DOW-PRINCEPLE
GARY DOW
MY STORY
Born to Annie Bell (Nelson) and Joe Dow, Carrison Bernard Dow is from Brooklyn, NY. Gary is the second son in a family of 8 children. At age nine, uncle Richard Boykin came by the house and saw Gary struggling to pick a tune on an old guitar. Richard happened to have a guitar at home that he rarely played. He gave that guitar and amplifier to Gary as a gift. Gary quickly progressed to playing songs on the guitar, but with a twist. He played the guitar like a bass! Younger brothers and sisters also developed musical talents, drumming, singing and playing keyboards. At times, the Dows were their own band. But the Brooklyn communities and neighborhoods of the 60s and 70s over flowed with an abundance of musical talent. Sammy Gordon and the Hiphuggers, James Blood Ulmer, Crown Heights Affair, BT Express, the Strikers, the Fatback Band, the Web Caribbean band, the New Breeds, Maceo Parker lived on Halsey Street and a host of other musicians playing that driving Brooklyn sound. It was hard core funk! Already a seasoned musician at 17, an audition call for a bass player reached Gary’s ears. He went, he played, he got the gig. His instructions were to learn the songs, rehearse and prepare to leave on tour in a few weeks. The band was Cameo. Larry Blackmon was the leader, mentor, and friend. Here was the pivotal shift from smoke filled local nightclubs and dance halls to premier concert venues, festivals and world class recording studios. Barely out of high school, Gary Dow had arrived in Cameo, providing a platform of funky bass licks still in demand and imitated today! In the late 70s, Cameo was opening act for Parliament Funkadelic, Mother’s Finest, Kool and the Gang, Frankie Beverly and Maze and a dazzling array of seasoned, working bands on the Billboard charts. After Cameo, Gary went on to tour with a variety Artists: Lillo Thomas, Melba Moore, Keith Sweat, Force MDs, New Edition, Allison Williams, Durrell Coleman, Bennie King, Lloyd Price and Common Sense. These were the headliners. His groups were opening acts for Gerald Levert, Eddie Murphy, Guy and Earth Wind and Fire. He traveled to Italy and recorded a double platinum album for Italian superstar Renato Zero. Gary also contributed to Debby Gibson’s first album - Out of the Blue - which received multi platinum status. Back in Brooklyn, Gary worked with local acts, shaping new grooves or retooling arrangements on cover songs for other artist. Ty Stephens, the Dubs, Vivian Prince, Ozzie Collins, Lloyd Price, Loretta Divine, Ben E. King, Howard Kenny, Lonnie Berry. There were many songs Gary had yet to write. He pursued production and developed the skills. Ben Checkit recruited Gary to work remakes of top 40 songs with funky arrangements. This culminated in the successful “Stars On 45” series of records. The unstoppable Gary Dow, innovative, creative, the driving force of funk, now and forever.Gary Dow
Born in Roxbury Massachusetts to Geneva (Bacote) and Julius Prince, Vivian is the youngest of 3 siblings and the only girl. She was destined to sing. Throughout childhood she joined local performance groups, a girls drum and bugle marching band, school orchestra playing flute and tuba, and community singing groups participating in every talent show she could enter. After high school, Vivian worked with the Uptights, Sounds of the City and a few other local bands. Margo Sylvia, had a hit with the song “Happy Happy Birthday Baby,” took interest and became a mentor. Best advice, “Never give up!!” So on that note, she moved to LA in the height of the disco craze. Vivian learned about the business in California. Though only in LA for two years, she moved to New York. New York was the charm! Vivian was able to apply in New York what she learned in California. Musicians now worked to play her original songs. Rickie Byars (Beckwith) wrote original songs and played many venues in New York. Their friendship culminated in a project for Profile Records. Vivian was signed by Profile and “Gotta Getta Hold On You” was released, Rickie introduced Vivian to Edwin Birdsong. This meeting led to a girl-group “Eighties Ladies”. Roy Ayers produced the Eighties Ladies and released an album on his Uno Melodic Records label. Roy later chose Vivian to sing in his band, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, and record on his album for Polygram Records. Latin composer and percussionist Steve Kroon, hired Vivian to work on both his recordings and live shows. Steve became a percussionist for Luther Vandross. An opportunity arose within Luther’s band to fill a vacancy as a backup vocalist. As a mom, Vivian chose to stay close to home to care for her kids. Busy singing for Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, anniversaries, dinner dances, Masons and Shriners events, NAACP galas, political fundraisers, telethons, Jazz Mobile dates, street fairs, Harlem Week festivities and award shows, Vivian juggled kids, a 9-5 job and music. She continued to write songs, perform studio session work, subbed for background singers and occasionally work jingles. Early on in her relocation to New York, she met Gary Dow. Gary was busy touring with Cameo and other bands, but found time to work with Vivian performing her songs.
