Canadian Music Trade - December / January 2021 | Page 18

Faces

By Kevin Young

PETER MARUNZAK

When Peter Marunzak talks about his role as percussion product manager at Erikson Music , he emphasizes the creative side of the job over “ the numbers ” – the workshops and clinics the company provides for musicians using their lines and the fact that , over his 12 years in the position , he ’ s been able to apply his extensive chops as a graphics and web designer extensively .

Marunzak ’ s main passion , however , remains his love for drums and drumming , which he did professionally for many years with chart-topping Quebec songstress , Luba . “ Drumming ’ s always there and being able to share that with others is great . As a musician , you want to see people happy and make them happy with music .”
Another passion , he adds , is the desire to continue enhancing his skillset and an utter lack of hesitation in developing his abilities to do so . “ If you have a willingness to learn something , you can . It ’ s not rocket science . If I ’ m uncertain about how to do something , I find out what the parameters are and take it from there .”
It ’ s also an ethic that ’ s informed his musical development from the time he first picked up drumsticks at age five . While music was a central part of his upbringing , what initially attracted him to the kit was more basic , he says : “ I liked to bang on things . My first drum set was a toy kit I got for Christmas that year , but I put a hole through the bass drum that day ,” he adds .
When he did get his first proper kit , Marunzak taught himself to play left-handed , but was told by a drummer in his neighbourhood that , “ nobody played that way .” Undeterred , Marunzak switched to playing right-handed , which also pleased his Ukrainian grandparents , he says , laughing : “ They were old-school European , so being a lefty was a sign of the demons .”
Marunzak met Luba in his teens and worked with her on several Ukrainian language recordings before suggesting they write some music in English . That led to recording demos for several tracks , including the future top-40 Canadian hit , “ Every Time I See Your Picture .”
Demos in hand , Marunzak ( who also managed Luba ) headed to New York City to approach U . S . labels but was told that he should shop the songs in Canada first . After signing with Capitol / EMI Canada , and with the success of Luba ’ s debut EP in the early ‘ 80s , he and the band found themselves on the road sharing stages with the likes of Chris de Burgh , Bryan Adams , Paul Young , and Honeymoon Suite . He remembers that experience very fondly . “ Playing and writing was our lives . And , growing up in Montreal , playing the Montreal Forum – that was big – an amazing rush .”
Eventually , he and Luba parted ways . For a time , Marunzak ran a local studio , PlayHouse Studios ( formerly Montreal Sound ), but sold off his interest in the facility in the early 1990s . Next , given his longtime interest in computers , MIDI technology , and programming , Marunzak founded Adrenaline Communications ( an early web and e-learning firm that , among other efforts , created websites for clients across North America ) and later Looking For Music Productions , which made “ play along ” tracks for various applications . Among them , the Ibanez Rock & Play Stereo Cassette Player for Guitar , which led to contracts with numerous other MI manufacturers and Marunzak working closely with keyboardist , and future Jam Industries VP , Steve Knowles .
“ That was my first venture in the MI industry ,” he explains , one that grew over several years and branched out into manufacturing drumsticks for Tama and providing raw materials for guitar bodies for overseas manufacturers . “ It got to the point where we were exporting 40-ft . containers every couple of months . I considered opening up a manufacturing facility in Montreal , but after the Yen collapsed , that fell apart , which was unfortunate because we ’ d worked so hard .”
Eminently comfortable being self-employed , he continued working in web design , often with Knowles and then-VP of Erikson , Michael Golden , and relocated with his wife and infant daughter to New York . “ My wife was born and raised there , and as long as I had an internet connection and a computer , I was able to work ,” he says , “ but when 9 / 11 happened , we decided to come back to Montreal .”
Having worked for himself for so long , adapting to the COVID remote work environment hasn ’ t been difficult . Easier , perhaps , than deciding to take the full-time gig at Erikson when Golden offered it to him . “ Initially , I said , ‘ I ’ m not sure because I ’ ve worked for myself most of my life ,’ so it was a new thing for me .” So , too , was the “ numbers ” side of the job , he adds : “ Developing price lists , keeping up with GPs and looking at costs , with the dollar fluctuating and that , it was a challenge . But , like anything , as you go on you just figure it out .”
Since taking over the role of percussion product manager in 2008 , he ’ s been able to not only apply his passion for self-learning and music in equal measure , but apply his creativity to the job itself and to giving back to the musical community . “ As I say , I love the creative side of the job and the products we represent – Pearl Drums , Gator / Protechtor bags and cases , Vater Percussion , Keith McMillen – they ’ re all top line . I work closely with Steve Knowles on deals , marketing strategies , and promotions like our ‘ deals of the week ,’ and of course I ’ m in contact with our dealers and reps constantly , but I also get to work with players individually and help them with endorsements and artist deals , and that makes me feel really good .”
Kevin Young is a Toronto-based musician and freelance writer .
PHOTO : RALPH ANGELILLO
18 CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE