CJ Vanston

Barely Appreciated

CJ VANSTON
 
 
C. J. Vanston  is an American film composer, record producer, songwriter, and keyboardist, based in Hollywood, California. He was born in Denver, Colorado, the son of Bonnie L. Smith.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 
In 2007Bill WilkinsThom Griffin, and Frank Barbalace along with a new keyboard player, CJ Vanston reunited to create some new Trillion music; Patrick Leonard has also contributed to the recordings.  To date, perhaps appropriately, Trillion III consists of a 3-song EP, though a full-length album is still promised.   
 
The newest member of TrillionCJ Vanston has big shoes to fill, since he is replacing former keyboard player, songwriter and bandleader Patrick Leonard.  Vanston has been in music for many years and is probably best known for performing on two of the three “actual” albums by the fictitious heavy-metal band Spinal TapBreak Like the Wind (1992) and Back from the Dead (2009) – under the name “Caucasian” Jeffrey Vanston on the latter album.  He has also worked on the soundtrack for numerous films by Christopher Guest – the best known member of Spinal Tap – including A Mighty WindBest in ShowAlmost Heroes, and For Your Consideration, plus the Reese Witherspoon film, Sweet Home Alabama.  Vanston has also performed on the last two albums by Steve Lukather of Toto and the recent tour by Tears For Fears, as well as a remarkably varied list of other artists like Joe Cocker, Ringo Starr, Bob Seger, PrinceTina Turner, Barbra StreisandRichard MarxCeline Dion, and ’NSync.  Interestingly, CJ Vanston also worked with Patrick Leonard on the Anna Vissi album referenced previously, Apagorevmeno
 
(October 2012)
 
Last edited: March 22, 2021