Artists

Tin Drum was born in the early 90s when the husband and wife team, Burleigh Drummond and Mary Harris began their collaboration on a Taskam 8-track in the heart of Panorama City. Both brought a wealth of musical background from diverse acts such as Ambrosia, Pink Floyd, and Jimmy Buffett. An exciting collection of songs were created resulting in their 1st CD, “Real World”. Some of the musicians who enhanced this CD were Mick Mahan, Mike Hoffmann, Marco Mendoza, Jim Sitterly, Craig Stull, Brie Howard-Darling, and Chris Moestert. The first single, “Surrender” was produced by the legendary Alan Parsons, and went on to do very well at radio. The CD, “Real World” was very well received and garnered many fine accolades.

“Small Parade,” the 2nd CD followed in 2002, which again was well received, and won many awards in the independent market, such as “Luck of The Irish” which won Best Instrumental from “Just Plain Folks”. Enhancing the group on this release was the addition of Larry Treadwell on guitar, mandolin, and vocals, and Dave Darling on guitar. It also featured the first appearances of their children Micky Drummond (Burleigh McDowall  Drummond) and Sierra Rose Drummond on vocals.

These first two CDs drew attention to the production and arrangement skills of Tin Drum and soon Burleigh, Mary, and Larry were busy producing other artists as well. This led to the formation of Tin Drum Music, a label designed to promote the artists produced by Tin Drum.

In 2008, Tin Drum released its 3rd CD, “Where Have You Been?” This CD includes Kevin Longden, Will MacGregor, John Davis, and Larry Treadwell and features some live favorites as well as some original songs by the Drummond children, Micky and Sierra. Currently, as always, Tin Drum is busy working on new material as well as a steady production schedule of various artists.

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Lori Andrews is a gifted and energetic performer who takes the harp beyond tradition and into the elements of jazz, fusion and R&B. Having 8 CDs to her credit, she has performed for Presidents Clinton and Ford, and the King and Queen of Spain, and has entertained a list of celebrities including Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Oprah Winfrey (50th birthday) and Clint Eastwood.

Winner of the Jazziz Readers poll as best harpist, Lori's band has been featured at various jazz festivals including Playboy, Long Beach, Newport Beach, Sacramento, Poppy and Idyllwild.

Backing entertainers such as Richard Dreyfuss, Helen Hunt, Ashley Judd, Anne Heche, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner and Charlize Theron, the Lori Andrews JazHarp Quartet is the house band every year at the Academy Awards Technical Achievement Division which is the evening that the first Oscar Award of the year is given, playing award recipients on and off the stage. Lori's TV and movie appearances include: Beaches, In the Line of Fire, The Tonight Show, Mambo Kings, Drew Carey, Ally McBeal and MAD TV.

"Lori has a unique style that captures the appeal of any audience. Hearing is believing!" -Scott Yanow, editor All Music Guide to Jazz.

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The Delgado Brothers - brothers Bob (bass), Joe (guitars, vocals) and Steve (drums, vocals), plus the "Reverand" Ray Solis (percussion) and Dave Kelly (keyboards), are one of the best-kept secrets in L.A. In the 15 years since the much-lauded release of their debut on High Tone, periodic sightings have been reported with exhuberant approval by fans and respectful colleagues, and the band has developed a rep for giving shows that are like spontaneous musical parties.

When you grow up playing as a family, you can create grooves as soulful as your own heartbeat. This team of brothers have been playing their distinct East LA sounds together for years, with big brother Bob laying down the bass, Joe tearing it up on guitar, and adding his smoky vocals, and Steve rounding things out, drumming and leadsinging.

From their early days in El Monte, California, their neighborhood jam sessions (beautifully depicted in their tune "Church of El Monte") would bring in musicians and friends alike, like Ray Solis, a kick-ass percussionist, and David Hidalgo, who went on to form the now legendary band, Los Lobos. Hightone Records got wind of these amazing musicians, and released their debut album back in 1987---just a taste for music lovers.

