BIOGRAPHIES
AL JACQUEZ
(VOCALS, GUITAR, HARMONICA)
Al was born in New York City, but grew up just outside of Detroit.
At an early age his French-born grandparents exposed him to many forms of "proper" music; classical, opera, and jazz. Popular radio
fed his curiosity for more when he discovered blues, soul and rock. This eclectic beginning echoes in Al's writing and performing today.
Throughout his teens he was a lead singer and
guitarist (think Otis Redding swinging a Gibson Firebird) until his big break at 18
when he switched to bass and was best known as the voice of SAVAGE GRACE,
releasing two albums on Reprise Records.
Spending 2 years on the west coast with SAVAGE GRACE, Al returned to the
Detroit area to join forces with Scott Morgan and Terry Trabandt (both of
THE RATIONALS fame) to create GUARDIAN ANGEL. Guardian Angel released one
single, "High Jackin' Love" but never lived up to its "supergroup"
status. After the departure of Morgan and Trabandt, the band shifted
gears and became LIGHTNIN' with the addition of bass player and singer
Mark Gougeon. After Lightnin's untimely demise, (remember disco?) Al began
a musical partnership with guitarist Mark Tomorsky. Together they co-wrote
a catalog of songs, toured Europe and co-produced musical fund raising
events for the US OLYMPIC COMMITTEE.
In the early 80's Jacquez moved back to Los Angeles from Detroit. Tomorsky soon followed him to L.A. where they
continued to write and perform as CUSTOM EYES for several years.
Desiring a less hectic pace to raise a family, Al relocated back to the
Detroit area. He found work as the front
man for THE SUSPECTS, a popular Detroit area horn band, where he met
drummer Bill Gordon.
Upon re-releasing the complete SAVAGE GRACE catalog in the
early 90's, he teamed up with former SG guitarist Ron Koss and former
Lightnin' bassist Mark Gougeon to write and record a third SAVAGE GRACE album, entitled "One Night In America"
on 33 1/3 Records. Bill Gordon was brought in to play drums,
rounding out the new line-up.
By the mid 90's Al was doing commercial work and concentrating on his
writing. You can hear his signature vocal contributions for the big three
automakers and on recordings by SAVAGE GRACE, LIGHTNIN', BURNING CIRCLE,
THE SUSPECTS, and THE MILLER BROTHERS BAND.
MARK TOMORSKY
(GUITAR, VOCALS) 
Mark began his musical journey in Michigan as an
aspiring actor, working in many local productions with Al Jacquez's
brother, Nick. It was through Nick, that he met Al and became a fan of
LIGHTNIN'. Choosing music over acting he emulated that group with one of
his own called THE AFTER HOURS BAND that included Mark Gougeon's brother
Don on keyboards, Scott Morgan's brother John on drums and Tommy Miller
of THE MILLER BROTHERS BAND on bass.
When THE AFTER HOURS BAND had run its course, Mark left performing and
assembled a small demo studio. He also began his unofficial residency as
the "house guitarist" for the SECOND CHANCE, a tri-level show bar with a
national stage in Ann Arbor, MI, sitting in with any and every band that
would let him.
Around the time he began his musical partnership with Al, he started
playing guitar in a jazz-rock fusion group called VANTAGE POINT! Tommy
Miller was the bassist and brought Mark into the band. Band mate Stephen
Bray was the drummer on VP!'s first European tour. He left shortly after
to write and produce in New York with MADONNA.
Tomorsky then toured Europe a second time with VANTAGE POINT! including a
performance at the MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL with WEATHER REPORT. The second
tour brought Jacquez aboard to add vocals to their previously instrumental
compositions. Once back in the states the duo produced fund raising
musical events for the U.S.O.C. that culminated in performances for the 1980 WINTER OLYMPICS in Lake Placid, NY.
Mark left VANTAGE POINT! after releasing one single, "All Night" and their
subsequent recordings failed to realize their potential. He followed Al
to Los Angeles to continue working together. They formed CUSTOM EYES and hit the LA club scene, wrote and recorded a couple of albums worth of material, but were unable to land a major record deal. Mark stayed on the west coast after
Jacquez returned to Detroit to raise a family. He found some success
touring the United States extensively as a supporting player and along the way played with MARK LINDSAY (PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS,) THE GRASS ROOTS, THE TURTLES, SPENCER DAVIS, GENE CLARK (The BYRDS,) IKE TURNER, DREW ABBOTT (SILVER BULLET BAND.)
Starting a family himself in the late 80's he left the road, but continued
to write and produce. He released a CD with COOL ROOM (featuring DAVE MEROS - ERIC BURDON, SPOCK'S BEARD,) in the early 90's.
Mark also wrote and recorded for film and television with
LITTLE RICHARD, BILLY PRESTON and composers CHRIS "Whitey" ANDERSON and CARL SCHURTZ.
The late nineties found him producing an annual music festival in the
mountains of Southern California, as well as producing songwriter demos
and playing clubs in various disguises.
