Aaron Latham

• Genres: Rock

Biography

Someone once said, "Those who can, do, and those who can't are critics." Unable to "do," Aaron Latham had to settle for being a critic. The multi-instrumentalist from Jackson, MI, did make a quasi-attempt to achieve some sort of musical success by attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, the alma mater of such luminaries as Aimee Mann, John Mayer, and Paula Cole. As the only oboist at Berklee (which is primarily a jazz college) during those years, Latham did a lot of session work for the school's film scoring department while studying production/engineering and songwriting. He also discovered he had a voice as well when a vocalist failed to show up for one of his class recording projects and he had to step up to the mic. This eventually led to hundreds of public performances as a singing telegram for the Eastern Onion Company, where his chicken, gorilla, and pink elephant characters were legendary. After college and the delivery of his last telegram, Latham languished in obscurity like so many other starving wannabes. A shift to working behind the scenes and a move to the unique music town of Branson, MO, led to a successful eight-year engagement working for the popular singer/entertainer/TV star Andy Williams at the performer's Moon River Theatre. During that time, Latham worked with Williams and many other celebs, including Pat Boone, Debby Boone, Shari Lewis, Phyllis Diller, Glen Campbell, Robert Goulet, Nancy Kerrigan, and the Osmonds. When his tenure at the theater came to an end, Latham moved back to Michigan and found a place where his knowledge and experience in entertainment could be utilized -- AMG. Working as a technical editor and part-time reviewer, Latham is now able to stay comfortable and relish his obscurity while criticizing those who have successfully sought the limelight. However, if by chance the 15-minute monster of fame came knocking at his door, he would probably answer.

Best of 2011
Ghost on the Canvas - Glen Campbell
21 - Adele
Long Player, Late Bloomer - Ron Sexsmith
Lucid - Gregory Douglass
Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes
Smash - Martin Solveig
Sweetheart of the Sun - the Bangles
Bad As Me - Tom Waits
The King is Dead - Decemberists
The Rip Tide - Beirut
Ragged Kingdom - June Tabor and Oysterband
Ceremonials - Florence + the Machine
Beauty Queen Sister - Indigo Girls

Musical FAQ

First Record Bought: Grand Illusion - Styx
First Concert: Berlin
Favorite Music Movie: Hairspray
Favorite Songwriter: Joni Mitchell
Favorite Record Label: Rhino
Favorite Album Cover: Tattoo You
Least Favorite Album Cover: Back to the Shit
Artist You Will Always Believe In: Bruce Springsteen
Singer Who Makes Your Skin Crawl: Michael Bolton
Album You Own That No One Else Does: Maggots: The Record
Classic Album You Own But Don't Like: Velvet Underground & Nico
Artist You're Supposed to Like But Don't: Bob Dylan


20 Deserted Island Discs:

Blue - Joni Mitchell
Whatever and Ever Amen - Ben Folds Five
Pet Sounds - Beach Boys
Hounds of Love - Kate Bush
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Beauty and the Beat - Go-Go's
Indigo Girls - Indigo Girls
Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones
Eli and the Thirteenth Confession [Expanded] - Laura Nyro
Dusty in Memphis [Deluxe Edition] - Dusty Springfield
Time Capsule - The B-52's
The Look of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection
Best of Bowie - David Bowie
The Essential Heart
Hollies' Greatest Hits
Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits
The Essential Bruce Springsteen
Like, Omigod! The '80s Pop Culture Box (Totally)
The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits
Best of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

15 Painfully Guilty Pleasures:

The Singles (1969-1973) - Carpenters
Welcome to My Nightmare - Alice Cooper
The Grand Illusion - Styx
Time - Electric Light Orchestra
The Innocent Age - Dan Fogelberg
Dare! - Human League
Human's Lib - Howard Jones
Colour by Numbers - Culture Club
Voyeur - Kim Carnes
Teases & Dares - Kim Wilde
Too-Rye-Ay - Dexy's Midnight Runners
The Flat Earth - Thomas Dolby
Count Three and Pray - Berlin
Watermark - Enya
Ultimate Manilow - Barry Manilow

A Dozen Unjustly Ignored Discs aka Shoulda Been Hits:

Just a Stone's Throw Away - Valerie Carter
Maria McKee - Maria McKee
A Man Called (E) - E
River Songs - Badlees
Temptation - Holly Cole
Whatever - Aimee Mann
True Lovers of Adventure - Mary Lee's Corvette
Daisies of the Galaxy - eels
Tropical Brainstorm - Kirsty MacColl
Redhead - Bleu
Rise - Kim Richey
Silence Is Easy - Starsailor

~ Aaron Latham, Rovi