Avram Lavinsky was born during the year of the snake in a movie theater on Manhattan’s Lower East Side about halfway through Zorba the Greek. He was trained in violin under the Suzuki method at age four, utterly mastering “Hot Cross Buns” but was never able to pronounce the name of his teacher, Mrs. Wartley. It always came out “vuttley.” However, his superior talent as a nay-sayer became apparent at a young age. After dropping out of Stanford University to join Dreamspeak, Avram was offered an impromptu seat at the piano performing with Carlos Santana at Madison Square Garden, two record contracts, and a gig playing for President Bill Clinton during his second term. He said nay to all.
