George Puleo - Buffalo, NY

George Puleo is a Buffalo music icon whose guitar playing never fails to entertain, amaze and impress. His latest musical project is the jazz fusion powerhouse The Damone Jackson Outcome. The band is currently working a new album called Unstable. George has lent his guitar playing talents to many recording projects recently and has released albums with Haiku, The Need, Gamalon as well as releasing a solo album. My first musical memory of George was seeing him sit in with The Tweeds (Talas). I wanted to share some of George's musical insight and his unique outlook on the world of music. George agreed to do an interview for me and I am happy to share it with you on my music blog. 

1. Please describe your first musical memory: Watching The Beatles live on the Ed Sullivan show with my 2 older sisters in Feb. 1964. 

2. Who or what influenced you to start playing the guitar?: A 1-string plastic toy guitar I found in the alleyway on the way to school when I was 5.

3. Who are your favorite musicians and bands from the past and present?: John McGlaughlin, Alphonso Johnson, Damone Jackson, Jimi Hendrix!

4. Is there any song or musical passage that never fails to move you?: The Look Of Love by Dusty Springfield.

5. What is your favorite guitar and amplifier? My modified Strat (Strats in general) and my Roland JC120/90.

6. What musicians would you be anxious to meet, past or present? Jimi Hendrix, Robert Plant, Seal.

7. How would you describe your perfect day (musically or otherwise): Feeling appreciated, No Drama, Good Food! and jamming with the Damone Jackson Outcome.

8. How long have you been playing/performing with the guitar? 50+ years.

9. What is your next musical project? The 2nd release from the Damone Jackson Outcome which is almost done!!

10. How do you stay inspired? Gratitude.

11. Where can fans buy your music? Record Baron, 3048 Delaware Ave., Kenmore N.Y. 14217, Noon - 6pm Tues. thru Saturday. Discogs and all digital platforms. 

The latest release from The Damone Jackson Outcome is Unstable, which was released on 5/26/21.

Check out this Damone Jackson Outcome livestream from Asbury Hall at Babeville from 9- 30- 20.

The Damone Jackson Outcome band members:

George Puleo-Guitar

Jason Moynihan- Guitar, Saxophone, and Ewi

Jack Kulp-Fretless Bass

Damone Jackson- Drums

Some of George's musical highlights include ... 

HAIKU. Haiku included local musicians Jim Wynne on Bass and Keyboards, Hugh Arthur on Drums, George Puleo on Guitar and Spencer Bolden on Percussion. Track listing includes, Univibe, Diamond Butterfly, That Summer Night, Chasing Jeff Beck Down A Dark Alley With A Loaded Guitar, Silkie and Tempest. Artwork is from Haiku's 2013 self-titled release.

The NEED were an award-winning rock band from Buffalo, New York. In 1992, Sue Kincaid (vocals), John Caruso (bass), George Puleo (guitars) and Jim Linsner (drums) he formed a group, simply called The Need. Their first release was a self-titled cassette in 1993. In 1995, with the help of Larry Swist (Spyro Gyro recording engineer), they released "It's A Beautiful Thing". In 1996 The Need released the self-produced album "From the Heart". They spent the next two years touring the Northeast, building a following where ever they performed. In 1998 they released "Wish", their most memorable work to date produced by Armand Petri (Goo Goo Dolls and 10,000 Maniacs). Cover art below.

Sue Kincaid - Lead Vocal, Percussion

George Puleo - Electric, Acoustic & Baritone Guitars

John Caruso - Basses & Backing Vocals

Jim Linsner - Drums & Percussion

In 1993 George had the opportunity to record some songs that were not at all right for Gamalon with keyboardist Bob Volkman @ John Valby's studio, the end result was puleo so low. The cover photo is from Gamalon opening up for Larry Coryell in Rochester, N.Y. @ the Red Creek in 1991 or 92. George on guitar & bass/Bob volkman on keyboards/Reggie evans on drum sounds. http://cdbaby.com/cd/puleo2

GAMALON was a progressive/jazz-rock fusion band from Buffalo, NY founded by Ted Reinhardt, George Puleo, and Bruce Brucato. Albums were recorded from the late 1980s to late 1990s, with the band performing with various line-ups until 2012. 

Biography:

In 1982, Brucato and Reinhardt joined forces with Puleo and Greg Piontek and Rick McGirr to create Gamelon. In the mid-1980s, the classic line up of Puleo, Brucato, Ted Reinhardt, and brother Tom Reinhardt was formed, re-spelling their name to the more phonetically pleasing Gamalon. This lineup released their self-titled debut album Gamalon in 1987 (cover art below). Following that release the lineup was augmented by violinist Geoff Perry. They went on to record Aerial View and High Contrast. In 1995, Puleo left the band and was replaced by Tony Scozzaro. This lineup recorded one album, Held to the Light. After Scozzaro left, guitar duties were handled by Nori Bucci and Dave Schmeidler. After bassist Tom Reinhardt left the band, he was replaced at various times by Jim Wynne and Jack Kulp, before returning to the lineup in the 2000's.

The band played a reunion show in 2012 in New York with the classic 4-piece lineup.

Bruce Brucato died on January 15, 2014.

On March 4, 2015, founding and core member Ted Reinhardt died in a plane crash. Reinhardt has also played with Rodan , Taxi, Willie and the Reinhardts , Ron Locurto and the Reinhardts , the Dave Constantino Band , Junction West , Left Hand of Darkness and Spyro Gyra. In 1973, playing with a Buffalo band called Rush, Ted opened for Genesis in Buffalo, NY.

Three Gamalon members brothers Ted and Tom Reinhardt, and Bruce Brucato played in a band called Rodan in the 1970s, along with keyboardist Rick McGirr and bassist Bill Ludwig.

Discography:

Gamalon (1987)

Project: Activation Earth (1989)

Aerial View (1990)

High Contrast (1991)

Held to the Light (1996)

Live at The Tralf (1998)