Farpoint's vision is to create melodic and powerful positive music that is accessible without compromising its artistic integrity. The band's music can be described as folky art rock with a progressive edge. Diversity is the key to the Farpoint sound, with influences ranging from progressive, folk, and metal to Celtic, classical, new age and bluegrass. Instrumentation includes the standard rock instruments augmented by classical guitar, mandolin, flute, various types of percussion and layered vocal harmonies.
Farpoint was formed in Sumter, South Carolina, USA in early 1997 with the musical meeting of guitarist/keyboardist Kevin Jarvis and drummer Rick Walker. Joined in the fall of the same year by vocalist/flautist Dana Oxendine, the band began writing and rehearsing. The band began perfomring local gigs and had soon added vocalist Clark Boone and bassist/guitarist Frank Tyson to its ranks. In summer of 2001, Rick left the band to be replaced by Johnathan Rodriguez. Farpoint continued playing regularly at clubs, parties, festivals and fundraisers.
In May of 2002, Farpoint released its first full-length album, First Light, which featured cover art by the talented artist David Frain of V Motion Picture Lab. Simultaneously, Farpoint acquired a new member in guitarist Mike Avins, and they immediately began work on a second album, while playing live regularly. The second album, entitled Grace, again featuring David Frains imaginitive cover art, was released in April 2003.
Sometimes life has a way of coming full circle, and in September 2003, Johnathan Rodriguez decided to resign from the band. As fate would have it, long-time friend, original drummer and founding member Rick Walker was not doing anything musically at the time and looking for a band to begin playing with again. In late September, 2003, Rick rejoined Farpoint.
The summer of 2004 was a busy time for Farpoint. Between recording a new cd and playing regular gigs, Farpoint was asked to contribute a song to the upcoming Mellow Records Moody Blues tribute cd entitled Higher and Higher. "New Horizons," a beautiful and moving Justin Hayward composition, was chosen and recorded. And, the third Farpoint cd, entitled From Dreaming to Dreaming, was completed and released in November, 2004.
In the last months of 2005, due to a combination of internal and external pressures, Farpoint disbanded. However, Rick and Kevin continued working on material that had been slated for the next Farpoint release and they began looking for musicians to help complete the album. By February 2006, Frank Tyson expressed interest in continuing to work on the material, and in March Farpoint was complete again with the addition of vocalist Dean Hallal and flautist/vocalist Jennifer Meeks.
A few live performances were booked for the summer of 2006, and the band enlisted the aid of the guitarist Joe Driggers for these shows. Joe's performance so impressed the band that they asked him to help record their 4th album, Cold Star Quiet Star. Joe added his talents to 5 of the album's 8 tracks.
In 2007, guitarist Sam Sanders helped Farpoint out with a few live performances, and ended up adding the finishing touches to the new album on lead guitar. In December Sam accepted the band's invitation to join as a permanent member.
Cold Star Quiet Star was released on February 19, 2008.
~ Band Members ~
Dean Hallal - lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar Kevin Jarvis - keyboards, guitars, mandolin, backing vocals Jennifer Meeks - lead and backing vocals, flute, keys Sam Sanders - lead and rhythm guitar, piano, backing vocals Frank Tyson - bass guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals Rick Walker - drums, backing vocals
Dean Hallal
Jennifer Meeks
Frank Tyson
Rick Walker
Kevin Jarvis
Sam Sanders
~ Influences ~
Musical influences include but are not limited to Yes, Kansas, Rush, Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, Genesis, Alan Parsons Project, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Dream Theater, Peter Gabriel, Asia, Mike Oldfield, U2, Grey Eye Glances, Seven Nations, October Project, Nick Drake, John Denver, Rich Mullins, Steve Roach, J. S. Bach, Aaron Copeland, and tons of music from classical to folk to Celtic to new age to hard rock.
Other influences include a vast variety of literature, art, and life experiences dealing with love, faith, philosophy and spirituality.
COLD STAR QUIET STAR (2008)
FROM DREAMING TO DREAMING (2004)
GRACE (2003)
FIRST LIGHT (2002)
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