"TTFFOJO.BLJOH.VTJD.BHB[JOF www.MakingMusicMag.com osh Kantor has proudly served as organ RED SOX Take Me Out to Jist for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway - Park since 2003, where he performs on a Yamaha Electone AR-100. Aside from his job at the ballpark, Kantor works as a librarian and enjoys playing, recording, and composing music the Ballgame with friends. A true multi-instrumentalist he BY CHERIE YURCO also plays piano, accordion, upright bass, guitar, banjo, melodica, and harmonica. QAccording to Gary Pressy, current organist for the prerecorded rock and pop tracks, you might be surprised by how many clubs still have live organists at every game. This spring Kantor also performed on several Chicago Cubs, his club was the first to bring an organist ESPN SportsCenter broadcasts and at Austin’s into the ballpark in April 1941. That was just a one-time For longtime fans, the sound of the organist is as much a South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in a gimmick, however, and the organist didn’t become part of the game as homeruns and hotdogs. He or she con- handful of concerts with the indie-rock group a permanent part of the Cubs’ roster until 1967, he nects with them in a very personal way that canned music The Baseball Project, featuring Steve Wynn, explains. The trend grew from there until most of the just cannot. And a rousing 7th inning rendition of “Take Me Scott McCaughey, Linda Pitmon, and Peter Out to the Ballgame” brings fans to their feet as quickly as Buck. clubs had full-time organists. During this heyday, it was a home team home run. routine for the organists to have a different “at bat” Kantor has also contributed to many CD re So, sitting behind the keyboard at ball clubs from the New cordings, scored several short - Josh Kantor, 38 song to play to introduce each member of the home #lms, and plays team. York Yankees to the Florida Marlins are some very hardwork- piano, organ, and accordion in the band Jim’s Best ballpark memory: ing musicians who are just as dedicated to baseball as they Big Ego. “From childhood, there are too many to name. But, time moves on and changing culture meant a reduc- are to music. We’ve pro!led a few here. Gary Pressy’s pro!le From adulthood, it would be the 2004 playo!s.” tion in the role of the organist as the hub of entertainment and a few additional ones can be found online at www. at the games. Though today most of the “at bat” songs are MakingMusicMag.com/baseball-organists. aul Cartier has shared the position YANKEES of organist for the New York Yankees - ori Moreland became organist for the with Ed Astrom for the past eight sea Chicago White Sox this spring, following Psons. Cartier works the weekday games. Astrom L the retirement of the team’s longtime organist Nancy Faust. She is also organist for Our works the weekend games, while Cartier!c controller works his other full-time job as an air tra Lady of Knock Roman Catholic Church in Calumet for the FAA. City, Illinois. “I always start o" the night with ‘New York, New Moreland, who began playing organ at age seven, York’,” says Cartier. “I love to hear the crowd sing says that “My Kind of Town (Chicago Is)” is her along.” favorite ballpark song. At home, in Crete, Illinois, she plays a Roland EP85 electric piano, a Yamaha Cartier also plays organ at all New York Islander E5 organ, and a Yamaha PSR keyboard. The Cel home games and at Our Lady of Hope Catholic - lular Field instrument is a Technics. - Church in Carle Place, New York. He is a volun teer firefighter and fire commissioner for the Moreland has been a three-time Mid-West repre South Hempstead Fire District. In his free time, sentative for the National Yamaha Competition,- he enjoys boating and camping with his family securing the second place spot for two consecu Paul Cartier, 52 in the Poconos. tive years. - Best ballpark memory: Cartier #rst began playing organ at age 10. At When not making music, Moreland also enjoys home, he’s set up an exact replica of what he reading, watching sporting events, and travel “When the Yankees clinched the Champion- Lori Moreland, 52 ing with her husband, John, and her two sons, - ship in 2009. At the end of the game I just performs on at Yankee Stadium—a Hammond Best ballpark memory: John and Scott. sat there and took it all in—the crowd, the Elegante organ with a Yamaha Tyros. “I also have players, the celebration, and eventually, the a Roland electric piano right next to it,” he adds. “Watching my children having a blast on Kids Day at the baseball park.” Championship Parade in NYC. So surreal!” WHITE SOX 16 JULY/AUGUST 2011 www.MakingMusicMag.com 17 ohn Schutte is in his second season as organist for the Cincinnati Reds, but the team’s tradition J of using an organist started long before. “There John was an organ at Cincinnati’s old Crosley Field, so I would guess we’ve had organists since at least the- ’50s,” he says. The ballpark’s current organ is a Bald win Super Pro 222 built in Cincinnati. Fulton Schutte, who is also a full-time firefighter and - From the weird to the wacky and paramedic, has collected quite a few musical instru from the curious and cuddly, cat- ments over the years. “Ask my wife and she’ll tell you obsessed, Must Love Cats host— REDS I have one of everything,” he says. “I have had a baby and musician—John Fulton travels grand piano for years that I like to play, and recentlyGreat to each corner of the United States I purchased the same model organ that’s at making music and searching for American Ballpark, so I can practice my ‘Charge!’ in amazing cats, their stories, and " season.” the o their interesting owners. Schutte is also a member of the rock cover band The John Schutte, 46 Rusty Griswolds. Since becoming the Reds’ organist,- Best ballpark memory: he has focused on widening the appeal of the ball I started playing the alto saxo- “One of my "rst games as organist was on park organ by adapting rock for organ and bringing phone at age nine, but didn’t start writ- Mother’s Day. My family was there and while I in synthesizers and drum machines to expand the ing songs on the guitar until I was about was playing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame,’ the number and types of sounds available. 19 years old. crew split the scoreboard in half showing me on I’ve played alto, tenor, and bari- one half and my family singing on the other.” tone saxophone as a kid, and then guitar in high school. I mostly play acoustic and electric guitar now with some piano. Get me a triangle, and the party starts. The first time I picked a guitar up, it felt right, different, and new. It was ditties” and made instrumental versions of Sometimes I’ll just work on solo made of wood and I could sing instead them to connect the stories. I tried to take pieces, other times I’ll focus on a cer- ick “Janz” Jankowski, of Orlando, MARLINS of worrying about a broken reed. I could Florida, has been ballpark organist the Neil Young “don’t force it” approach so tain lick in a song. play chords and bend and have electronic the songs feel more natural and genuine. In for the Florida Marlins since the team For Must Love Cats, I usually read the D options. I could see where the notes were, certain cases, the producer would recom- was established in 1993. At the Marlin’s Sun Life outline of the story, then try to write a and it looked cooler than playing tenor in mend a song where I hadn’t thought of Stadium he performs on a Casio CTK-620L Midi couple of songs for that, and go with the the school band. one and vice versa. keyboard with rhythm. one I can remember in the morning. The A professional performer almost his entire adult Kitty was my first cat, and although I was inspired to write the theme comedy songs are more difficult because life, prior to working for the Marlins, he was the I’ve also had a dog, I like how cats are so song for Must Love Cats by the stories that they are not only longer, but you have to Atlanta Braves’ spring training organist for 16 years smart and that they’re hunters. Kitty was a we were seeing. I knew it had to be upbeat create the story. Those sessions can take and played organ for the Orlando Rays AA team big fan of me, so that goes far when you’re and catchy. It’s funny that my shortest song a lot longer. In certain cases, I’ll get the is the most well known. at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Stadium for four 10 years old. idea while I’m away from my guitar, so years. His favorite ballpark tune is the classic “Take Animal Planet knew that I wrote Some of the cats enjoy my music I’ll sing them into my phone and come Me Out to the Ballgame.” songs and was interested to see what and will even dance. Others say I’m out of back.