Biography

Freddy J. Turk - Lead Guitar, lead vocals and backing vocals
Jose L. Ortiz Sr. - Drums and percussion, lead vocals and backing vocals
E. John Messersmith III - Bass, lead vocals and backing vocals


Freddy ("Slivies") is originally from Montana where he cut his teeth playing clubs at the age of sixteen. He and his friends just played instrumentally because no one could sing and even if they could nobody could afford a PA system! After high school he traveled with various cover bands playing all over the Northwest. He always loved writing songs and completed his first original project in 1990 with a group composed of fellow band mates with whom he grew up. Fast forward about fourteen years and after moving to Hawaii in 2004 he met John. They jammed and it seemed like they had been playing together for years. Later Jose joined in and along with Freddy's desire to write original rock anthems, it all fell into the groove.

Jose, hailing from Cleveland, has been in and around the music business for over 25 years now. He has over 30 CDs to his name and is known as the Tasmanian Devil of percussion in some circles. His drumming is at times severely complex and at others deceptively simple - whatever is appropriate - but always in the groove. Jose was the drummer for Cleveland's "I Don't Care" and "Graf" bands in addition to playing with such artists as: Roy Ayers (vibes/jazz); the JGB (Jerry Garcia Band); Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. (of The Fifth Dimension fame) and the legendary Frank Morgan (bi-bop jazz) just to name a few. Now it is back to essential rock roots with "Xer0 Gravity" where he continues to amaze audiences using envelope pushing new tools and talents.

John started playing the trumpet at age 12 while growing up in a musical family just west of Philadelphia. Continuing with the trumpet over a period of 4 years, he received classical training, learned how to read and write music, and played in the school orchestra. Later, John progressed by taking piano and then guitar lessons. Upon moving to the Geneva, Switzerland region, he switched to bass and began writing and playing original music with his own bands. John is a veteran of hundreds of concerts in the region and elsewhere, including playing at the World Expo in Seville in 1992 and the Montreux Jazz Festival OFF in 1994. In the fall of 2001 he moved to Maui, Hawaii! After various adventures in clubbing, he finally met Freddy and eventually Jose to form “Xer0 Gravity”. The rest is future history.


What can we say about "The Best of Xer0 Gravity". A project 2 years in the making starting with 4 or 5 tunes in John's project studio, it ballooned into a powerful set of rock singles. We even surprised ourselves. There is a lot of emotion, intelligence and a little humor here so hang on and enjoy the ride!

We are only bound by our imaginations.