Elon faculty member’s musical past becomes popular

By Neima Abdulahi

Gary Bailey is a counselor at Elon University’s health center, but started off soothing people’s hearts in a different way – with love ballads and rhythmic funk music.

In 1970, Bailey formed the R&B group “Brief Encounter” with his brothers. This passion stemmed from their father, who bought Bailey his first guitar and supported the band from the time they started playing together.

“It was genetically endowed,” he said. “It was predetermined almost that we would be in music.”

As they started to fill studio times and practice schedules, their hardwork began to pay off with filled venues.

“We would pack clubs,” Bailey said. “You look out in the audience and its standing room only.”

The band also got to share the stage with big acts like KC & The Sunshine Band and the legendary singer James Brown.

“To see that gentleman (Brown) play was absolutely phenomenal,” he said.

Brief Encounter gained enough buzz to receive a record deal from Capitol Records. This accomplishment was a representation of their dedication to their passion.

“To hear people throughout the world and realize that we have impacted people worldwide from a little state like North Carolina, particularly from my hometown Wilesboro, [and] we’ve had an influence on the world in terms of musically? It’s a good feeling,” Bailey said. “Matter fact, it’s a great feeling.”

The records he hasn’t touched in so long have recently been in high demand. Fans placed $400 bids on eBay for hopes to own the rare original recordings, and the highest purchase sold for more than $2,500.

Every now and then, Gary Bailey said he reunites with his brothers and friends to perform their old hits and also create music. Bailey is planning a performance in April with his brothers and friends.

Basketball managers devote time, holidays to the team

By Neima Abdulahi

There are seven additional members of the men’s basketball team that fans usually don’t notice during basketball games. They are the team’s managers, and junior and Elon men’s basketball head manager Paul Flieger said he prefers it that way.

“We kind of want to stay behind the scenes and almost try not to be noticed,” he said.

They are comprised of seven Elon students with hopes of coaching one day, entering a career in sports management or doing it just because they love the sport.

Flieger, on his third year managing, explains the skills it takes to manage.

“It takes dedication,” he said. “It’s a lot of hours during the school year and to be able to balance school and work…you have to be really passionate about Elon basketball.”

Head coach Matt Matheny recognizes the managers’ hard work and dedication. In his 19-year coaching career, he’s never had this amount of students helping manage his team.

“Long after our players are out of the showers and on to dinner, or they’re studying at night, our managers are in the laundry room cleaning our uniforms or making sure our locker rooms are the way it’s suppose to be,” Matheny said.

As the semester winds down, basketball managers will spend their winter break with the team. There are two games right after exams end, and because of the schedule, their winter break will be shortened by two or three days.

“It’s a struggle sometimes having to commit your breaks to the team,” said freshman Daniel Griffin. “But in the end it’s all worth it. These guys accept you as part of the team. If I had to stay over break, I wouldn’t choose to be with anyone else.”

Elon student produces his own mashups and electronic music

By Neima Abdulahi

Junior Nick Kuznacic is a music connoisseur who is taking part in a new music phenomenon known as mashups.

According to Kuznacic, mashups are made through the process of combining the lyrics, beats and background synthesizers from multiple songs to create a whole new song.

DJ Koozblah, as Kuznacic is known when he’s behind the disk jockey booth, spends hours on his computer crafting the perfect fusion.

“I’ll wake up and hear a song in the morning and then think of ways to remix throughout the day and different things I could do with it,” he said. “It’s a lot about trusting my instincts and how I am feeling.”

Kuznacic decided to invest in his passion for producing music when he purchased the Logic music editing software and a mixing board with turntables. He said that becoming a DJ has taught him an important lesson.

“It’s about paying attention to your audience and knowing what they want to hear and being able to give it to them,” he said.

However, Kuznacic doesn’t just stop at mashups. He also makes his own electronic dance music, which is much more complex to construct.

“It usually can take at least ten hours to finish one song,” Kuznacic said, “but I’ve spent months on a song before. Depending on your mood, things will sound differently.”

Kuznacic shares his produced tracks with his Elon audience by DJing at house parties and local venues, like West End Station.