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Keyboards/Background Vocals
Van Abbott is a keyboardist/arranger/producer, and a graduate of the University of Tennessee (1974-1978) where he majored on trombone, minored in jazz, under mentor and famed music professor Jerry Coker.
In 1973 and 1974, he played trombone and keyboards with "The Stringfield Family", a New York based Soul/Funk band, originally from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, who were nearly signed to Motown by Berry Gordy, but the Stringfield's mother intervened and declined Mr. Gordy's offer.
In 1974, Van was a staff session musician at ABC/Dot Records in Manhattan, playing trombone for various Soul artists to include Eddie Floyd, (Knock On Wood).
From 1974 to 1983, moving from trombone to piano and Hammond- B3, simultaneously kicking organ bass pedals, he played with various local and regional artists in East Tennessee to include pop and jazz trios with Stevie Hawkins from 1979 to 1983. During this period, he was a staff session musician at Platinum Studio in Knoxville, playing keyboards on commercials, demo and master recordings, writing charts and composing string arrangements.
From 1984 to present, Van has toured and/or recorded with national artists playing keyboards to include, Reba McEntire, Stella Parton, Dolly Parton (Van was the Music Director at Dollywood 1986/87), Tammy Wynette, Jeff Carson, Baillee & The Boys, Stonewall Jackson, Bobby Cryner, Daryle Singletary and Aaron Tippin. He has also shared the stage with The Jackson Five, Earth Wind And Fire, The Ohio Players, Commodores, and played the prestigious Apollo Theater and Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Van has toured Afghanistan once, and Iraq three times, entertaining the U.S. Military Troops based there, playing keyboards for Aaron Tippin. |
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