Some autobiographical information about Allen Wentz:
"Born in Detroit, and I've been making noise since I was 9 years old. Started with an OLD record player in the basement, listening to my parents 78s and 45s, of dixieland and the crooners of the day. The first record I ever owned was Tutti-Frutti. Raw, youthful abandonment and I was so young the lyrics made me laugh my ass off. Great fun. Then the theme song from "Peter Gunn" introduced me to the sensual powers of music. Then "The Warmth of The Sun" and "I'll Follow The Sun" showed me the warmth (no pun intended) and beauty. I learned to play everything I could get my hands, fingers, mouth on. Wanted to be a morph of John, Paul and Brian Wilson rolled into one person. Then I got my hands on a cassette recorder which turned into two cassettes so I could "multi-track". Then a 4-track Teac. Always in bands, sometimes 2 or 3 at a time. Ended up in Ohio in a band called Wild Cherry. Reached critical mass with "Play That Funky Music", and the attendant Grammy nods, and gold and platinum spray-painted wall hangings. It was quick. (Better to have been there once than not at all!) Worked as NYC session musician for a number of years. Tried on a few different hats, including way too much computer stuff, but cannot stop making music. Now I just turn on a couple of computers, plug in a microphone and play. I hope you enjoy it."
Influences and inspiration from (but certainly not limited to) :
beethoven, bach, stravinsky, pee wee hunt, boots randolph, pete fountain, al hirt, richard penniman, liberace, johnny horton, henry mancini, beatles, hollies, beach boys, yardbirds, animals, dylan, bowie, paul butterfield, mamas & papas, kinks, who, 4 seasons, byrds, hendrix, cream, knickerbockers, band, joni mitchell, todd rundgren, zappa, steve winwood, john mayall, ledzep, pink floyd, chet atkins, 10cc, steely dan, eagles, kate bush, herbie hancock, devo, wendy carlos, police, gary numan, kraftwerk, gabriel, alanis morrisette, beck, ani difranco
So what does "Out of Warranty" sound like? Well, like Gabriel, Floyd, Beatles, Hollies, Knopfler, Dylan, Beck, Wilson, Eagles... "I am a synthesis of all that I've ingested. Sometimes obvious, sometimes not."
Discography:
"I Can't Make It By Myself"/"Its Her I Love" by The Cadds. 45rpm single on Universal Sound. Both songs co-written by Allen. If anyone has one of these please contact me immediately!
As bassist/vocalist/synthesist with Wild Cherry (Sony/CBS/Epic/Sweet City)- "Wild Cherry" 1976 (included the monster, world-wide, mega smash hit, #1 single "Play That Funky Music"), "Electrified Funk" 1977, "I Love My Music" 1978
As producer- Paul Rogers (Overnight Music)- "Paul Rogers" 1996
As technical consultant- Cyndi Lauper (Epic/Sony)- "Sisters of Avalon" 1996
As artist- "Love & Technology" by WireWorld. 1999
"Out of Warranty"- Allen Wentz- 2005
As session synthesizer/sequencer player- Lots of Ze Records artists, including Garcons, Lizzy Mercier, Kid Creole, Lydia Lunch • Roberta Flack (soundtrack for "Bustin' Loose") • Marshall Crenshaw • Carol Douglas • Bunny Sigler • Patrick Adams • Many of the original Suger Hill records including the Sugerhill Gang, etc • tons of jingles, station IDs, electronic logos, etc.
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. The insight into the mystery of life, coupled though it be with fear, has also given rise to religion. To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms - this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness." -- Albert Einstein