Critics and Radio DJ's like Sancho on National Public Radio affiliate KPCC in Los Angeles, never let the fire die; neither did John "Juke" Logan. So when Juke was booked for Sancho's 1997 Chicano Music Awards ceremony, it didn't take much convincing for him to bring the Delgado brothers on stage with him. The energy and success of that fateful night was the catalyst for Juke to round the boys up, get them back in studio, and create "Let's Get Back...," their return, and one of Mocombo Record's debut releases.

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Currently residing in Los Angeles Shari Puorto is “a soulful singer with a sexy and raspy sound. Her Live performances immediately brings Janis Joplin to mind. Like Joplin, Puorto is a passionate performer with an energy that can rattle the foam in a pint of Pilsner.” Kevin, Pubclub.com

Who is Shari Puorto? Combine Melissa Ethridge, Etta James, Bonnie Rait, and the soul of Janis Joplin.

You would think Shari’s been doing this forever. She has the sensibility of an old soul reborn and is undeniably passionate. She possesses a deeply expressive and soulful voice. One that catches you off guard! She is a powerful and dynamic live performer who quickly and quite naturally connects with her audience. Her infectious enthusiasm overcomes you, you have no choice but to get pulled in. (She's likely to steal your heart if you get too close!). Her intensity and warm nature shines through her singing and performances.

Jim Santella, Southland Blues Magazine writes, “She’s all about passion and communication.”

Music Connection writes, "She exhibits sweet vocal tones and is never off key --she can sing!"

Dave Noyes, Producer/Buyer: "The Irvine Lake 2010 Blues Festival was the largest attended festival held thus far.  Shari Puorto set the scene and got the stage rockin' with her energetic performance.  Shari rocked the stage for over 45 minutes to standing ovations!!  We can't wait to have Shari back next year."

WINNER: 2010 Los Angeles Music Awards for her song, 'Free'. in the "Americana, Blues, Roots song of the year" category.  

WINNER: 'Best Female Vocalist' at the South Bay Music Awards.

Not only will her live performance blow you away but her recordings will too. “Puorto belts ‘em out forcefully”, Santella writes. You can catch this raw talent on her debut album, “Why is the Grass Always
Greener?” “Packed with first-class energy and plenty of emotion”, Santella writes.

Shari’s recent work (in addition to performing with her band, “The Shari Puorto Band”), is co-writing, performing and currently in the studio with legendary producer/writer/musician, Barry Goldberg [Mike Bloomfield, Steve Miller, Electric Flag, Chicago Blues Reunion]. They will soon be releasing Shari's 3rd CD, "Real", produced by Barry Goldberg & Shari Puorto. Additional wok by this duo is heard on Shari's second release ('08), "Down the Road".

At a very young age Shari was consumed by the power and expression of rhythm and blues and southern rock. Early memories are of Bill Haley & The Comets to the Doors to Led Zeppelin. Her influences range from Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Susan Tedeschi, the Black Crowes, Pat Benatar, the Doobie Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Koko Taylor and Eva Cassidy.

In addition to being an outstanding vocalist, Shari Puorto is a favorite on local radio staions East to West.

“Her clear, forceful delivery and convincing expression bring it all home.” Jim Santella.

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Originally from Houston, Texas, Teresa now lives in Los Angeles where she works with her band, The Rhythm Tramps. They have been working together for several years in the LA area and at blues festivals around the country, and throughout Europe. The band has been a featured act the last 7 years on Delbert McClinton's Sandy Beaches Blues Cruise.

 

Now with the release of her new CD... THE BOTTOM LINE... on New Light Entertainment Records which is distributed by Universal Records, Teresa for the first time will have major national distribution and radio promotion.

