For the most part a bookworm prior to the British Invasion of 1964, by the end of that year he was smitten by the Beatles and had acquired and mastered the drum kit made possible by the determination of his mother, Dorothy. He assembled some schoolmates who could play and his first band was incarnated as 'Phenomenal Phluke'; a name that still makes him smile ear to ear.

Faegre acquired quite a neighborhood notoriety for playing a fifteen-minute version of the Surfaris 'Wipeout,' the forerunner to 'Ina Gadda Da Vida,' and until 1968 his accomplishment as a drummer of local repute was sufficiently established. But by the Summer of '68, as the Beatles' Hey Jude was bulleting up the charts, a neighbors' piano and an acoustic guitar purchased with Blue Chip Stamps with strings nearly one half inch off the fret board would thoroughly occupy his waking hours. Remembering the strings that cut through his fingertips, he nonetheless persevered from the love of the sound of the chords, especially G major, and began to develop his skills by emulating the best of that era such as CSNY, Byrds and Buffalo Springfield.

Following his acquisition of guitar and piano skills, his reputation for playing became more widely known and respected as he developed and assembled as many various musicians as he could find for fun and profit. Performing for dances and weddings was fun he recalls, but his most passionate interest became his compositional quest that developed in earnest as he left high school.

Prior to the discovery that going to college was 'getting in the way of his education,' he attended Mt. San Antonio and Rio Hondo junior colleges. Whereas curricula at both institutions were authored by establishmentarians of the socialist stripe, and teaching music was never his intention, his career choices of International Relations and Music became impossible to attain. He made a constructive nuisance of himself by first challenging, and subsequently embarrassing faculty and administration alike, and was shown the exit.

Career:

Forced to pursue an independent career path, he benefited enormously from that choice, pursuing music and political science alternately as opportunities availed themselves.

In 1982 and ‘83, and after touring with musical ensembles in various roles, Faegre managed two congressional campaigns in Santa Cruz and San Francisco. The former resulting in the now famous "Shut Up!" exchange from then President Reagan to Santa Cruz Republican Gary Richard Arnold and seen by as many as 900 million people around the globe.

In 1984, Faegre began to devote more attention to his musical compositions and spending more time recording his work. After moving to Europe in June, 1986, Faegre married Theresa Bridget Sweeney in Dublin, Ireland, returning to the U.S. in January 1987.

Following his return and anxious to again offer knowledge for the benefit of others, he pursued a career in financial service beginning with what is known now as CitiGroup, Wedbush Morgan and Crowell Weedon.

A member of the Libertarian Party since 1976, Faegre was asked to consider public office in five consecutive election cycles beginning in 1998 with bids for the State Assembly and State Senate in California and back-to-back bids for the United States Congress in the district then held by Hilda Solis who went on to serve as Secretary of Labor in the Obama Administration.

Faegre relocated his family to the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe in 2008, establishing Milky Way Incorporated and purchased the Coyote Grill, a popular restaurant in Zephyr Cove.

In early 2012 Faegre formally established On Top Of a Cloud, LLC [On Top Of a Cloud is a broadcast partner, talent agency, music publisher, record label and recording facility located in Lake Tahoe] and acquired a 20% equity stake in Lake Tahoe’s independently owned and operated, K-Tahoe: Local Talk and Classic Rock, AM 590 and 96.1 FM.

From Wikipedia: [KTHO (590 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. Licensed to South Lake Tahoe, California, USA, it serves the Lake Tahoe Basin-Carson City-Carson Valley-Reno area, and simulcasts on South Lake Tahoe-based FM translator K241BK (96.1 FM).The station is currently owned by International Aerospace Solutions, Inc., a company owned by long-time Southern California broadcaster Darrell Wampler [The Insane Darrell Wayne] and features "Local Talk and Classic Rock" with network news from ABC Radio.]

KTHO Broadcast Partner, Composer, Arranger, Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Publisher and Statesman, Leland Thomas Faegre, is also a radio talk show host appearing with Brendan Trainor on "Talking Truth To Power," Wednesdays on KFOY, 1060 AM Reno and simulcast on 93.7 FM in Northern Nevada, Northern California and in the Tahoe Basin from 11:00-12:00 Noon; a Lotus Broadcast Station streamed worldwide at amm.streamon.fm and live on our "Talking Truth To Power" Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1093056974055715

With radio, television and film credits including An Ril Deal [a traditional Irish dancing television show on the Irish television channel TG 4 that has been described as "Ireland's answer to 'Strictly Come Dancing" on BBC 1], Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, "Inside the Moon Bear Rescue Centre, China,” by The Animals Asia Foundation, Cisr-I Enbubi'Den Tüp Geçit'E, a documentary for Turkish Television produced by Birbuçuk Film Reklam LTD. ŞTİ of Istanbul, Turkey and others, his composition, arrangement, and production skills have been described as "so vast that supervisors will view each piece as independent islands full of relative possibilities."

