High school talent matures into musical career

Former WA band member gains international reknown

As a child growing up in Westford, Anthony Resta always knew what he wanted to do; his heart was set on a musical career.

"He had a goal," said Blair Bettencourt, music director of Westford Academy, where Resta played percussion in the high school band in the seventies. "He was extemely talented and very dedicated."

Today Resta is an international rock and roll musical producer who works with studios not only across the United States but in England and Australia as well. He will soon travel to Japan.

He is involved with computers, sequencing and high technology. He defined his role of producer as "someone who oversees the big picture by keeping a cohesive sound throughout, targets a specific market and keeps things within a budget of time and money."

This practical description does not do justice to the eclectic sound which is Resta's trademark. A man of many talents, he is a musician, a writer, a poet, a historian and a technological wizard. A unique mix of all these abilities shines through in his music.

Musician Joe Mullens, owner of the Performance Music Center in Woburn, also described Resta as a great teacher.

"He's very generous with his attention. He loves to share his knowledge and pass on his ideas and experience to newer players. You get the same Anthony whether you are Duran Duran of a 10 year old music student," Mullens pointed out.

Resta recently worked with Duran Duran in London on a new and highly anticipated recording called 'Medazzaland' which will be out in August. Resta said he did about 90 percent of the drums and percussion and a lot of programming. He and his partner Bob St.John will be credited with mixing and co-producing the album.

While working in London, Resta met The Artist Formerly Known As Prince. "He was really quiet and polite," Resta remembered.

Resta said that the popular image of performers does not always reflect their true selves. "Most are very hard-working and dedicated to their craft," he said.

Resta spent some time in the land down under and those who tune in to WAAF in the Boston area might catch a newly-released recording called 'Schizophonic' which features Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. Resta co-wrote four songs and co-produced the entire album.

While Resta has traveled extensively and worked here at home with famous band such as Missing Persons, the New York City group Blondie and The Mudhens, sometimes well-known people come to him. For example Donna Dolory, Madonna's main backup and choreographer recently traveled from Los Angeles to the old New England mill building which houses Resta's 1300 ft. studio.

"We've been writing some songs together," he explained.

Music fans were recently delighted to spot another celebrity at the studio. "Peter Wolf, formerly of the J. Geils band, was here working on percussion programs for a new Warner album," Resta said.

Life with rock and roll has its ups and downs. In the past nine years Resta has worked on more than 30 records with budgets ranging from $10,000 to over half a million.

"You have to perform the best you can within the budget restraints," he said. "A lot of times people's expectations are high and budgets are low, but these days you can do a lot of good projects with a lot less money because of new and affordable digital technology."

Recently, Resta received recognition at the Boston Music Awards with a group called Jawn P and the Pawn Shop. The group was nominated in the best hiphop category.

As an offshoot of hiphop, Resta, a poet since sixth grade, has an album which will come out under the alias of Ajax Ray O'Vaque. "That's my alter ego," he said with a chuckle.

"This is poetry set to bizarre soundscapes. I incorporate elements of techno, salsa, jazz and classical - a very eclectic blend of everything."

© & published in Westford Eagle, August 7, 1997