VIVIAN PRINCE
MY STORY
VIVIAN PRINCE
MY STORY
DOW-PRINCEPLE
OUR STORY
March 16, 1995, Vivian and Gary became husband and wife. In a small apartment north of New York City, Gary had clientele traveling to his new location to record songs. Gary had a variety of bass guitars, sound racks, modules, amplifiers and speakers. Vivian had a four track recording machine, microphones, speakers and a space on the enclosed porch that also housed the washer and dryer. This was the studio. Hot in the summer, they would cease recording to fight insects and bees. Cold in the winter, recording was interrupted due to the white noise from the radiator that would run its course heating the space. The two forged ahead with songwriting and production. Together, they formed a five piece band called “Pointe Blanque,” playing local venues in the tri-state area. Many wonderful musicians Ray Chew, Bobby Douglas, John Adams, Danny Atherton, Kevin Johnson, Derrick Baines, Tony Lewis, Abe Fogle, Mike Torres, Joe Ham, Kevin Williams, Ralph Roll, E.J. Haughton, Mike Cash, Tony Tillman, Abdul Zuri, Dave Lavender, Danny Marx, Poogie Bell, Bernard Davis, Phil Nix, Harvey Morris, LA Blacksmith, E.J. Sharpe, Rico Tyler, Damon Upshaw, Fred McFarland, Alon, Mooney Pusey, Fabienne Miranda, Chet Soarez, Jimmie Smith, and others, worked with Pointe Blanque.
Pointe Blanque played for medical facilities in the greater New York area. In one particular nursing home were long-term terminal patients suffering from the AIDS epidemic. The patients requested Pointe Blanque to play several times a year.
A name change was in the works as discovery of other “Point Blank” bands were in full operation around the country. Combining the two last names Dow and Prince, Dow-Princeple was born.
It took a long time to record this, our first title, “Relief” on the Dow-Princeple Music label. We could not have completed this without sincere gratitude and appreciation for the following: Lee Evans, Engineer, drum programming and keyboards (Jambox Studios), Joe Ham, Engineer, drums and drum programming (Hamitup Productions), Michael D’agostino, Engineer, drums, percussions, gong (Rockburn Studio), Patrick Adams, Engineer, mixing, Richard Blakin, Engineer, mixing, Stan Snider, vocals, Mike Campbell, guitar (RIP), Ronny Drayton, guitar, Bernie Davis, drums, Bobby Douglas, keyboards and vocals, Onaje Allen Gumbs, keyboards, Wayne Cobham, trumpet and flugelhorn, and Jimmie Smith, keyboards (RIP). Our music is a blend of funk, R&B, rock, jazz and eclectic elements, that appeal to a broader cross-section of the listening public. Our emphasis is on musicianship, the human touch and positive lyrics. We enjoy working with an array of musicians whose talents enhance each song. This is a work in progress. More songs will be added to complete our first EP.
Like fellow musicians Larry Graham, Prince, George Benson, Rebbie Jackson and others, Vivian and Gary have also been very involved in volunteer work as Jehovah’s Witnesses since 1995.
We welcome you and are pleased that you join us on our musical journey. So much more lies ahead. Today it is so important that people have the option to find music that will uplift their spirits. We hope through our music you find fun, encouragement and peace.