house concerts, and listening rooms. In 2011, they sold their property and became traveling musicians.[8][9]
  • Kevin Jacoby (KJ) stayed in New York City and married costume designer Cora Levin. He returned to life as a freelance bass player, appearing live and on recordings with artists including La Mecanica Popular, Ato Essandoh, Chris London, Owen Brown, and Rocky Bryant of Average White Band. In 2017, KJ formed The Oddysy with DJ Johnny Juice of Public Enemy.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Nuttycombe, Dave (October 5, 2011). "Couple hit the road to follow their dream of a music career". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  2. ↑ McClain, Buzz (February 19, 2001). "Pick of the Litter: Cravin' Dogs Set Tails Awaggin' at Wolf Trap". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  3. ↑ Brace, Eric (October 15, 1999). "Cecilia: All in the Family". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  4. ↑ Duffy, John. "Live at Zig's Review by John Duffy". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "Cecilia's family groove". The Washington Times. October 27, 2004. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Veltz Family Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Duffy, John. "Cecilia Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Beagle, Ben (2012-01-10). "Veltzes begin series of coffee shop concerts tonight". The Daily News. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  9. ↑ "Ken and Jeannie Veltz living the life of their own musical journey". Genesee County, New York – Official Visitor Site. March 31, 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Saying What Must Be Said, The Oddysy Combines Funk, Bass, Beats, And Samples | Soundcheck". WNYC Studios. June 10, 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
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