CTO High Voltage soaks up summer gigs

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CTO High Voltage band A.J. Mullins, from left, Michael B. Good, Marci G., Steve McDougall, Bill E. Peterson, David Johnson and Omar Baker.

Photo by JEAN AMODEA

CTO High Voltage band performs from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Naples Beach Hotel on Sunday evenings through the summer. A.J. Mullins, from left, Omar Baker, Marci G., Bill E. Peterson (background), Michael B. Goods and Steve McDougall on bass.

His eight-piece band, CTO High Voltage, is generally kept busy at private functions during the season. So Steve McDougall looks forward to the summer when the band can perform in public and showcase its music.

And these days, he says that his seven-year-old band is at its best. Before starting his own band, McDougall honed his chops by playing with Humidity and Powerhouse.

Photo by JEAN AMODEA

Steve McDougall, bandleader of CTO High Voltage band at a recent performance at the Naples Beach Hotel.

“I have been fortunate in being able to assemble what I consider to be some of the most talented people in the area. Playing with this group is nothing but good fun, and when you see one of our shows, you can see that the audience is having a great time,” he said.

Photo by JEAN AMODEA

Drummer, Bill E. Peterson keeps the band rockin'

The band’s repertoire includes music by artists as diverse as Barry White, Frank Sinatra, Donna Summer, Earth Wind and Fire, Bruce Springsteen and the Black Eyed Peas.

“Our most requested tunes are recent songs by artists like Cee Lo Green, Lady Gaga and Usher — they are all really hot — but we still get a lot of requests for songs like ‘Shout’ and ‘Brick House’ as well,” McDougall said.

A Southwest Florida resident for 19 years, the North Dakota native was born into a musically talented family who all played an instrument or sang.

“I took piano lessons for eight years and played the saxophone in a jazz band throughout high school. I always played by ear,” McDougall said.

“In college, I worked in several music stores and learned to play different instruments by playing along with customers. Now with my band, I play the keyboard, guitar and bass guitar, and I also sing.”

Although he claims musical inspiration from performers such as Robben Ford, Cornell Dupree, Richard Tee and Prince, McDougall said that, for the most part, he has been influenced by other local musicians with whom he has performed, such as the late Charley Brent, David C. Johnson, Michael B. Goods, Mike Rodgers and Danny Shepard.

McDougall said his favorite artists are Earth Wind and Fire, Little River Band and Eagles.

“My favorite all-time gig was a Fort Myers concert featuring Elliott Randall of Steely Dan, with Cliff Williams of AC/DC and local musicians Darrell Nutt and Shepard, several years ago,” he said. “It was probably the coolest gig I have done.”

These days, he is usually busy listening to songs and deciding which tunes will make it to the band’s playlist. As the bandleader, McDougall also works closely with the band’s management company, CTO Artists, scheduling and organizing upcoming events. He organizes song lists, schedules rehearsals and meets with clients.

“Booking gigs in the past few years has been a little more difficult due to the economy. When people become budget-conscious, they usually cut back on entertainment,” he lamented. But he added that he’s seeing more calls coming in for the upcoming season: “It seems to be turning around.”

McDougall’s advice to musicians trying to break into the local music scene is colored by his schooling and his background in business.

“I can’t tell musicians how to get famous or sell records, but I know that if you want to make money playing music, play what the people want to hear,” he said.

Catch CTO High Voltage at its weekly Sunday night jam at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, or enjoy the band’s trio format at Latitude restaurant in North Naples.

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