Artists with shows - Archive

For over a decade, singer, songwriter Johnny Fabulous has appeared in venues ranging from concert halls to restaurants and pubs. The unmistakable voice and piano stylings of the Johnny Fabulous Show have brought joy and entertained audiences of thousands, usually forty at a time. Blending the swing of Sinatra with the soulfulness of Ray Charles, Johnny performs Classics from the Great American Songbook as well as his own compositions—some poignant, some comic, many drawn from his own perspectives and experiences. Mixing Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Gospel, and nearly twenty-five years of professional experience, he has performed throughout California in a variety of venues. A resident of Santa Cruz, he "brings shades of Las Vegas to the Coast." "Johnny Fabulous is a master at liberating the excitement of his music and communicating it to the audience. A modern musical spokesman with a deep groove, his soulful voice and driving piano incorporates the material of Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and the great singers of yesteryear into a unique style all his own." Jeffery Jay Luhn, Television Producer, Warner Brothers, Sony Style Johnny Fabulous

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Shanna Carlson, piano and voice, one of the San Francisco Bay Area's finest song stylists performs at many of the top spots in the Bay Area, including Jazz at Pearl's, Yoshi's, The Plush Room, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, San Francisco, as well as jazz festivals and other concert venues. By the age of thirteen she was already playing piano and organ in church and later sought out pianist and composer-educator Bill Bell, who became her musical mentor. She developed into an accomplished and versatile singer as well as pianist and co-produced her first album "Swing High, Swing Low" with Bell.� Reviewer Phillip Elwood of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote of her song "Silences," co-written with lyricist Ken McKenzie: "This is a gem, certain to become a standard". Shanna can be found working in diverse contexts from solo pianist to big band vocalist, recording or touring throughout the U.S., England, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. Recording credits include several movies and network televisions shows, and she is currently recording and touring with her Jazz Musical "Almost Famous" co-written with vocalist Cathi Walkup. Press credits include ecstatic reviews from JazzTimes, Jazz Link, Down Beat, Los Angeles Weekly, and Jazz Now.

"Shanna Carlson sings songs the way they're supposed to be sung."
Tony Bennett

Shanna Carlson

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Chip Curry’s musical career started in Tucson, Arizona in the 1970s when, with his five-string banjo, he led the Summerdog Bluegrass, Mariachi, and Swing Ensemble to a ten-year stint as the Southwest’s premiere string band. They recorded three albums, starred in five musical comedies, won many contests, and kept folks dancin’ and toe tappin’ to many a fine performance. Chip then took up his grandfather’s bow and learned to play the fiddle. He has played international dance music for the Westwind International Folk Ensemble and Jubilee American Dance Theater, accompanying them on multiple tours in Europe and Mexico. Currently, Chip recaptures the spirit of his parents, playing guitar and singing popular music from the early twentieth century. He plays several hundred shows a year, both solo, and with bands. His sponsors have included the Western States Arts Foundation, Young Audiences, and the Arizona Commission for the Arts. As an actor, he been a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity Association.

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Multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, or piano) recording artist, producer, studio musician, and band leader Steve Kritzer's career includes regular main stage performances at the Cork and Belfast Folk Festivals in Ireland, the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee, and the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas. An award winning songwriter, he was finalist at both the Kerrville and Napa Valley Folk festivals. Steve is gaining fans worldwide for his incredibly polished yet personal performances, fiery instrumental work, and award winning 'touch your heart' songs. A man of many musics, Kritzer is as comfortable with Celtic and bluegrass music as he is with traditional folk, country, rock, and big band swing, blending these influences with his own ideas and amazingly diverse musical talents. Steve now divides his time between Nashville and California, honing his performing skills, writing with some of Nashville's best writers, and putting his vast instrumental and production skills to use on numerous recording projects for others as well as for his own record label “Swallowtail Music.” He is also gaining a new legion of fans with his 'Young At Heart' shows for the elderly.

"His hands are around his guitar and his arms are around his audience."
Radio KEEN

"He simply knows a million songs and performs them flawlessly."
The Los Gatos Times

Steve Kritzer

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A musician and singer of both country and pop music, Fred has composed over 300 songs and is the winner of many prestigious awards. Fred believes that Country Music should reflect the concerns and events of society and provide fun and enjoyment for everyone. Fred was raised in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. With a background in composition and performance experience in many musical genres, he has composed over 300 songs showcasing his deep roots in bluegrass and country music. Fred has appeared with Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Trisha Yearwood, Mark Chestnut, Charlie Daniels, Lee Greenwood, and many other notable Country and Western artists. The recipient of many awards, he has been twice named the California Country Music Association's "Male Vocalist of the Year," twice named the CCMA's "Entertainer of the Year," and twice winner of the Golden Music Awards. Fred has also won the GMA�s �Humanitarian Award� for his work with "Guitars Not Guns" and his dedication to making a difference in the lives of youths at risk.

"McCarty  and Company�s dynamic, high  energy show gets the crowd going right at the start!  Hot arrangements on cover tunes combined with great originals makes them one of the most sought after bands in today�s country music circles!"
Ray Nelson, Calif. Country Music News

 

"Fred McCarty  and Company�s  combination  of  vocals and excellent musicianship easily qualifies them as Band of the Year.  In my opinion this group has  everything  it takes  to  reach  the highest level in the music industry.�
Patricia Dennis, Coordinator, Starfest, Inc.