Part of the Landscape TV family and heard by over 2 million listeners through the internet and a hugely popular satellite station on British Sky channel 0155; a 'BeatPick' registered artist, he is published by Bonanza Music, Platinum Music, Pump Audio, AudioSparx, Down to Hear Productions, ProductiionTrax, Indigi Music, Songtradr, Omny Studios, Mood Media, MediaNet, K-Digital, PlayNetwork, Independent Filmmaker Network, Multiverse Sound and under contract with 'Pinnacles Records' in partnership with 'Pinnacles Entertainment Network' in a multi-CD arrangement. Faegre offers political insight, campaign information and his musical compositions from http://www.ontopofacloud.com, The Intelligent Internet Portal.

Theresa is employed by Liberty Utilities; a regulated division of Ontario, Canada-based Algonquin Power & Utilities Corporation. They have one daughter, ASCAP Singer/Songwriter and former Member of the Ice Skating Association of Ireland; Deirdre Leah, renowned for her "Handstand Heard 'Round the World," now an award-winning screenplay.

	Novus Ordo Seclorum Subtitled, The Orwellian Overture [the translation from Latin meaning 'new order of the ages'], the production for Novus Ordo Seclorum was necessarily experimental and subject to much trial and error in the course of three months and 56 tracks. Its mood seeks to reflect a serious interpretation of our post 9/11 world and the threat from an increasingly Leviathan, nanny-state encroachment upon our civil liberties; in addition to the obvious external...		Experimental
	A Time For Us Aficionados of Claude Debussy (1862-1918) will likely recognize this track for his influence. Written late in the 80's, it was a labor of love adding orchestral instruments to the basic piano. Part of my 'Wedding Suite,' the romantic suite of music specifically tailored for an individual, customized ceremony...		Film Music
	Ottoman Odyssey Subtitled, 'Phantasmagoria,' 'Ottoman Odyssey,' is an arrangement derived from an earlier production comprised of a haunting motif that availed itself to mystery and ethnic interpretation. The 'world music fusion' that resulted from the additional production incorporates instrumentation from the Arabian Peninsula that includes: Dumbek, Oud, Turkish Ney, Doudouk and sundry ethnic percussion with drums, bass, electric guitar, cello and viola sections.		World
	Paris Parlez-vous Francais? Suggested by a girl of the same name, I remember my infatuation with her and with the composition as it came out on a baby grand piano somewhere in Southern California. Drawing upon my trip to France in August, 1998, and overwhelmed by the countryside in the north which bore the brunt of Nazi forces, I have included portions of President Charles de Gaulle's address to the people of France, as well as a generic lovers' conversation, to suggest perhaps that al		World
	Serengeti Serenade The introduction to 'Serengeti Serenade' features the Kudu [Antelope] horn. Described as sort of a French horn, The Kudu or Antelope horn is also heard at the end and is the hook of the production; Kalimba and various sundry percussion in addition to African choral samples build ever so gradually during the bridge or 'middle eight.' Though I have never visited the Serengeti, I believe this ambient soundscape encapsulates the African environment of the 'Dark Continen		African
	Gypsies of Galatia The compositional depiction of 'Gypsies of Galatia' developed along the harmonic structure of the introduction of the track. The I vi ii IV chord pattern established in the introduction creates the architecture for the production, and the instrumentation was selected to reflect the cultural imagery of gypsies that I had witnessed while living in Ireland. A modal motif [played by a dulcimer and uillean pipe] provides a platform that made possible a confluence of instruments that a		Celtic
	Through a Rainbow As a rainbow appears and arrests our vision, so too does the production of this composition. Aurally as delightful as a rainbow is visual, 'Through a Rainbow' engages the listener to imagine its beauty as though one was witnessing its splendor for its naturally brief, yet spectacular duration. Choir, cello, viola, violin and French horn sections adorn this evocatively impressionistic arrangement, which also includes 'water droplets,' bursts of 'weather,' drums, fretless bass and harp...		Classical
	Together, Around the Sun 'Together, Around the Sun' had only a working title until just before I went into final production, though I always had a celestial interpretation as the divining guide throughout the creative process. The trumpet motif heard throughout the piece represents our infinite and circuitous planetary orbit as the quintessential living essence of our earthly experience. Slowly, the elegance and grandeur of its mission unfolds as cello, violin, French horn sections and various instrumental components		New Age
	After You 'After You' is an imaginative spy themed, sweaty-palmed swashbuckling rocker which is evocatively suggestive of various thematic opportunities for film or television. It was mixed with an orchestra lay-out in mind, with tympani to the left, strings to the front, and brass behind etc. Flamenco guitar, castanets, tamboura, sitar, horns, sizzling electric guitars and a reversed cymbal crash [sounding like a knife being sharpened] characterize this dramatic tension-tinged track. After You, I insis		Rock
	Tres Cuartos del Camino al Amor Conceived in a 3/4 time signature, the syncopation nonetheless makes it feel more like 4/4. The basic introductory piano motif is stylistically salsa, with Flamenco guitar, timbales and guero, maracas, bongos and congas, cowbell and various sundry percussion filling in the holes. I added a trumpet section, Santanaesque lead guitar, a drum kit and bass guitar that completes the ambience for the production and ihay caramba! Muy muy caliente...		Latin
