DOWNESY
BIRTH NAME: Brian Joseph Downes
PERFORMANCE NAME: Downesy
ROLE: Singer/songwriter, sometime guitarist
OTHER OCCUPATIONS/INTERESTS: Entrepreneur. Screenwriter. Amateur thespian.
MARITAL STATUS: Nancy Sullivan (May, 1993)
CHILDREN: James Brian and Alison Kelley.
HISTORY: Raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, Brian found himself drawn to music while fumbling with the guitar during his school years. His early inspiration came from such bands as The Beatles, Deep Purple, U2, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix to name a few. Around this time he attended a weekend jam session at the home of his good friend Mike Bindas. The start up musicians did not have a singer so Downesy stepped in and has assumed the front man role ever since. The charismatic lead singer was anointed "Space" early on for his onstage antics and practical joking. Eventually the band's line up and show evolved and matured and moniker was dropped.
After numerous player rotations the band settled into a permanent line up and took on the name Zen Ten (Rich Cowdrey - guitars and keys; Elliott "Dodger" Cowdrey - guitars and bass; Dave "Redman" Redding - guitars; Steve Thellen - keys and programming; Dave "Spanky" LaTorre - drums).
Downesy continued to gig while earning degrees from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. In the 80's Downesy moved to Boston and continued to record and perform. During this time he also pursued his professional career which was often the antithesis of his rock and roll persona. In the 90's Downesy launched several successful enterprises while continuing to write, record and perform with Zen Ten.
In 2000, as Zen Ten's performance schedule thinned Downesy extended himself to other projects including the premier party band Desmond.
He and his wife, Nancy, make their home in Pelham, New Hampshire with their two children.
