Brendan Bayliss
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brendan Bayliss (b. 8/11/1976) is an American musician, the founder, a lead guitarist along side fellow guitarist and band member Jake Cinninger, and main singer for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. He formed the band in 1997 and took its moniker from the name of his cousin Humphries McGee, whom he described as a nice kid who lives on a farm. Bayliss, along with Jake Cinninger, is one of the band's main songwriters.
Bayliss attended the University of Notre Dame and formed the Star Wars inspired Tashi Station with bass player Ryan Stasik and keyboardist Gregg Andrulis. After the band split in the fall of 1997, Bayliss and Stasik joined up with Joel Cummins and Mike Mirro - two former members of another recently defunct local band, Stomper Bob - to form Umphrey's McGee.
Bayliss uses Paul Reed Smith guitars and Mesa/Boogie amps, and along with the rest of Umphrey's McGee endorses Morley pedals and BBE Sound equipment.
Bayliss recently founded a non-profit charity called USTORM (United So Together Our Reach Multiplies), a non-profit organization aimed at raising funds to help needy children and young adults improve their lives by providing access to various music and art educational programs.