Von Babasin

Playing bass since I was 17 yrs. old, my first true passion was music, being raised by one of the greatest jazz bassist/producers in history, Harry Babasin. After performing in countless cover bands, I started my first original project in 1982. The independent record label who signed the band I was in, Uranus (pop/rock), also had a music video division, and they promptly hired me to produce and direct music videos for them, as well. I managed to get one of my videos nominated for an independent award at the 1984 Billboard/MTV Music Video Conference. That band suffered an ugly break up and the record company closed its music video division in 1986.

I instantly formed a new group, The RH Factor (jazz/rock). In our ten year existence, we self released one album, one CD, and wrote the entire underscore and appeared in an independent movie starring Sean Young, Diane Ladd, and Keith Coogan. After receiving the absolute worst reviews a movie ever could at the Cannes Film Festival, that band suffered an ugly break up. The high point of that group was opening the first Long Beach Jazz Festival in 1988. We weren't really a 'jazz' group but with my background and compositions we were the only group to play both days and we were even interviewed on the local jazz station, by the late, great Chuck Niles.

My latest musical incarnation is a jazz rock fusion group called ONOFFON. Playing music that is true to our artistic hearts, you don't hear us on the pop music stations. We are on more than 3,000 websites around the world, all self promoted with no budget, from my little two bedroom apartment in Studio City. I am also in the midst of building a west coast jazz museum dedicated to my father's career and the careers of all the great musicians that played with him. He was posthumously honored in a week of ceremonies called Los Angeles Music Week, 2002, an organization which I now sit on its board of directors. I was presented a Certificate of Commendation for my father's contributions to the cultural history of L.A.

I am currently working diligently to make this museum/broadcast facility a reality. You can see my beginnings at our website:

http://www.JazzInHollywood.com/

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