	Pathetique Written in 1978-79, this classical work is actually two ideas conceived in related keys. Classical aficionados will likely recognize that Beethoven and Debussy influenced this composition. It is perhaps ideally suited for ballet or ice dancing and if you are not wide awake, could gently pull you to sleep...		Classical Romantic
	Pipes of Peace 'Pipes of Peace' [subtitled 'For God's Sake'] is a musical documentary of the 'troubles' that have held up the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of the people of the partitioned six counties of Northern Ireland for 30 years. Includes actual background audio of the BBC describing various sectarian terrorism in the British province...		World
	Here I Am/Libra Go Lucky Naive and child-like, this classically tinged composition uses a reverse lead guitar and is laden with sections of strings and French horns. Beginning with the finger snaps, it picks up towards the middle and evokes the carefree intent of the production....		Easy Listening/Soft Rock
	Sauterne 'Sauterne' [a dry to bittersweet white wine] is perhaps the second oldest song in my catalogue. It was submitted in 1976 for a College music theory assignment to an amenably strict instructor [Williametta Spencer] who seemed to enjoy it. It is quite melancholy, yet without the urge to find a handkerchief...		Piano and Orchestra
	New Age Symphonia Although originally a keyboard composition, typically the guitar becomes as important; and in this instance the projects full production came to be more symphonic than originally considered. It draws upon orchestral instruments including French Horn, Harp and Timpani that are incorporated within a 'New Age' production genre. Compositionally erudite and uplifting, 'New Age Symphonia' is an anthem of anticipation for our age...		Symphonic
	Marquees, Matinees and Marionettes As the title and production suggests, this composition is an aural gift of nostalgia, and reminiscent of what a child would find entertaining. Orchestrally exciting with tympani and triangle, the puppets almost walk off on their own...		Classical
	Castles, Canticles and the Cadence of the Celts This composition came to me as I was working on another track [currently in production] that lent itself to this transition. A part of the world that is rich in history, tradition and culture, its music perhaps being the most enriching. Got Pipes?		Celtic
	March of the Monarchical Miscellany This composition was another of those conceived in the fertile chapter of my lengthy stay in Ireland. A Royal wedding unfolded across the Irish Sea and its aristocratic pomp and circumstance probably influenced its development. Taxi critiqued the track as follows: "...stirring, solidly executed theme...It's an excellent, stirring march, well produced and living up to it's fabulous name..."		Brass ensemble
	On Top Of a Cloud My signature thematic statement, in this production I have incorporated 'data sonification' arrangements collected from NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory in which telescopic data from 66 far-flung galaxies and black holes are translated into audible arrangements—that is to say, music. Astronomical data collected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes which are converted into sounds, data sonification maps the data from these space-based telescopes into a form that users can h		Miscellaneous
	It Was a Dark and Stormy Night Stripped of its production, its category or genre would have to be 'blues;' but even without the arrangement, I thought the composition was eerie and applicable to themes of fright and horror. Recorded at 63 bpm, the arrangement seeks to capture Frankenstein's gait or walking speed, while the bass guitar primarily gives it heft and force. A powerful cello arrangement with sundry trombones and brass complete the ambience of paranoia.		Rock
	Minuet In D The horse and carriage heard in the intro to the composition not withstanding, and although not originally written for this purpose, 'Minuet in D' has been used as a musical suggestion [prelude to the ceremony] from the bride to her guests in attendance at her wedding, signaling her intention to begin the ceremony. This lovely musical transition serves to subdue and alert attendees to find their seats in preparation to the imminent custom of 'The Processional,' solemnly culminating at the altar		Classical
	Abraham Carlton Elliot Innocent and childlike, this composition is among the oldest in my catalog. Written about 1977 on an available upright, a Steinway Grand is heard in the production's intro followed by sections of cellos, French horns, violins, percussion and harpsichord. Abraham Carlton Elliot seeks to capture the imagination and wonder of the post-toddler worldview from my vantage of about 23 years of age...		Classical
	The Processional This regal production was written for my own wedding processional as an alternative to Wagner's 'Lohengren,' the traditional classical composition that serves the same purpose. Arranged and produced with orchestral sections of violins, violas, cellos, French horns, glockenspiel and a pipe organ once played by Mozart, make it an ideal choice for a formal wedding and especially for those looking for a unique ceremony...		Classical Romantic

DMD Compact Disc Online On top Of a Cloud

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Steve April	1/2/2010 5:23:32 PM Really enjoy "Marquis, Matinees, and Marionettes." Kudos. Happy New Year...
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