Aaron Latham

Someone once said, "Those who can, do, and those who can't are critics." Unable to "do," Aaron Latham had to settle for being a critic. The multi-instrumentalist from Jackson, MI, did make a quasi-attempt to achieve some sort of musical success by attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, the alma mater of such luminaries as Aimee Mann, John Mayer, and Paula Cole. As the only oboist at Berklee (which is primarily a jazz college) during those years, Latham did a lot of session work for the school's film scoring department while studying production/engineering and songwriting. He also discovered he had a voice as well when a vocalist failed to show up for one of his class recording projects and he had to step up to the mic. This eventually led to hundreds of public performances as a singing telegram for the Eastern Onion Company, where his chicken, gorilla, and pink elephant characters were legendary. After college and the delivery of his last telegram, Latham languished in obscurity like so many other starving wannabes. A shift to working behind the scenes and a move to the unique music town of Branson, MO, led to a successful eight-year engagement working for the popular singer/entertainer/TV star Andy Williams at the performer's Moon River Theatre. During that time, Latham worked with Williams and many other celebs, including Pat Boone, Debby Boone, Shari Lewis, Phyllis Diller, Glen Campbell, Robert Goulet, Nancy Kerrigan, and the Osmonds. When his tenure at the theater came to an end, Latham moved back to Michigan and found a place where his knowledge and experience in entertainment could be utilized -- AMG. Working as a technical editor and part-time reviewer, Latham is now able to stay comfortable and relish his obscurity while criticizing those who have successfully sought the limelight. However, if by chance the 15-minute monster of fame came knocking at his door, he would probably answer. Best of 2011 Ghost on the Canvas - Glen Campbell 21 - Adele Long Player, Late Bloomer - Ron Sexsmith Lucid - Gregory Douglass Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes Smash - Martin Solveig Sweetheart of the Sun - the Bangles Bad As Me - Tom Waits The King is Dead - Decemberists The Rip Tide - Beirut Ragged Kingdom - June Tabor and Oysterband Ceremonials - Florence + the Machine Beauty Queen Sister - Indigo Girls Musical FAQ First Record Bought: Grand Illusion - Styx First Concert: Berlin Favorite Music Movie: Hairspray Favorite Songwriter: Joni Mitchell Favorite Record Label: Rhino Favorite Album Cover: Tattoo You Least Favorite Album Cover: Back to the Shit Artist You Will Always Believe In: Bruce Springsteen Singer Who Makes Your Skin Crawl: Michael Bolton Album You Own That No One Else Does: Maggots: The Record Classic Album You Own But Don't Like: Velvet Underground & Nico Artist You're Supposed to Like But Don't: Bob Dylan 20 Deserted Island Discs: Blue - Joni Mitchell Whatever and Ever Amen - Ben Folds Five Pet Sounds - Beach Boys Hounds of Love - Kate Bush John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman Beauty and the Beat - Go-Go's Indigo Girls - Indigo Girls Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones Eli and the Thirteenth Confession [Expanded] - Laura Nyro Dusty in Memphis [Deluxe Edition] - Dusty Springfield Time Capsule - The B-52's The Look of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection Best of Bowie - David Bowie The Essential Heart Hollies' Greatest Hits Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits The Essential Bruce Springsteen Like, Omigod! The '80s Pop Culture Box (Totally) The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits Best of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds 15 Painfully Guilty Pleasures: The Singles (1969-1973) - Carpenters Welcome to My Nightmare - Alice Cooper The Grand Illusion - Styx Time - Electric Light Orchestra The Innocent Age - Dan Fogelberg Dare! - Human League Human's Lib - Howard Jones Colour by Numbers - Culture Club Voyeur - Kim Carnes Teases & Dares - Kim Wilde Too-Rye-Ay - Dexy's Midnight Runners The Flat Earth - Thomas Dolby Count Three and Pray - Berlin Watermark - Enya Ultimate Manilow - Barry Manilow A Dozen Unjustly Ignored Discs aka Shoulda Been Hits: Just a Stone's Throw Away - Valerie Carter Maria McKee - Maria McKee A Man Called (E) - E River Songs - Badlees Temptation - Holly Cole Whatever - Aimee Mann True Lovers of Adventure - Mary Lee's Corvette Daisies of the Galaxy - eels Tropical Brainstorm - Kirsty MacColl Redhead - Bleu Rise - Kim Richey Silence Is Easy - Starsailor ~ Aaron Latham, Rovi

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