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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Walt Gregory's passion for music spills from every joint. It trickles from his fingers onto the keyboard while flowing from his lips to his trumpet. It rises from his vocal chords and seeps through his pen onto a music sheet.
Walt is a one-man dynamo. He plays the keyboard, trumpet, guitar, harmonica, flute and shoehorn, often several at once. For more than 30 years, he has entertained crowds at events ranging from televised fundraisers to performing with the Osmonds at Ronald Reagan's first inaugural ball.
Walt tells me he knew at an early age that music was his clear purpose in life. At four years old, he remembers watching Utah Symphony rehearsals when his father was the symphony's executive director.
Walt began his music career playing in rock bands. He also worked in a local recording studio where the juxtaposition of clients — punk bands and LDS performers — inspired him to write a song called "Mormon Rap" in 1988. The Mormon Rap quickly gained popularity and sold more than 95,000 copies. Walt has since composed more than 100 jingles for companies and other groups. He has also recorded and toured with Donny and Marie Osmond as a back-up vocalist and announcer for their show.
Today, Walt spends much of his time writing music and performing for corporate and private events, fundraisers, awards banquets and conventions. Perhaps the most notable part of his show is his ability to simultaneously play the trumpet and synthesizer, creating a "big band" sound.
Walt also has an amazing talent for vocal impressions. He does vocal impressions of Eric Clapton, Nat King Cole and Rodney Dangerfield. He even performs a duet featuring impressions of Michael Bolton and Ray Charles and the unlikely match of the Spice Girls and the Three Stooges.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
