Carlos Balcells

Carlos Balcells, is a Filipino bass guitar player. Balcells is most notable for his work as bass guitarist for the rock band The Dawn. He joined the band during the late 1980s when their original bass player, Clay Luna, left for the United States. In 2003, Balcells was in turn replaced by Mon Legaspi, bass player for Wolfgang 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Balcells accessed 24th September 2013

CARLOS BALCELLS The Dawn


Note: We are featuring Caloy Balcells because The Dawn is currently promoting their latest album after several years of hybernation. Catch and witness the extra ordinary style of a Filipino Bass Player in thier gigs all over town. It is also Caloy's B-day on Jan 15!

Anybody who grew up with the music of the 80s surely remembers those bass grooves laid by Caloy Balcells of the Dawn. From the funky grooves of "alam ko, alam n'yo" to the anthemic "salamat" and "envelope ideas", the bass part was always important. Even with the captivating "give me the night", it was always caloy who made the song happen.

"Somehow, since I was a kid, I have always liked the low bass frequencies, thatis why probably I have been destined to be a bass player. As I recall, I would usually stay close to the bass baffle just to feel the rumble of the music in disco venues. I never really imagined that I would end up to be a musician, though I would always approach the bands playing whenever I would hear the music"

"As I remember, I grew up with the music of the 70s being played by my brother who was into rock music like the Doobie Brothers, Rolling Stones, Moody Blues, Iron Butterfly, I would also listen to classical music that my Dad would play like Beethoveen, Mozart, Wagner, and the like."

Caloy has 3 bass guitars to his disposal: a Steinberger Headless, a Rickenbacker 4001 and a rare Ibanez Musician. He uses GHS light gauge bass strings a runs his line to a Korg A4 Bass Multi Effects. His musical influences includes Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Billy Sheehan, John Pattitucci, U2 Michael Manring and Stuart Hamm. he listens to all kinds of music especally jazz, rock, classical, latin and trance.

Source: http://www.basspage.20m.com/botmjan.html accessed 24th September 2013 see also www.thedawn.com