“ They will continue to develop and mature and will have even more opportunities over time. They’ re serious musicians and they’ re going to earn people’ s respect.”
At first glance, this quartet of rock musicians looks like any other band: there’ s a lead singer, bassist, guitarist and drummer, churning out a variety of rock tunes in front of a live audience.
What makes this band unique, however, is that all four of its members have autism spectrum disorder, a developmental condition that affects a person’ s communication and social interaction abilities and can lead to obsessive or repetitive behaviors.
Aptly named Spectrum, the band consists of Christopher Brozek, 24, of North Huntingdon; Justin Laus, 22, of Penn Hills; Bobby McGrath, 17, of New Kensington; and Erin Mullins, 14, of Baldwin.
The band formed after John Vento, founder of the popular Nied’ s Hotel Band, invited Brozek, Laus and McGrath to sit in with his band on occasion.
“ The parents started communicating with each other, and started talking about getting the kids together to form a band,” says Vento, who has several close family members and friends on the spectrum, including his godson.
That was about a year ago; since then, Spectrum has opened up for the Nied’ s Hotel Band on several occasions, raising money for Band Together Pittsburgh, a charitable organization launched by Vento and Ronnie“ Moondog” Esser that supports“ differently abled” children and their families. Still, Vento stresses that Spectrum is not a“ pity charity.”“ These are good musicians who rehearse and work the craft,” he says.“ They will continue to develop and mature and will have even more opportunities over time. They’ re serious musicians and they’ re going to earn people’ s respect.”
Brozek, for one, has been drumming for about 12 years. A 2011 graduate of Norwin High School, he played with the high school band’ s front ensemble for five years and continues to perform with the Westmoreland County Community College community band. His mother, Lisa Brozek, says that music transcends the trouble her son has with verbal communication.
“ As a mom, I’ m proud and thrilled that he’ s able to play and to have people hear him play,” she says.“ He’ s an inspiration to others who might have children on the spectrum. There’ s no limit to what he can accomplish.”
Drum teacher Chris Belin has been working with Brozek since 2004 and says that even though he learns differently than other students, he’ s a standout student.
“ Christopher goes above and beyond in his playing and strives for perfection. He exceeds my expectations,” says Belin, who owns the Chris Belin Traveling Drum School.“ Drumming seems to captivate him.”
Since joining the band, Belin has seen a marked improvement in Brozek’ s ability to improvise.
“ He’ s become a lot more intuitive as a musician. He’ s learning how to react to the other band members,” he explains.
Spectrum Band performs with Bobby McGrath on keyboard / vocals, Justin Laus on guitar and Erin Mullins on bass.
When asked how he feels about playing in the band, Brozek says,“ Happy. Excited.” His favorite song to play is“ Play that Funky Music” by the band Wild Cherry.
Mike McGrath also has seen a marked improvement in his son Bobby’ s skills as a vocalist and keyboard player. Bobby, who is a senior at Valley High School, didn’ t talk until he was four years old, but now can“ sing like Ray Charles,” says his father.
“ He’ s always had the ability to sing and play, but this band has absolutely allowed his talent to grow,” adds McGrath.“ He’ s taking the talent God gave him and running with it.”
Sherri Laus says that her son Justin also has“ come out of his shell” since joining the band.
“ He’ s proud of himself, and of his musical ability,” she says.“ And while each of the band’ s members have their challenges, when it comes to music, autism doesn’ t limit them.”
Mullins, who is a freshman at Baldwin High School,
“ They will continue to develop and mature and will have even more opportunities over time. They’ re serious musicians and they’ re going to earn people’ s respect.”
joined the band in late summer as the bass player. She also plays guitar, saxophone and some piano.
“ I give them a lot of credit for getting up and performing,” says Beverly Hartman, Mullins’ mother.“ She really enjoys what she’ s doing. She’ s having fun. Any free moment she gets, she’ s playing music.”
Spectrum has performed at Moondog’ s in Blawnox, Zander’ s in Plum, Jergel’ s in Warrendale, the Lamp Theatre in Irwin, the Autism Speaks Walk in Schenley Park, and City of Asylum on the North Side. n
Norwin | Winter 2016 | icmags. com 15