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George
Whitesell and His All Stars! Featuring Jill Watkins
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For
Booking contact: amusiccompany at hotmail.com
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Next Public Appearance:
Sunday, September 12th
11:30 - 1:00 pm
Holy Cow MOOsic Festival
George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins
The Abby
2951 E US Highway 50
Canon City Colorado
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George
Whitesell and His All Stars!
Featuring
Jill Watkins
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George
Whitesell and His All Stars
Featuring
Jill Watkins!
Playing
Around-George Whitesell & His All Stars
Colorado Springs Independent -Josh Johnson
With
his trademark long, white hair and beard, George Whitesell
looks like a blues Santa. But he sounds like a blues legend
— and is in these parts. For decades, Whitesell's been singing
and playing guitar and alto sax in the Pikes Peak region,
most recently with Metro Blues. Now he's assembled what could
be described as the blues board of directors in this area:
George Whitesell & His All Stars. The term "all star" is thrown
around loosely, but if it's possible for there to be a blues
supergroup in Colorado Springs, this is it. The résumés of
the seven band members include experience with local and legendary
acts, including Cab Calloway, Frank Zappa and Heart. Considering
there's four sax players — alto through baritone — expect
a sound bright with horns above Whitesell's solid guitar playing
and John Stilwagen's keys, with Santi Guarnera (bass)
and Dave Deason (drums) bringing it up on the bottom.
George
Whitesell & His All Stars
Pikes Peak Blues Community - Dan Demuth
".
. . add some dessert to this already excellent mix, blues-based
vocalist Jill Watkins from up Boulder way. . . . In a word,
wow! Her promo describes her powerful voice, playfulness and
personality. It should add pulchritude."
Click
HERE
to go to their SonicBids.com Electronic
Press Kit
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As
a child of the mid 50's I was drawn to the Rhythm and Blues
music that was later to be called "Rock n Roll". I loved the
sounds of Fats Domino, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Big Joe
Turner, Roy Brown, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Johnny Otis and
numerous others. It has always been my dream to put together
a band and play the Jump, Swing, R&B and Blues music that I
learned to love as a child. After many years of performing everything
from Country to Pop to Beatles, I finally knew the right musicians
to put together my dream band. I was fortunate to meet Jill
Watkins, who fronted her own band, and had the talent, personality
and showmanship, to step into the spotlight with this great
group of musicians. George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring
Jill Watkins made their debut on June 5, 2006, my 60th birthday.
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Jill's
singing career began at the age of five, singing for her
church choir. Her first solo performance was at the age
of eight. Jill’s journey has taken her from singing
gospel to singing the blues in her own band to joining George
Whitesell in his dream of creating the perfect band!
The
influence of her musical heroes - from Aretha Franklin and
Koko Taylor to Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin - is obvious
in her style, stage presence, and musical selection. Her
powerful voice, playfulness, and personality fill every
room she plays.
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Brad
Eastin has lived in Colorado Springs since 1985. He was
awarded a Masters in Music from The University of South
Florida in 1979. He has worked with Frankie Lane, Cab Calloway,
Rosemary Clooney, Frank Gorshin and James Darrin as well
as performing at the Kool Jazz Festival in Orlando Florida
in 1982. He joined the US Air Force Band at Robins AFB Georgia
in 1983. He became a member of the premier Jazz Ensemble
of The USAF Academy Band “The Falconaires” playing with
Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Ed Shaunessey, Louie Belson,
Jon Hendricks and Diane Schurr. Brad continues to perform
in the Colorado Front Range area with his own group EastinWest,
The Colorado Springs Contemporary Big Band and other Colorado
Springs, Denver and National artists and recently performed
with the Temptations at the Pepsi Center in Denver. EastinWest
released their self-produced CD "The Great Front Range"
in 1997 which was chosen by Musicland as Colorado’s #1 Independent
Jazz Recording for that year.
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Marty Sarlette, Tenor Sax and Choreography (The USAF Academy Band “The Falconaires”)
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Chris
Wojtecki on Baritone Sax (Dennis Diblasio, Leslie Gore,
Sam the Sham and the Pharoes, New Jack Hippies, 21/3, Dick
Cunico's Little Big Band, the Delta 88's, The Springs Contemporary
Jazz Big Band, Dwight Shaw Big Band)
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Tim Zahn on Keyboards and Vocals
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Dave
Deason on Drums and Vocals (Heart, Tom Scott, The Holy Modal
Rounders, Doug Kershaw, Johnny and the Jukes)
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Santi
Guarnera, Bass (Casey Rush, Dave Hodges, The Rocky Mountain
Jazz Quartet, Magic Dave and the New Mules, Brenda Miles,
The Nostalgics)
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