FM
History
In the late '60s and early '70s a power rock trio from Youngstown, Ohio called Glass Harp reached for the stars. A bare bones group in the tradition of Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and The James Gang, Glass Harp developed a signature progressive sound that allowed the members, collectively and individually, to stretch beyond the confines of standard form; breaks in songs for guitar, bass, flute, and drum solos were de riguere, as extended improvisations that would take the band's performances into the late hours. They were pioneers in the jam-band movement.
The trio's fans were amazed by the lightning style, precise technique highly lyrical solos of the band’s 18 year old guitarist Phil Keaggy, who had the use of only nine fingers. Combined with the tasteful, rhythmic bass lines of Daniel Pecchio and the sharp, assertive drumming of John Sferra, Glass Harp created a wall of sound that thrilled sell-out crowds across the upper Midwest and beyond. They garnered a large and loyal regional following. National notoriety followed when they toured with Traffic, Yes, The Kinks, Humble Pie, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, and Grand Funk Railroad. Through the efforts of manager Chip Killinger, they connected with Lewis Merenstein, and with him, even greater national attention came with the release of the band's three critically- acclaimed Decca(MCA) LPs: Glass Harp, Synergy, and It Makes Me Glad. The band's highly energetic and wildly improvisational live concerts fueled the band's legend. Concert goers from the Fillmore West to Carnegie Hall turned into instant fans.