When a family vacation brought the Jacquez family through Los Angeles in
2001, their collaboration began anew with possibilities of Mark joining Al
in Michigan for some post SAVAGE GRACE gigs. Those early gigs were the
beginning of MEASURED CHAOS.
Tomorsky produced, co-wrote, played guitar and bass on "Tales From Foundry Town" by former Detroiters, THE MILLER BROTHERS BAND. The disc was well received by critics in the US and Europe and Mark is currently co-writing and arranging new material for their sophomore release.
MARK GOUGEON
(BASS, VOCALS)
Mark fronted several popular Detroit area bands
before connecting with former SAVAGE GRACE front man Al Jacquez to form
LIGHTNIN'. It was during this period that he also met Mark Tomorsky who
had become a regular fixture around the scene with his group, THE AFTER HOURS BAND, that featured his brother Don (later of THE ASSOCIATION) on keyboards. When LIGHTNIN' ran it's
course, he went on to play and record with MITCH RYDER for over a decade,
releasing many of Mitch's best post-DETROIT WHEELS records, including
"Never Kick A Sleeping Dog" produced by JOHN MELLENCAMP. Along the way he
found himself rubbing elbows and working with musicians like STEVIE RAY VAUHGAN and JAMIE JAMES of THE KINGBEES. He toured the States and Europe
extensively during his tenure with Mitch and still retains many fans there
as a result.
He left the road in the late 80's to raise a family and to
concentrate on writing. It was then that the third SAVAGE GRACE project
appeared and he was back in the saddle, again. After "SAVAGE GRACE - One Night In America" Mark
semi-retired until the call came for MEASURED CHAOS in 2002.
BILL GORDON
(DRUMS)
Bill was born and raised in the City of Detroit
and grew up listening to the fatback sounds of Motown. Marrying that
influence with the raw edge of Detroit Rock resulted in his love for deep
grooves and a solid, driving drum style. At one point in his career, that
marriage of styles made him the drummer of choice for such high profile
clubs like Detroit's famous "Pontchartrain" Hotel.
Bill began working with Al Jacquez in THE SUSPECTS after Al's return to
Michigan from Los Angeles in the mid 80's releasing "Boys Out Late" in
early '89. He collaborated again with Al on the "SAVAGE GRACE - One Night In America" disc that
included original SG guitarist Ron Koss and LIGHTNIN's Mark Gougeon. Over
time he has logged road and studio miles with rockabilly hero JOHNNY POWERS, THE SUSPECTS,
CARL PERKINS, SAVAGE GRACE, THE REFLECTIONS, and FRIGID PINK.
(photos: Julian Konwinski)
BIOGRAPHIES
AL JACQUEZ
(VOCALS, GUITAR, HARMONICA)
Al was born in New York City, but grew up just outside of Detroit. At an early age his French-born grandparents exposed him to many forms of "proper" music; classical, opera, and jazz. Popular radio fed his curiosity for more when he discovered blues, soul and rock. This eclectic beginning echoes in Al's writing and performing today.
Throughout his teens he was a lead singer and guitarist (think Otis Redding swinging a Gibson Firebird) until his big break at 18 when he switched to bass and was best known as the voice of SAVAGE GRACE, releasing two albums on Reprise Records.
Spending 2 years on the west coast with SAVAGE GRACE, Al returned to the Detroit area to join forces with Scott Morgan and Terry Trabandt (both of THE RATIONALS fame) to create GUARDIAN ANGEL. Guardian Angel released one single, "High Jackin' Love" but never lived up to its "supergroup" status. After the departure of Morgan and Trabandt, the band shifted gears and became LIGHTNIN' with the addition of bass player and singer Mark Gougeon. After Lightnin's untimely demise, (remember disco?) Al began a musical partnership with guitarist Mark Tomorsky. Together they co-wrote a catalog of songs, toured Europe and co-produced musical fund raising events for the US OLYMPIC COMMITTEE.
In the early 80's Jacquez moved back to Los Angeles from Detroit. Tomorsky soon followed him to L.A. where they continued to write and perform as CUSTOM EYES for several years.
Desiring a less hectic pace to raise a family, Al relocated back to the Detroit area. He found work as the front man for THE SUSPECTS, a popular Detroit area horn band, where he met drummer Bill Gordon.
Upon re-releasing the complete SAVAGE GRACE catalog in the early 90's, he teamed up with former SG guitarist Ron Koss and former Lightnin' bassist Mark Gougeon to write and record a third SAVAGE GRACE album, entitled "One Night In America" on 33 1/3 Records. Bill Gordon was brought in to play drums, rounding out the new line-up.
By the mid 90's Al was doing commercial work and concentrating on his writing. You can hear his signature vocal contributions for the big three automakers and on recordings by SAVAGE GRACE, LIGHTNIN', BURNING CIRCLE, THE SUSPECTS, and THE MILLER BROTHERS BAND.
