(June 1, 2017) Father-and-son band, Blind Wind, has been performing in the Ocean City music scene for years, and now the duo is seeking the community’s support in creating its first all-original album.
Guitarist Frankie Moran and his 14-year-old son, Cole, a harmonica-playing phenom, have one cover album and a live album under their belts. In early May, they launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $10,000 to produce an album of 15 Americana songs. All songs were written by Frankie Moran, and focus on his experience of raising his son who has special needs.
“The whole story is about Cole,” Moran said. “He has cognitive delays, onset scoliosis and has been blind since birth, but he also has perfect hearing and pitch. My fan base is not as big as Cole’s. When he plays, the audience can immediately see he’s got something special.”
Ocean City native Moran played the resort circuit for 20 years in bands, but later moved to Baltimore after Cole was born. Cole has been undergoing a series of corrective surgeries at Johns Hopkins hospital, which will continue about twice a year until he is fully grown.
Moran fostered Cole’s musical interest at a young age by playing the guitar around the house.
“When he was about 1, he started to sit up and play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ on a piano. If he’d miss a note, he’d get frustrated and go back to try to correct it,” he said.
When Cole found a harmonica, he started taking it everywhere and quickly learning songs.
“It got to the point where he was learning songs faster than me and I’d have to practice to keep up,” Moran said. “Cole’s now got the best harmonica instructor in Colorado, and he Skypes in for lessons.
“It’s very gratifying to be able to do this with him and see how far he’s come as a musician,” he added. “When you have kids and a career in the arts, you lose some time to your work. I’m so proud of Cole.”
Starting in 2014, the father and son started taking their act on the road. Blind Wind performed in Tennessee, Texas and was featured on NPR and Voice of America.
Cole also was a recipient of a Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica scholarship.
Blind Wind has played on local stages, even taking a top prize in the Berlin Fiddler’s Convention in 2015 and other venues and events in Ocean City. Last month, the band opened for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at Springfest in Ocean City.
“The music scene in Ocean City is really great in terms of collaborations,” Moran said. “Bands share jobs and promote each other. It’s not that we’re doing this in our own corner. It’s awesome to work at a show with three other bands, because usually that’s the only time we can see each other play.”
At the moment, Blind Wind is preparing to move from Baltimore back to the Ocean City area and gearing up for the summer season. The goal was to spend some time in the future on the original album, but there are thousands left to fundraise until the June 3 deadline.
The Kickstarter campaign had $1,364 pledged as of May 30.
“I’m not optimistic that we’re going to raise it before the deadline,” Moran said. “I’m not sure I will try another fundraiser. I had some friends that I thought would help, but after asking once I can’t fathom asking again.”
For information about Blind Wind’s concerts or to donate to the Kickstarter campaign, go to http://www.colemoran.com.
Guitarist Frankie Moran and his 14-year-old son, Cole, a harmonica-playing phenom, have one cover album and a live album under their belts. In early May, they launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $10,000 to produce an album of 15 Americana songs. All songs were written by Frankie Moran, and focus on his experience of raising his son who has special needs.
“The whole story is about Cole,” Moran said. “He has cognitive delays, onset scoliosis and has been blind since birth, but he also has perfect hearing and pitch. My fan base is not as big as Cole’s. When he plays, the audience can immediately see he’s got something special.”
Ocean City native Moran played the resort circuit for 20 years in bands, but later moved to Baltimore after Cole was born. Cole has been undergoing a series of corrective surgeries at Johns Hopkins hospital, which will continue about twice a year until he is fully grown.
Moran fostered Cole’s musical interest at a young age by playing the guitar around the house.
“When he was about 1, he started to sit up and play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ on a piano. If he’d miss a note, he’d get frustrated and go back to try to correct it,” he said.
When Cole found a harmonica, he started taking it everywhere and quickly learning songs.
“It got to the point where he was learning songs faster than me and I’d have to practice to keep up,” Moran said. “Cole’s now got the best harmonica instructor in Colorado, and he Skypes in for lessons.
“It’s very gratifying to be able to do this with him and see how far he’s come as a musician,” he added. “When you have kids and a career in the arts, you lose some time to your work. I’m so proud of Cole.”
Starting in 2014, the father and son started taking their act on the road. Blind Wind performed in Tennessee, Texas and was featured on NPR and Voice of America.
Cole also was a recipient of a Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica scholarship.
Blind Wind has played on local stages, even taking a top prize in the Berlin Fiddler’s Convention in 2015 and other venues and events in Ocean City. Last month, the band opened for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at Springfest in Ocean City.
“The music scene in Ocean City is really great in terms of collaborations,” Moran said. “Bands share jobs and promote each other. It’s not that we’re doing this in our own corner. It’s awesome to work at a show with three other bands, because usually that’s the only time we can see each other play.”
At the moment, Blind Wind is preparing to move from Baltimore back to the Ocean City area and gearing up for the summer season. The goal was to spend some time in the future on the original album, but there are thousands left to fundraise until the June 3 deadline.
The Kickstarter campaign had $1,364 pledged as of May 30.
“I’m not optimistic that we’re going to raise it before the deadline,” Moran said. “I’m not sure I will try another fundraiser. I had some friends that I thought would help, but after asking once I can’t fathom asking again.”
For information about Blind Wind’s concerts or to donate to the Kickstarter campaign, go to http://www.colemoran.com.