Jacob Aaron Westervelt
Jacob Aaron Westervelt (January 20, 1800 – February 21, 1879) was a renowned and prolific shipbuilder who constructed 247 vessels of all descriptions during his career of over 50 years. From 1853 until 1855 he was Mayor of New York City.
Survival (band)
Jack Langevelt was born on the fifth of August 1954 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In his early childhood he had warm feelings for Classical music ( a.o. Bach, Mozart, Chopin). After hearing Air (by Ekseption) he fell in love with the music of Rick van der Linden.
Ekseption, Trace, The Nice and Emerson, Lake & Palmer were his major influences. This Symphonic Music highlighted his favourite instruments: Hammond organ and piano.
After he had some piano lessons, he studied at the Rotterdam School of Arts (1971). At the same time he started his musical career as a drummer in various groups and styles.
In 1980 he switched to his first love: keyboard playing in Symphonic Rock Music. He formed his own group Survival. With this group (1981–1997) he developed his ideas in his own compositions which were a synthesis of classical, rock and jazz music.
In 1997 Survival split up, but Jack continued making music under his name and the name Survival. For two years Jack developed a more intuitive style of music, played and composed only by himself. The result was the album "The Final Chapter"(1999). For the next two years he was occupied creating his own Recording Studio (BJT Studio's). With this studio he saw no limitations anymore for creating, composing and producing his music on a level that was more to his satisfaction. With the help of vocalist Linda Maarseveen and guitar players David Dexter (from the UK), Mario Roelofsen (Purple Rainbow) and Jan Peter Eerenberg (Thijs van Leer Band) he recorded more than 30 songs. As a result, he made 2 Progressive/Symphonic/Classic rock demo albums:
"Con Brio" and "Montgisard" (self-released).