Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper walked into a Santa Monica recording studio where two Citrus alumni were practicing scoring their latest hit film.
Now Corey McCormick and Anthony LoGerfo perform in the hit box-office film “A Star is Born,” with Cooper and Gaga.
“I think Bradley and Gaga liked that we could record live and have it sound very authentic,” LoGerfo said.
LoGerfo said Cooper saw the authenticity of the wanted them to be in the movie too.
McCormick graduated from Citrus in 1999 and LoGerfo graduated in 2006. Both of them were fixtures of Citrus’ music department.
Both McCormick, a bassist, and LoGerfo, a drummer, are in Lukas Nelson’s band “Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real”. Nelson, son of country star Willie Nelson, was approached by Cooper to be in the movie after Cooper saw the band perform at the music festival, Desert Trip.
Music instructor Alan Waddington mentored both McCormick and LoGerfo. Waddington said Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real were approached by Cooper because it was evident they care about their music.
“He saw that they could jam,” Waddington said. “He wanted a band that was truly a band.”
In the film, McCormick and LoGerfo play in Cooper’s fictional country-rock band.
“A Star is Born” earned a $354.5 million at box office and has had Oscar buzz since its release in October. McCormick and LoGerfo’s participation in the film is an achievement for Citrus alumni.
Despite their roles in the film, McCormick, LoGerfo and the rest of Promise of the Real were almost replaced by another band.
McCormick, LoGerfo and the band were only scheduled to score the film’s soundtrack and mentorCooper for his role as a country singer.
Although Cooper is an actor, LoGerfo said Cooper’s transition from actor to musician was not difficult.
“He actually loved it and was a natural,” LoGerfo said. “He felt the energy that we gave him from the very beginning.”
Lady Gaga plays character “Ally” alongside Cooper in the film. Gerfo said their mutual appreciation for music made the collaboration effortless.
“We’ve worked with a lot of artists over the years and I think they all feel this from us right away,” LoGerfo said.
Visual and Performing Arts Faculty Member Gino Munoz said McCormick and LoGerfo were always keen on becoming professional musicians.
“I knew that they both had what it took to make it if they were able to get the right opportunity,” Munoz said.
Trying to become a full-time musician at a young-age is a lot of work; during his four year stay a at Citrus, LoGerfo said he used to practice 10 hours a day and would sometimes be in 10 bands at the same time.
“I always kept going never looking back,” LoGerfo said.
Since their time at Citrus, LoGerfo and McCormick have worked with artists Willie Nelson, Neil Young, B.B. King, Sheryl Crow, Jackson Browne and Bob Weir, and have also been in the Netflix film, “Paradox”. LoGerfo expresses his gratitude towards the Citrus music department.
“If it wasn’t for Alan Waddington there would be no Promise of the Real and maybe none of us would have ever been in the movie or done the music,” LoGerfo said. “Think how different this would all be.”
Waddington and Munoz both agree Citrus Music Department prepares students to be inserted into the music industry. McCormick and LoGerfo are not the only former students who became established musicians; Erica Gruiton, Nate Lots and Tyler Johnson, who have worked with artists Jason Derulo, Halsey and Harry Styles, are also notable alumni from Citrus.
“I think the record speaks for itself,” Waddington said.
After being a musician for several years now, LoGerfo tells aspiring musicians that it is about the bigger picture.
“Keep visualizing what you want and work as hard as you can at it,” LoGerfo said. “Do it for the love of the art and never give up.”
As for more future stars being derived from the Citrus music department? Waddington does not dismiss it.
“If people play here now, they have a good shot at being the next wave,” Waddington said.
