It's like some kind of caravan
Mystics climb aboard
The open road is calling us
It's time for us to soar

In truth, the cat's been out of the bag all along, it's just that only a certain, select few have climbed aboard and ridden the magic carpet to bright and joyous places and let the music into their hearts and souls. Though they may not play to thousands yet, as far as I'm concerned, JUGGLING SUNS has hit the jackpot, musically and spiritually, and is as important to me as the other heavy hitters in my inner circle of music (ie. THE GRATEFUL DEAD, SOLAR CIRCUS, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS, MERL SAUNDERS and STEVE KIMOCK, among others).

All the world around
Listen for that sound

Like other inspiring bands and wizards of free flowing, improvisational music, JUGGLING SUNS is capable of transforming sadness into joy, darkness into light, and grey skies into thousands of colors. And most importantly, the music shows you that higher place, the place where all of the golden possibilities and feelings lie. And it helps you bring them to life, to shake all of the dust off of the diamond, so it gleams and shines as magnificently as it should. To borrow a phrase from Peter Rowan, they help you tune in to the "Big Yeah!" The glorious "Yes!" The place for which there are no words.

Feelings that I've felt
Reaching for the sky
Flood my soul
Swirl inside

Just a bit of history to fill in some of the holes. Mark Diomede, the lead guitarist, formed JUGGLING SUNS in 1995 to further satiate his musical appetite and give fuller expression to his love of GRATEFUL DEAD music, while also playing lead guitar in the great band SOLAR CIRCUS. After 13 years of glorious and inspiring music, SOLAR CIRCUS disbanded in 1997 (although they've played a few select shows since and their website is still active) and JUGGLING SUNS became the main event, with Diomede's passionate, soaring guitar leading the way.

I know you'll be there
Through thick and thin
To make all my sadness fly away

Initially featuring SOLAR CIRCUS bassist, Kevin Kopack, and one time and original SOLAR CIRCUS drummer, Brad Hall, JUGGLING SUNS has since shed its inner and outer skin several times. Now, Bruce Wigdor, who played keyboards on SOLAR CIRCUS' first album, ironically titled Juggling Suns, is locked in on bass and makes his presence known, dancing in the center of it all, changing intensity and steps according to the mood of the music. Ivan Funk, formerly of SPLINTERED SUNLIGHT, has become the choice drummer and drives the band along with his dynamic, finely polished, on the "one" chops. Gus Vigo, also of SPLINTERED SUNLIGHT, plays keyboards and has been there since JUGGLING SUNS' inception, adding an endless palette of colors to the canvas. Whether joyous, sprightly tones, the swirling sounds of a calliope, or the muscular, penetrating thrusts of the organ.

Part magician, part musician, Mark Diomede uses his guitar like a wand, sending the listener on exhilarating rides of splendor and euphoria, like a cosmic roller coaster of song. But like all great artists there's many dimensions to his playing - sad and mournful, a bright and hopeful flame always burning, conscious of the fullness and totality of human life and existence, experimental and endlessly creative, a fountain of wisdom and inspiration pouring forth its waters for all, as true as the sun shining in the sky.

Also an impassioned vocalist, Diomede makes the words dance and sparkle with life, like another instrument of glory. When it all comes together and "It's" happening, he's as good as anybody, and his singing and playing can take you to the highest mountaintop, and help you see the triumphant possibilities of being alive, when you know something special is happening to you and you see and are awakened to a grander, higher state of being. A mirror reminding you of just how truly wonderful it all is and can be.

Now my wings are opened wide
And there's nothing but blue skies to ride
And there's a rainbow that I can see
And a pot of gold that's waiting for me

And over the years, longtime Diomede friend and songwriting partner, Rick McGillis, has provided some of the band's colorful and imaginative lyrics - brushstrokes of inspiration shining in the mind and uplifting the spirit. Classic songs like "The Coast," "Into Tomorrow," "Laced in Silver" and "Jumpin' Over Ashes" continue to radiate rich and joyous feeling through the years. And though behind the curtain, McGillis's contributions have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.

When you get there
You will know that it's real

And make no bones about it. Juggling Suns is now an original band paving their own way and conquering new and exciting musical lands. And with the restructuring phase apparently over, Juggling can now concentrate on becoming a tight, cohesive unit; a splendid one, with four unique and innovative voices shining through, blazing trails along the way.

Can't stop the magic
New world's at the door

JUGGLING SUNS have been touring faithfully as a feature act since 1997, playing mostly in New Jersey (their hometown), Pennsylvania, Baltimore, and Delaware. But they've toured the West Coast and jammed with saxophonist Martin Fierro of LEGION OF MARY and ZERO fame. They've played Japan, starred in the Garry Marshall film Runaway Bride, were recently picked to play an NBA party, been written about in the N.Y. Times, and keep reaching for the stars wherever they go. I even left my father's wedding early so I could get to a gig they were playing. And it may just be a matter of time before more and more people join the caravan or Get Abducted (to borrow the title from a live album JUGGLING SUNS released).

Fortune teller, tell me what you see
Fortune teller, take a look and see

It's been said that JUGGLING SUNS is a band of the people, and that's true in the most genuine way possible. For they play music for the heart and soul. It's beautiful, joyous, and uplifting - a big smiling sun beaming overhead and giving off the most positive vibrations possible. And the fountain will keep pouring forth whether there's 20 people there or 20,000.

We're all here together
Watching the rose unfold
We're all here together
Let the stories be told

There's an essence, a feeling that I can't put into words that the music has given me over the years. It's like being a kid in a candy store, but a great cosmic candy store with so many sweet and golden treats, so many bright and colorful sights, a sound that I've come to know and love over the years. And a doorway to somewhere higher than I was before; a brilliant flame in the daytime and the night; and the inspiration to go for it, to take the chance, to reach for the sky.

I saw you once more
More clear than you ever are
Whether standing still
Or steppin' off a star

I was at the Marin Music Festival in San Rafael, California over a year ago and was getting ready for the STEVE KIMOCK BAND when someone saw my JUGGLING SUNS t-shirt and gave me a nod and a smile. And there'll be more nods and smiles to come in JUGGLING SUNS' future. Nods and joyous grins from coast to coast. People coming from all over to dance at the jubilee. And soon the balcony may be rockin' and the festival swirlin'.

There were people all around
In harmony with the sound
It was quite a sight to see
People smiling and dancing so free

To date, JUGGLING SUNS has released three live albums: Doorway to the Angels (1996), Living on the Edge of Change (1997), and Get Abducted (2000), but have recently released their first studio album Steppin' Off A Star. And brought on board to help produce the album was Tom Donovan, who played rhythm guitar in SOLAR CIRCUS and is a great and inspired songwriter in his own right. Truly a labor of love, this album could be the catalyst that propels JUGGLING SUNS to greater heights of commercial success.

Dropped a coin into the slot
And pulled the handle down
And good Lord willing
That jackpot bell's gonna sound

For now, the rose continues to unfold, and one day it'll be in full bloom. And the cup filled to the very brim with sunshine wine and sitting before you. Dancing on Golden Mountain and drinking from the Sacred Fountain. Reaching for the sky! Juggling Suns at the rainbow's end.