Fred McCarty

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Ginny Mitchell started her music career in Canada. Ginny took Canada by storm, placing five hits into Canada's top 40 shortly after starting her recording career, which brought her talent to the attention of an entire nation. She recorded in Nashville with her friend and producer, Mark Schatz. The "Wild Rose" cd is a a reflection of Ginny's influences- Gordon Lightfoot, Merle Haggard and Claire Lynch.Mark Schatz called some of his friends in on the sessions : Bela Fleck, Wyatt Rice, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, John Jorgenson and Mark O'Connor. Her style and reputation grew as she traveled between her two homes in the wilds of Western Canada and Northern California. Ginny delivers a charisma emanating straight from the heart. Embraced by her fellow Canadians, the *CCMA dubbed her Best New Artist. In Santa Cruz Ginny met and formed a friendship with Lacy J. Dalton. When Lacy and her husband moved the Virginia City, Nevada they became involved in helping to save a piece of vanishing west...the Comstock wild horses. Lacy formed the Let 'em Run foundation. Since that time Ginny has been helping to promote their cause by raising public awareness of the plight of the women struggling to save the Wild Horses of Storey County, Nevada. Ginny and her husband, Marty Collins are producing broadcast programming for PBS Television, and other broadcast, cable, DVD, CD and worldwide Web markets. This gives the PBS audience and others an opportunity to share in the vision of building a permanent wildlife Sanctuary for the Comstock Wild Horses. You can hear Ginny's efforts on "Girls from Santa Cruz", a cd from the live concert with Lacy J. Dalton and Mary McCaslin.

Ginny has a style all her own as light as a feather or as charged as dynamite."
Larry Delaney, Editor of Country Music News

...superb vocals and soulful delivery."
Edmonton Sun

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Karin Phoenix is a versatile guitarist and singer with years of experience in many styles of music. Karin's infectious enthusiasm and knock-out vocals continue to bring rave reviews from her audiences throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She brings considerable skills from her theatrical and USO touring careers to every show, large or small. Karin's producing and performing credits include diverse theatrical reviews, including tributes to Broadway and film composer Cole Porter and country and western singer Patsy Cline. Wearing many hats, Karin wrote, directed, acted, and sang in these musicals.

“Karin sold out every show with standing room only and was presented with standing ovations from very pleased audiences calling for more. Karin and the band showed outstanding professionalism and poise in what is the most stressful situation entertainers face--theater and all its strict demands.”
Rick Stroup, Technical Director
Bay Shore Lyric Opera

 

“One of my favorite memories is her participation in the Patsy Cline Concert at Palookaville. Even Clint Eastwood and his future wife Dina Ruiz were present, wearing beaming smiles the whole evening.”
Merry Lou White, Chaminad

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Founder and Artistic Director of Young at Heart Project, Loyola University graduate and Chicago born Sean Seman is a vocalist and guitarist with 23 years professional experience specializing in guitar flat-picking and traditional Irish and American bluegrass music. He has toured extensively throughout the western U.S. and Canada, performed on Canadian television, and recorded albums with Fred Koller and Shel Siverstein. His concert credits include openings for Leo Kotke, Steven Stills, Dave Mason, Jesse Colin Young, Doc Watson, Marshall Tucker, Maria Muldaur, and Ry Cooder. Founder and Artistic Director of the Young at Heart Project, he created a one-of-a-kind program whereby professional musicians enrich the lives of seniors in residential and nursing care facilities by bringing them “music of their times” (i.e., of the 20’s, 30’, 40’s, etc.) restoring memories of their past to enhance their present. Under Sean's leadership  Young at Heart has grown from 80 performances in 1985 to over 1,000 shows yearly in Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Monterey counties.

"His performances reflect the intuitive awareness of an entertainer capable of playing a concert crowd with the same finesse he has repeatedly displayed in smaller clubs."

Good Times Magazine

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Grammy nominated multiplatinum composer Peter Cor brings to his music a multifaceted range of styles, which he has honed over the years through his musical and traveling experiences. Born in Manhattan, a melting pot of cultures which has always been a great influence, living many years in Europe, and traveling to Central America and the Carribean, gives him a worldly vision that can be heard in whatever musical genre he undertakes. Classically trained on the piano, having also studied jazz theory and arrangement for both piano and guitar, and having played with musicians from around the world, gives him the ability to shape his own personal musical idenity, no matter what the style.  Credits include composing for "EARTH  WIND & FIRE"s" multiplatinum song "Getaway" as well as for other artists such as guitar great LEE RITENOUR, TUCK&PATTI, LENNY WHITE, LAKESIDE,  and rapper CASSIDY. Movie credits include : "Muppets from Space",  "The Sixth Man", "Step Up". TV credits include : "Bernie Mac Show", "Quantum Leap", "Pimp my Ride", and other MTV shows, as well as TV ads for Comcast and other clients. In addotion, PC had written dance performances, theater, documentaries, corporate videos, and multi media presentations.  His musical diversity has also come on to play in working with many different artists such as : R&B and Funk legend Rufus Thomas/World renowned saxman Ronnie Laws/ Grammy award winning Tibetan vocalist Yungchen Lhamo / Jazz bass player Charnnett Moffett, who's played with such notables as Wynton Marsalis, McCoyTyner, Mike Stern / drimmer Will Calhoun from the group " Living Colour" and Jazz artists like Pharaoh Sanders, Stanley Jordan / award winning studio sax legend Ernie Watts/ and many other European and African musicians of notoriety.

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