 

She has performed live with such legendary artists as Levon Helm, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Raitt, Kirk Whalum, Marcia Ball, Tommy Castro, Al Anderson, Asleep at the Wheel, Lee Roy Parnell, and many others. Her voice is featured on albums by Kirk Whalum, Randy Newman, Tommy Castro, Lee Roy Parnell, Walter Trout, Stephen Bruton, and Glen Clark, among many. She has sung for television and movie soundtracks; She and her band can be heard in the Disney movie, "HOLES".

 

Teresa's band is an eclectic mix of Los Angeles based musicians who have worked with a wide range of artists including: Jimmy Reed, Eric Burdon, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, Kim Carnes, Jennifer Warnes, Was Not Was, Johnny Nash and many, many others. As one listener put it: "There are no clichés in this band."

 

Together they have created a sound that is funky and greasy, where New Orleans meets Texas Blues and everyone has a good time.

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Jim was born in Los Angeles California but grew up in Savannah Georgia.
Moving back to Los Angeles where the music scene in the 60’s was busting open with Elvis, the Beatles, the Stones, Ray Charles, Motown, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Van Morrison, Paul Butterfield, and the hippie movement.
Jim wanted to be a drummer, so his parents started him on accordion, after a year of accordion Jim still wanted to be a drummer so his parents had him play string bass in school orchestra, still wanting to be a drummer his parents got him a guitar. That turned out to be the perfect match for Jim. He played hours upon hours, day in and day out, ate with it, slept with it and started his own band at the age of twelve. He and his other buddies took to the garage and started hammering out the popular songs of the day. Soon the band started performing at school dances, hamburger joints, and USO’s all over southern California. While in junior high school his band started playing for high school dances and rally’s, while in high school his band was soon playing for college concerts,dances and special events. When Jim reached college he felt compelled to travel and perform solo on the road. He started writing his own songs and started performing them as he was asked to open for established acts.

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Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Tony Galla was discovered in Buffalo, New York by renowned disc jockey Joey Reynolds, recording his first hit single, In Love (Swan Records). Climbing quickly up the Billboard charts, In Love became a national cult hit in the U.S. and throughout the UK and Europe, where it currently remains a popular hit. Heavily influenced by the soulful sounds of artists like B.B. King and Ray Charles, Tony developed his own bluesy sound and unique passionate style quickly becoming the lead singer of the blues band, Raven. After releasing their first album, Live at the Inferno (Discovery), rock legend Jimi Hendrix helped Raven land a recording contract with Clive Davis and Columbia Records, releasing a second album, Raven and the single, Feeling Good. Soon Tony could be found jamming into the wee hours of the night with Jimi Hendrix or Janis Joplin at local nightclubs in New York City. Tony toured extensively with Raven gaining worldwide attention and opening for prominent groups like Joe Cocker, Led Zeppelin, Procol Harem, The Byrds, The Young Rascals, Blood Sweat and Tears, Three Dog Night, B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy.

Today, in addition to being a favorite performer at the world-renowned Monterey Blues Festival, Tony was also invited to participate in the Taipei Blues Festival and Bose European Tour. Hailed by Jim Santella of the Buffalo, New York News… “Tony Galla was in superb voice…evoking the spirit of master blues singers from New Orleans…Johnny Adonnis to B.B. King.” Tony’s blues CD A.S.A.P., recorded for Provogue Records and distributed in Europe, is a collection of original songs with a classic blues flavor. His blues sound is traditional yet uniquely original and his voice is clearly identifiable. Tony has also crafted and shaped his guitar skills to compliment his heart felt style of singing that truly comes from the soul and reveals his emotional passion for the blues.

Over the years, Tony’s illustrious career is multi-faceted as an entertainer and singer. In loving homage to his Italian heritage,Tony recorded a collection of his favorite Italian songs and arias inspiring his first classic Italian language CD, entitled Dal Mio Coure a Te (From My Heart to You). This labor of love inspired a second Italian CD, An Evening In Italy garnering him worldwide attention and an increased demand for bookings across the US, appearing at the yearly Italian Festival in Monterey, California and at two of the largest Italian Festivals in the U.S. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Buffalo, NY. His latest CD, A Time for Love (Tempo d’amar), is an example of Tony’s unique vocal abilities blending American classics with the romance of Italy. Tony has also had the honor to perform for Luciano Pavarotti.

