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By Rosemary Pollock
Classical Music and Skateboards: Lansing McLoskey Doing What He Loves
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- What's an accomplished internationally
renowned classical musician with a PhD from Harvard by day doing in
his basement assembling skateboard gear by night? Accomplished
musician, Lansing McLoskey, came to the world of music via a
skateboard that he rode throughout his childhood, growing up a Mormon
kid in California.
"You can be an orthodox Mormon and still be cool," McLoskey said.
"Even though I'm 36, I still understand what it's like to be a 15 or
18-year-old Mormon, let alone a Mormon skateboarder." The Mormon
terms, LDS, CTR, Liahona and Sunbeam have found their way from the
Book of Mormon and Sunday School classrooms of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, to the products McLoskey provides to
skateboarders in his online store, "Latterdayskates."
"Being a classical music composer in this country is not the most
lucrative of career choices. This is a nice way to provide a
supplemental income while doing something I love," he said. LDS
becomes "Longboard Disciple Skateboards," CTR is "Carve The Road,"
and the Liahona and the Sunbeam are a pair of specially designed
boards.
The Boston area businessman admits, "I'm trying to walk a fine line.
If you cross it, then it gets to blasphemy," he said. "The line is in
different places for different people."
"I know what CTR means. I'm wearing a CTR ring right now and I wish
the guy the best. If his stuff is good, it will sell," said Justin
McIlvain, a Mormon skater and the assistant manager of Blindsides
skate ship in Ogden. "Some people say the products sound Hawaiian,"
he said. "Some people get it and think it's the greatest thing ever.
The non-Mormons just think it's cool," he said.
"I did get a friendly cease-and-desist order from the church,"
McLoskey said. But soon after altering the copyrighted familiar
shield shape to an oval, McLoskey believes he complied with the
request. "We have no problem with Mr. McLoskey," said Dale Bills, LDS
Church spokesman. "It is the combination of the font and shield that
is copyrighted."
McLoskey still has his music to fall back on if his skateboard
business doesn't work out. His accomplishments are impressive and
varied. Several of McLoskey's works were recently featured on
Netherlands National Radio, and in 2000 his work "Tinted" was
included on the WGBH program "Art Of The States," which is broadcast
in 49 countries around the world.
His music has been played by such groups as The Hilliard Ensemble,
The Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra along
with many others. He has been commissioned by The Barlow Endowment
and violist Leticia Strong of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. A scholar
of contemporary Danish music, McLoskey has lectured and written
extensively.
McLoskey's music has been performed to critical acclaim across the
Unites States, Argentina, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico and
South America. He is currently a music critic for The Boston Early
Music news and to continues to perform on occasion in the Boston area
and you can also reach him on http://www.LatterDaySkates.com .
Sources:
Latterdayskates, an online store, caters to Mormons.
Salt Lake Tribune 21Jul01 I4
By Hilary Groutage Smith: Salt Lake Tribune
Lansing D. McLoskey, composer
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