Rochan Westmoreland | Bass
Rochon Westmoreland was born to a blues guitarist Dad and a R&B singing Mom. Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, Rochon grew up surrounded music.
His dad was very well known in St. Louis and was always working. He worked in the studio most days and when Rochon was with him, it was a cool hang, and he learn from not only him, but everyone that was around.
Rochon’s grandma was a jazz & gospel organist and his step grandfather was a drummer. It was his granddad that gave him his first drum lesson. Rochon played drums until he was 12. He was playing drums in a band with some other kids when the bass player’s mom made him quit the band. he picked up the bass and never looked back.
The studio he spent so much time in as a kid, with his dad, was called Archway Studios. It was owned by a saxophone player named Oliver Sain. He and his dad wrote and produced there for over 20 years. One of his first sessions, there, was with Ike Turner. Rochon started gigging, at age 14, with a blues artist named Shirley Brown, working with his dad and Oliver.
His mom was attending State Community College in East St. Louis, Illinois, and playing with the Jazz Band. They gave me an audition and I began playing with them as well.
In high school he played with the Jazz Band and the band director knew my family. That helped because the director took him under his wing. He was a outstanding pianist named Ed Nicholson. Ed would give Rochon private lessons and he would let some of his students play gigs with him. There were four other bass players and Rochon played 1st chair. It was a great experience.
From there his Mom moved to Las Vegas, and Rochon followed. He has had a very rewarding career as an adult playing in Las Vegas and all over the world with many different artists.
MUSIC
CD: "Another Level"
Another St. Louis connection, although we never worked together until 1992 here in Las Vegas. We started giging and working on original music. Finally in 1997 the thought of starting an independant lable came in to play.
Our goals are now set to write music for a variety of concepts and promote them through live performances. We both have been very blessed to recieve music equipment endorsements & radio support.
We both thank our families, everyone involved in this project and most of all Christ, our lord & savior for without either none of this would have been possible. This is our commitment to taking the music we write to “Another Level.” – STEVEN BOYD – ROCHON WESTMORELAND
