The Band

             During a year of college in in Minot ND, in the Year’s of Our Lord 1983 to 1984,  a band was formed by the Melby duo called Diakonia. The Greek word diakonia means (service among others), and has its roots in the Christian scriptures, please all ye note, and study. Lary took a recording arts minor class that he got an ‘A” in while flunking most other classes. Apparently he is proud of that to this day! Demos were recorded there at the college in why not Minot. This led to a band competition the summer of 1984 at a festival in Estes Park Colorado. Now, did they win the competition? Nope, they were disqualified because their drummer at the time was playing with one of the featured artists….. But hold on…… They ran into Kevin Thompson, formerly of Sweet Comfort Band who was doing a seminar at the festival called “Are There Demons in Rock n Roll”. They played one of the ingenuous demo’s for Kevin. Kevin suggested that Lary should come out to Riverside California and write some tunes since he thought Lary’s vocals may hold some promise. Lary obliged on the opportunity and moved out to So Cal late summer of 1984. Kevin taught Lary a lot about formula song writing. The effort took shape and Lary with Kevin’s help recorded a 3 song demo at John and Dino Elefante’s Pakaderm Studio. Tim with his brown 1979 Les Paul in hand, took a train out for some of the recording. That demo was then played for some big music industry people in LA. Now did it get signed for a record deal? Nope, it was rejected. Hmmmmm, but that’s never happened to any other artist before. See the history of Van Halen and many others! Rejection in the music industry from people who many times know nothing happens all the time.

             A few years later Tim moved out to So Cal and the writing for the first Liaison unbeknownst to the brothers began. The writing was not with forming a band in mind. It was about writing hit sings and getting them placed. Tim took some song writing classes at UCLA and was in a class with Michael Omartian as the featured guest. Tim brought the song When The Kingdom Comes down with him for the classes analysis. Omartian liked the idea of going from double time in the verses to half time for the choruses. Usually the opposite happens. Just a slight fun fact for you! Song writing continued through 1987-88. The duo shopped songs here and there finding nil success except for a small record company called Frontline Records. Tim and Lary hung out with the likes of Pete Lamakin of Idol Cure and the Frontline executives playing flag football. Oh yes, many things can help getting a record deal! Enough good songs were presented to Frontline that they brought Tim and Lary in and offered up the idea of them cutting a record as an actual artist. 

             The first album self titled Liaison and second album Urgency were produced by Bill Baumgart. Bill being a veteran with many successes was a perfect match at that time for Liaison’s first efforts. The late great Dave Jahnsen engineered and mixed. Being in So Cal brought many opportunities to have some of the best musicians in the world play on their records. Here now some name dropping…… Album #1 had Jeff Porcaro of Toto on drums. Michael Landau of LA guitar studio fame on most solos and some rhythm guitars, Dave Koz on sax, and Tim Heintz on key boards. Urgency Brought the drumming of Vinnie Colaiuta, mostly know for playing with Sting, Doug Mathews was on 3 of the tunes and on drummer on tour with Liaison, one of our faves, and the return of Tim Heintz on keys. Glenn Pearce a wizard of sorts and fully tactful on rhythm and all guitar solos. Kelly Burns played some bass and played well as another fantastic ND musician. The studio sessions were full of intense laughter, story telling and the creation of music that turnt out some good tunes. 

           The third album called Hard Hitter found Tim and Lary producing for the first time, aided by veteran engineer Mike Mierau. Greg Bissonette on drums, Lanny Cordola of House of Lords and Oz Fox of Stryper handled guitar solos. The Melby boys did their usual rhythm guitars and Lary on vocals and bass. Mike Mierau also mixed the effort.

            The 4th album Cool water came out in 1996 and re-released in 1998 with new cover and a new distribution deal. This album was again produced by the brother duo with Tim Jones on drums, and Anthony Sallee playing on 3 of the tunes. Sallee happened to be in So Cal playing a gig with Wes King and so Lary drove up to Magic Mountain fun park and picked up Anthony after his show, drove 2.5 hours back to Anaheim Hills to his 1 room studio. After Anthony ripped on 3 tunes, Lary drove him back 4 hours later to his band mates in Valencia. Dan Huff of Giant fame laid down guitar solos in Bill Baumgart’s studio in Nashvegas. Mixed by legendary Bill Deaton.

             After The Cool water release in 1996, Liaison did a few small tours and typical weekend fly dates. Liaison took a bit of a break to practice from 1998-2021, as well as having families, raising their kids and mostly enjoying very blessed lives. Then the writing and recording of Veracity began. It’s been a palatable yet herculean process stated Lary. Completing an album is much like giving birth to a very large baby a wise person once said. Thanks to all involved with the new Liaison album Veracity!! We hope you enjoy the new effort! Tunes will be released 1 or 2 at a time as work is still being done so as to provide as much ear candy as possible for the listeners. More to come soon!