The Players
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Porterhouse
Bob
has shared the stage with Jim Belushi, Charles Brown, Paul Butterfield,
James Cotton, The Coasters, Willie Dixon, Floyd Dixon, The
Downchild Blues Band, Charlie Musselwhite, The Persuasions, Phil
Upchurch, Muddy Waters and many other fine artists. He began playing the
accordion at five years old, took up the piano and organ in his early
teens and spent 14 years on the road playing blues clubs and concert
halls, traveling from Houston to Toronto. He is featured on keyboards
and vocals. Click on photo
for the complete
Porterhouse Bob story.
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Mike
Barry
has performed
on bass as a 20 year member of The Bernie Pearl
and Harmonica Fats Band. He has recorded or
played with B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Papa
John Creach, Willie Dixon, Lowell Fulson, Linda
Hopkins, Charles Brown, John Mayall, Dr. John,
Guitar Shorty, The King Brothers and many other
great blues performers. Mike performs with
Porterhouse on electric bass. |
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Dan
Heffernan is featured with the band on
alto and tenor sax. Born
and raised in Los Angeles, Dan
has performed or recorded with such artists
as Lucky Peterson, Mary
Wilson & the Supremes, Shelby Lynne,
Gina Eckstine,
Lee Oskar, Buddy Greco, Robert Goulet, Alan
King,
Edie Adams, Florence Henderson, Ben Vereen,
Melba Moore, Sylvie Vartan, Emily King, and
Andre Hatef.
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Don
Roberts
performs with
the band on baritone sax. He performed for many
years with the Manhattan Transfer and the Brian
Setzer Orchestra. Los Angeles born and raised,
Don Roberts started his musical journey on
clarinet at the age of 8. One of his major
influences at that time was Little Richard's
tenor sax player, the incomparable Lee Allen.
Don did a mountain of
session work and played with several bands, but
it was a tour with the horn-driven pop band
Chicago in 1969 that signaled the beginning of a
career in music that would become much more high
profile as the years went on. After a short
stint with legendary big band leader Harry
James, Don began a gig with the very successful
duo, Loggins and Messina. He toured and recorded
4 albums with the pair, including their final
LP, Native Sons.
Concurrently, from 1973 to 1976, Don toured with
Elvis Presley.
As soloist
with Manhattan Transfer, Don was able to spread
his musical wings and really show his stuff.
Perhaps the best known recording that the
Manhattan Transfer released was the 1981 top ten
hit "Boy From New York City".
Don
eventually auditioned for the Brian Setzer
Orchestra (BSO) and became the BSO's baritone
sax player. He appeared on BSOs' very first show
and performed with the band for many years
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George
Pandis
was born
in
Los Angeles. He started playing trumpet at age
8. Early in his career he was fortunate to work
with jazz greats such as Larry Carlton, Don
Ellis and Frank Rosolino, and played lead
trumpet in the production band at the Hollywood
Bowl with guest conductor Lalo Schifrin. Later
George began leading his own groups, traveling
throughout the country, and performed in concert
with The Four Tops, Ben E. King, Lloyd Price and
opened for Little Richard at the Great Western
Forum. In the early 1980's George started his
own jazz-fusion group "Decade" based in Dallas,
Texas, which became very successful on the local
jazz scene. Also at that time George did some
session work with vocalist songwriter Eric Tagg
(Mr. Briefcase, Lee Ritenour), performed with
Galen Jeter and the Dallas Jazz Orchestra and
other well-known Dallas (North Texas State)
musicians including Colin Bailey (former Tonight
Show drummer) and the Bissonet brothers Greg and
Matt. In 2000 George started working with blues
artist Roy Gaines, doing concerts in the US and
four European tours. He wrote the band
arrangements on Roy's CD "In The House"
(Crosscut Records 2002) recorded live in
Lucerne, Switzerland. He also recorded on blues
vocalist Mickey Champion's CD 'What You Want"
(Tondef Records 2002).
Besides playing with Porterhouse Bob and other
well-known bands, George works the Art Laboe
concerts backing up R&B artists such as
Heatwave, Wild Cherry, Deniece Williams,
Bloodstone, Billy Paul, Sly, Slick & Wicked, Al
Wilson, Peaches & Herb, The Intruders,
Bloodstone, and Malo & Barbara Lynn. He also
tours with Branscombe Richmond (actor, co-star
of TV show "Renegade") & The Renegade Posse, a
10 piece show band that performs throughout the
country.
Dan
Weinstein is a
prolific violinist,
trombonist, and music
composer in the southern
California music scene.
Weinstein has recorded
in widely disparate
genres during the past
three decades, but is
generally known for live
jazz performances. His
best-known credits come
from his live sessions
with Ray Charles and the
Jacksons. As with most
Los Angeles-based
musicians, much of his
other credited works are
film-related. His salsa
and Latin jazz band,
Viva, was a pioneer on
the A&R circuit during
the growth of the Los
Angeles local music
scene.
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Ken
Tussing is a highly respected
trombone player who performed with Ray
Charles for 10 years. Ken has toured
and/or recorded with many great artists
including:
JAMES
BELUSHI, EDGAR WINTER, MALO, JAMES
BROWN, MARTY BALIN, THE GAP BAND, BILLY
PRESTON, ELLA FITZGERALD, TEMPATIONS,
FOUR TOPS, SAMMY DAVIS, TEX BENEKIE
ORCHESTRA, and HARRY JAMES ORCHESTRA.
His attack and tonality ads real power
to the horn section...we're happy to
have Ken onboard.
RAY CHARLES
ORCHESTRA -10 YEARS |
7/2009 In Loving Memory of Lonnie Johnson (2nd
from left above). Lonnie will always be
remembered for his brilliant performance on
Down By the Water from Who Called the Cops
and for his kind heart and gentle soul. |
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George
Pandis was born
in Los Angeles. He started playing trumpet at age 8. Early in his
career he was fortunate to work with jazz greats such as Larry Carlton,
Don Ellis and Frank Rosolino, and played lead trumpet in the production
band at the Hollywood Bowl with guest conductor Lalo Schifrin. Later
George began leading his own groups, traveling throughout the country,
and performed in concert with The Four Tops, Ben E. King, Lloyd Price
and opened for Little Richard at the Great Western Forum. In the early
1980's George started his own jazz-fusion group "Decade" based in
Dallas, Texas, which became very successful on the local jazz scene.
Also at that time George did some session work with vocalist songwriter
Eric Tagg (Mr. Briefcase, Lee Ritenour), performed with Galen Jeter and
the Dallas Jazz Orchestra and other well-known Dallas (North Texas
State) musicians including Colin Bailey (former Tonight Show drummer)
and the Bissonet brothers Greg and Matt. In 2000 George started working
with blues artist Roy Gaines, doing concerts in the US and four European
tours. He wrote the band arrangements on Roy's CD "In The House"
(Crosscut Records 2002) recorded live in Lucerne, Switzerland. He also
recorded on blues vocalist Mickey Champion's CD 'What You Want" (Tondef
Records 2002).
Besides playing with Porterhouse Bob and other well-known bands, George
works the Art Laboe concerts backing up R&B artists such as Heatwave,
Wild Cherry, Deniece Williams, Bloodstone, Billy Paul, Sly, Slick &
Wicked, Al Wilson, Peaches & Herb, The Intruders, Bloodstone, and Malo &
Barbara Lynn. He also tours with Branscombe Richmond (actor, co-star of
TV show "Renegade") & The Renegade Posse, a 10 piece show band that
performs throughout the country.
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BOOKING:
(310) 415-1463
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