In 1994 I started Spearhead with a few studio musicians that I was working with while recording an album in Philadelphia. The initial intention was to just put a few people together to tour with when the album came out. Since that time we have gone through many line up changes to arrive at the core group of musicians who now make up Spearhead. Throughout my career I have always viewed music as a way to stir the soul and a vehicle for social change. I love the craft of songwriting as much as I love recording and performing. Every day of my life is rich with music. when I am not listening to it, I am practicing it and when I am not practicing, I am often writing songs in my head. Filmmaking and photography have also become great passions of mine. I still live in San Francisco (when I am not on the road) and in case you were wondering I was born on the 21st of April.

Since that time I have played with many artists both live and recorded. There are too many too recall from memory but here is a partial list: Chanté Moore, Don Cherry, Cree Summers, De Barge, Dionne Farris, Jimmy Whitherspoon and many others.

I have been in Spearhead since November 1994, and it has been a consistently incredible experience. We are currently out on the road for the summer months. Travelling and seeing so much of the world is one of the best parts of being in this group. I love meeting new people and developing relationships with people of all cultures. If you ever come across me at a show, please feel free to come up and introduce yourself.

Or if you would like to get in touch with me electronically, my e-mail address is c-ya-later-sounz@mindspring.com

For musicians who are really interested (I know there are some hardcore gearheads out there!) here is a list of the instruments you might see me playing on the road.

I play a 1980's Selmer USA, tenor saxophone, and a Deford Flute. I also play a Hartfield 5 string bass (for the last 12 years) and a Modulus quantum 6 string bass (with a bolt on neck). I love both basses, but I currently am most excited about the Modulus.
I use an Ampeg SVT pre-amp and a crest 901 power amp, to run 4 Wayne Jones series 2x10" bass cabinets (which rock!!!) The cabinets are from an amp builder, Wayne Jones (of course) who lives in Melbourne Australia. He used to work for Trace Elliot and has now branched out on his own. He's a Genius of acoustics, and any serious bass player might wanna check out his site.

That's it for now folks. I'll be updating this page from time to time and if you have any question about me, Spearhead, music or life, check me out at at www.carlyoung.net

Don't forget to come up and say "HI!"
Peace, Stay Human, Carl

My favorite part of travelling is meeting local folks, because I don't usually get to see a lot of the sites as we are moving from place to place so quickly.

I first started playing guitar at age 12. My older brother had a guitar and I used to sneak into his room and play it, because everytime I'd ask him for a lesson he'd bop me on the nose and say, "get outta here you fuck!" Eventually I got better at it then him and went on to make my living doing it.

At age 13 I went to Cazadero Music camp at the Russian river in northern California. A lot of other well known musicians went there as well, like Jay Lane (Rat Dog drummer), Dave Ellis (Rat Dog Saxophonist, Dave Ellis Group), Joshua Redman (World Renowned Jazz Saxophonist) and many others. Among the teachers were Bobby McFerrin, Eddy Marshall, and John Santos. It was my first experience playing music with other people, and I got exposed to lots of styles from big band to funk,rock and R n B. As I developed I later went on to teach there for five summers.

My first band didn't have a name, it was just a group of friends that used to jam together in the garage. We played whatever came out of our hearts, but we never played a gig. At this time I was listening to Miles Davis, P-Funk, James Brown, and whatever was on the radio.
My first bands were Ice Age (funk group) and Undertow(ska), we opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fishbone and Madness when they first came out. After that I began subbing for a lot of groups, and sitting in on a lot of groups in the San Francisco acid Jazz scene. Eventually I started playing sessions for commercials, TV, and video games.

I put out my own album in 1999 called Welcome to the Conga Club featuring a whole host of Bay Area musicians, all of whom I came to know over the years. The album is on Aztlan Records and will soon be available on the spearheadvibrations.com site and at Spearhead live shows. It features a song with Michael Franti called "Conga Clubbin'". In addition to my studio work with Spearhead I have also been working with narada Michael Walden up at Tarpan Studios in San Rafael.

My on stage gear, for those who might be interested:
Fender American Standard Stratocaster (My main axe)
1970's Ibanez Les Paul custom Larrivee steel string acoustic guitar
Amplifiers:
Fender '65 reissue twin
Fender acoustic
Effects and floor pedals:
Electro harmonix Q-tron
LIne-6 Digital Delay pedal
Line-6 modulation pedal
Mesa Boogie V-twin distortion pedal
Boss compressor
Dunlop Crybaby Wah Wah pedal
Strings: DR strings

In 1993, the Mandators toured to the U.S., where Manas has remained ever since.

He has played with 3-time Bammy Award winner Inka Inka, Sister Carol of Jamaica, Apple Gabriel of Israel Vibration, Sugar Minott, and Kotoja, to name a few. He also has spent a lot of time in the recording studio, recording with such artists as Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship and Babatunde Olatunji.

Manas has enjoyed the opportunity to draw upon his diverse musical influences since joining Spearhead.

Raliegh also has over 12 years experience working with inter-city youth in the field of ‘leadership through the arts’ at the CityKids Foundation as the Musical Director of their repertory company. By the beginning of the 90's social support programs for young people were almost completely non-existant and so responsible individuals needed to come together and take it on themselves to do their part in providing opportunities for young people to focus their incredible energies. It was a wonderful opportunity for Raliegh to interact with millions of young people in the name of love, learning, leadership and respect.
“Music is my language. My ability to create with others, has been the most prideful aspect of my talents. Together we can color the world and what we feel and in turn bring our true selves in to being. Life then tends to make much more sense.”

“Years of musical experience starting from the age of 5 when my musical father gave me a beautiful Baritone Ukulele. My first gig was in front of my kindergarten peers singing ‘Proud Mary’, I was effected by this art form very early. My father played many instruments in his lifetime and is presently seen singing and play guitar around the DC area. Family respect for the creative joy of music has made it possible for me to be who I am today. I thank them with all of my heart.”