Long-time Bristolian Emerson Torrey keeps on rocking ... and working. The 33-year-old owns and runs Computer Systems Information (CSI), formerly Satellite Computer Systems on High Street, that services 300 clients on the West Bay and 10 so far on the East Bay. When he's not fixing PCs, printers and networks, he runs Red Tide Records, which has eight bands, and he's also the lead guitarist and lead singer for his four-man punk rock band "Mustache Ride." Mr. Torrey is also an avid skater, who claims he is the one truly responsible for creating Bristol's Colt State Park skate park.
IT background: "I am basically self-taught and schooled many of my CCRI technology professors. I've loved computers since I was 13, when I started playing video games and correcting software and hardware technical problems I experienced. My dad, who is an engineer, taught me from there."
The business: "I helped my father with the Satellite Computers business from 1998 to 1999, when it was based in Wakefield, RI. From 1999 to 2001, I worked in Boston as an information technology specialist for Harborside Healthcare. I did the same in California to pad my stats."
Taking over: "By September 2007, I was ready to take over Satellite Computer Systems. I was ready to be my own boss."
Tough start: "Recently I had to close my Satellite shop on High Street, because not enough people were walking in the door. I'm now working out of my Byfield Street place and my mobile CSI car."
Name change: "I'm always looking for an angle. I actually hate the show 'CSI,' though. I changed it to CSI to give it a theme and because it's something people can identify with. There's like five different CSI shows now. When people see the show, they'll think of my business. It's like free advertising for me. You can't have a business and call it 'Crazy Computers,' or something. That wouldn't work."
A day's work: "I run CSI from 9 to 5, and after hours work for my band and label. I do song writing, graphic artwork, web updates and rehearsals. After all that I play Xbox 360 until like 2 a.m."
Other hobbies: "I love burritos. They're my favorite food. I also surf and skateboard as much as possible."
No regrets: "I'm always busy. I just do what I do. It's not like I'm going to stop and be a baker or anything."
Albums and tours: "We released a new album split with "Gunshot," another Red Tide band, in February. We put out our first CD, "20,000 Leagues Under the Scene," in 2006. We followed with a tour last year at club venues in New York, New Jersey, Chicago and Denver, to name a few."
Favorite stops: "Definitely Fort Collins, Colo. We met some cool dudes out there who we played some shows with. They were like us, 2,000 miles away. Locally, we play often at the Elbow Room, Gillary's and Topside."
Correction, please: "The Phoenix ran a story a while back about a kid who claimed to have created the skate park. That was all wrong. It was me. I was an engineer at the time, came up with the blueprints and created the park with Walter Burke."
How? "We raised money. I was given $13,000 from the DARE program, the Bristol Police Department and the Parks and Recreation Department. I was told I could only use cement structures. I designed the park and it was done in 1996."
By Jeremy Rosen
jrosen@eastbaynewspapers.com