For several generations, his family has been involved in music. After studying with such prestigious composers as: David Del Tredici, Robert Starrer, and Tania Leon, he completed his first degree in traditional composition and went on to achieve a second degree in music technology. He followed this with an MFA in television production which provided him with a wide knowledge of video production and post production. In addition to writing music, David is an Emmy Award winning film/video editor.
His music works have been performed at a variety of New York concert venues including Gershwin Hall, Aaron Davis Hall, Riverside Church, Here NY, La Mama and Theater For the New City, Thalia at Symphony Space, as well as in local and national broadcasts. His string quartet “Ruined Cathedral” was premiered in the M.S.O. Fellowship Recital Series, Montgomery, AL.
John Tumminia began singing four-part harmony at the age of four, when his father, a music teacher and fine arts supervisor, began teaching him. A few years later, at the age of eight, John began gigging professionally on the weekends (playing drums and singing) and at clubs during the summer with his family band, a popular four-piece group that was well known in the Philadelphia area during that time. This continued during high school, during which time he played with local college orchestras and was selected for all-state jazz ensemble (New Jersey). Leaving for college, he moved to New York City and within a few years became the manager of the famous Electric Lady Recording Studios – the studio complex built by Jimi Hendrix. There, he not only met a who’s who in the music industry, but also recorded, as lead singer, at the studio with various band projects, including the rock/funk ensemble “God is Black” for which he was also a principal writer. During this time he also lent his voice to some commercial spots and became known as the guy who could create a choir of voices in a short time by doubling vocals with precision. Later he would write and sing for another band, “Fringehead,” performing all over the New York City area with band members from Japan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Israel.
“‘Steampunk Highway’ is the closest Cyborg Asylum gets to a more traditional guitar rock sound on the album. When John heard the track arrangement I had come up with, he said it brought to mind someone driving down an abandoned highway, perhaps in a post-apocalyptic world. That image is reflected in John’s lyrics.” – David Varga
