Earthstar -

Earthstar was an American electronic combo that self-released the 1978 album Salterbarty Tales on Moontower Records, followed by the 1979–82 German Sky titles French Skyline, Atomkraft? Nein, Danke!, and Humans Only.

Members: Andy Retscher, Bob Mishalanie, Craig Wuest, Dan Happ, Dan Zongrone, Daryl Trivieri, Dennis Rea, Louis Deponté, Melanie Coiro, Norm Peach, Tim Finnegan

Background

Earthstar formed in 1977 in Utica, New York, when keyboardist and composer Craig Wuest expanded his solo piano and electronic performances into a loose ensemble with musicians from the local experimental circle. Wuest owned one of the first synthesizers among Utica musicians and followed German electronic records available through the local import market.

Wuest gave early performances in friends’ homes and local venues on solo piano or electronic keyboards, often with guest musicians. Earthstar played only a few public dates in the Utica area at roadhouse bars and college beer halls with recurrent backing from Zuir, the Utica trio of guitarist Dennis Rea, bassist Norm Peach, and drummer/vibraphonist Daniel Zongrone. Zuir evolved from Atmosphere, an earlier group led by Rea, who briefly operated in Seattle.

Around 1976–77, Wuest worked at a Utica record shop, where he met WOUR engineer John Bunkfeldt, who arranged the WOUR broadcast “Music Sifted from the Clouds” and paired Wuest’s on-air performance with real-time input from musicians at a separate location. The proprietor of Nashville-based Moontower Records heard the broadcast and contacted Wuest with a one-album deal.

Wuest began the Salterbarty Tales sessions over several months at Bunkfeldt’s Aura Sound home studio in Deerfield, New York, with Rea, Peach, Zongrone, flutist Tim Finnegan, and violinist Daryl Trivieri among the contributors.

Discography:

Salterbarty Tales (1978)
French Skyline (1979)
Atomkraft? Nein, Danke! (1981)
Humans Only (1982)

Sources

Dennis Rea — “Earthstar (1977–83)” / 2023 Collected Works recollection. This is the principal source. Rea identifies Wuest as an early Utica synthesizer owner, describes the neighborhood musician circle and Zuir connection, and places Wuest’s first solo/electronic appearances ahead of the Earthstar ensemble. It also gives the full pre-debut chain: Wuest’s record-shop work, John Bunkfeldt and WOUR, “Music Sifted from the Clouds,” the Moontower proprietor hearing the broadcast, the one-record deal, and the Aura Sound sessions in Deerfield. (Dennis Rea)
Dennis Rea — Exposé interview, 2001. Rea independently describes Earthstar as Craig Wuest’s project with guest musicians, identifies Zuir as the immediate Utica pool, and recalls only a handful of Earthstar appearances at roadhouse bars and college beer halls. (Dennis Rea)
Dennis Rea — 2011 interview. Rea dates Zuir to roughly 1972, identifies Norm Peach and Daniel Zongrone as his bandmates, and traces Zuir from the earlier Atmosphere. (Andrew R. Briggs Life) Rea elsewhere dates the Seattle relocation to 1975 and the return to Utica to the following period. (Dennis Rea)