MARK TOMORSKY
(GUITAR, VOCALS)
Mark began his musical journey in Michigan as an aspiring actor, working in many local productions with Al Jacquez's brother, Nick. It was through Nick, that he met Al and became a fan of LIGHTNIN'. Choosing music over acting he emulated that group with one of his own called THE AFTER HOURS BAND that included Mark Gougeon's brother Don on keyboards, Scott Morgan's brother John on drums and Tommy Miller of THE MILLER BROTHERS BAND on bass.
When THE AFTER HOURS BAND had run its course, Mark left performing and assembled a small demo studio. He also began his unofficial residency as the "house guitarist" for the SECOND CHANCE, a tri-level show bar with a national stage in Ann Arbor, MI, sitting in with any and every band that would let him.
Around the time he began his musical partnership with Al, he started playing guitar in a jazz-rock fusion group called VANTAGE POINT! Tommy Miller was the bassist and brought Mark into the band. Band mate Stephen Bray was the drummer on VP!'s first European tour. He left shortly after to write and produce in New York with MADONNA.
Tomorsky then toured Europe a second time with VANTAGE POINT! including a performance at the MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL with WEATHER REPORT. The second tour brought Jacquez aboard to add vocals to their previously instrumental compositions. Once back in the states the duo produced fund raising musical events for the U.S.O.C. that culminated in performances for the 1980 WINTER OLYMPICS in Lake Placid, NY.
Mark left VANTAGE POINT! after releasing one single, "All Night" and their subsequent recordings failed to realize their potential. He followed Al to Los Angeles to continue working together. They formed CUSTOM EYES and hit the LA club scene, wrote and recorded a couple of albums worth of material, but were unable to land a major record deal. Mark stayed on the west coast after Jacquez returned to Detroit to raise a family. He found some success touring the United States extensively as a supporting player and along the way played with MARK LINDSAY (PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS,) THE GRASS ROOTS, THE TURTLES, SPENCER DAVIS, GENE CLARK (The BYRDS,) IKE TURNER, DREW ABBOTT (SILVER BULLET BAND.)
Starting a family himself in the late 80's he left the road, but continued to write and produce. He released a CD with COOL ROOM (featuring DAVE MEROS - ERIC BURDON, SPOCK'S BEARD,) in the early 90's. Mark also wrote and recorded for film and television with LITTLE RICHARD, BILLY PRESTON and composers CHRIS "Whitey" ANDERSON and CARL SCHURTZ.
The late nineties found him producing an annual music festival in the mountains of Southern California, as well as producing songwriter demos and playing clubs in various disguises.
When a family vacation brought the Jacquez family through Los Angeles in 2001, their collaboration began anew with possibilities of Mark joining Al in Michigan for some post SAVAGE GRACE gigs. Those early gigs were the beginning of MEASURED CHAOS.
Tomorsky produced, co-wrote, played guitar and bass on "Tales From Foundry Town" by former Detroiters, THE MILLER BROTHERS BAND. The disc was well received by critics in the US and Europe and Mark is currently co-writing and arranging new material for their sophomore release.
MARK GOUGEON
(BASS, VOCALS)
Mark fronted several popular Detroit area bands before connecting with former SAVAGE GRACE front man Al Jacquez to form LIGHTNIN'. It was during this period that he also met Mark Tomorsky who had become a regular fixture around the scene with his group, THE AFTER HOURS BAND, that featured his brother Don (later of THE ASSOCIATION) on keyboards. When LIGHTNIN' ran it's course, he went on to play and record with MITCH RYDER for over a decade, releasing many of Mitch's best post-DETROIT WHEELS records, including "Never Kick A Sleeping Dog" produced by JOHN MELLENCAMP. Along the way he found himself rubbing elbows and working with musicians like STEVIE RAY VAUHGAN and JAMIE JAMES of THE KINGBEES. He toured the States and Europe extensively during his tenure with Mitch and still retains many fans there as a result.
He left the road in the late 80's to raise a family and to concentrate on writing. It was then that the third SAVAGE GRACE project appeared and he was back in the saddle, again. After "SAVAGE GRACE - One Night In America" Mark semi-retired until the call came for MEASURED CHAOS in 2002.
BILL GORDON
(DRUMS)
Bill was born and raised in the City of Detroit and grew up listening to the fatback sounds of Motown. Marrying that influence with the raw edge of Detroit Rock resulted in his love for deep grooves and a solid, driving drum style. At one point in his career, that marriage of styles made him the drummer of choice for such high profile clubs like Detroit's famous "Pontchartrain" Hotel.
Bill began working with Al Jacquez in THE SUSPECTS after Al's return to Michigan from Los Angeles in the mid 80's releasing "Boys Out Late" in early '89. He collaborated again with Al on the "SAVAGE GRACE - One Night In America" disc that included original SG guitarist Ron Koss and LIGHTNIN's Mark Gougeon. Over time he has logged road and studio miles with rockabilly hero JOHNNY POWERS, THE SUSPECTS, CARL PERKINS, SAVAGE GRACE, THE REFLECTIONS, and FRIGID PINK.
(photos: Julian Konwinski)