With his movie star good looks, Tony easily made the transition to film and television. His illustrious list of credits include: The X Files, The L Word (Showtime), La Dolce Vita ( Hallmark Channel Showtime), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Cybil Shepherd, Man On the Moon (Universal), My Blue Heaven (Warner Bros.), The Wedding Planner (Sony), Mambo Kings (Desilu Prod.), Naked Gun 1 (Paramount), Ricochet (Paramount), Seventh Heaven (Fox) and China Beach (Warner Bros). He is the opera voice, Sal Tuscany, on Phineas and Ferb (Disney).  Tony’s voice can also be heard on many national and international TV commercials including Dunkin Doughnuts, California Cheese: “It’s the Cheese,” Macaroni Grill, Nissan Japan, the California Gas Company and even on internet websites.

Now living in Los Angeles, when Tony isn’t recording a new CD, soundtrack for a film or national commercial, he can be found at gigs all over town like the SAG Awards, Emmy’s or Grammy Awards; singing at celebrity weddings; playing at exclusive events; performing with the Long Beach Civic Concert Orchestra or performing live in Las Vegas to a sold out crowd. Tony is the featured vocalist on Living the Dream CD (Chris Tedesco-LA Jazz Big Band and Orchestra).

It is very rare to find a vocalist who has mastered such diverse styles of singing. Whether it’s blues, Italian opera, big band, or caressing a beautiful ballad Tony’s passion and gift of music is always revealed in his incredible delivery of a song.

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Based in Los Angeles CA, Artwork Jamal is a Solid, Authentic and Powerful Blues Performer. He plays a mix of standard blues classics as well as some driving and creative originals. He is schooled in the traditions of Legends Like Freddie King, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Albert King, and Howlin Wolf, as well as more experimental Blues and Classic Rock Acts such as Jimi Hendrix, and the Allman Brothers.

Artwork Jamal brings his brand of Psychedelic influenced blues to the stage. With that distinctive one-of -a kind voice, Artwork Jamal is ready to carry the torch and Keep the Blues Alive and Well. A Record Producer and  former Recording Engineer, he worked with artists such as The Gap Band, 2pac, Ray J, MC Lyte, Carole King, The Temptations, and Aaron Neville. He has engineered Platinum Albums by Brandy and Ice Cube. He worked many years for Tracey and Kenneth Babyface Edmonds as a staff engineer at Yab-Yum records. He was also a child actor appearing in many television commercials and movies of the  week in the 1970‘s

Artwork is a multi-instrumentalist playing classical trumpet for many years as well as a Bass player for over 25 years. He has produced records in many genres including Rock, Pop, R&B, Dance, and Hip-Hop. Artwork is a BMI songwriter and publisher and a member of the screen actors guild.

Just recently, Artwork was featured at 2010's Monterey Blues festival on the Main and Garden stages, as part of the "Three Bosses of the Blues" review along with Johnny Rawls and Big Daddy Cade. He lent his Vocal abilities on Grammy award winning Latin rock artists "Kinky" as well as Main Video feature and guest Vocals on their sister project "Mexican Dubwieser".

He was the Voice of narration as well as adding singing talents to the independent critically acclaimed animation short "The Girl, The City , and The Magi" Produced and conceived by Greg Brehm. He has also branched out to television featured in a segment of "I Kid" starring Brad Garrett for the Learning Channel Network.

He has opened up for many great Blues artists in the past five years, such as, B.B. King, Ziggy Marley, Rod Piazza, Sister Monica, Tito Jackson, Hubert Sumlin and Lukas Nelson. He has played many festivals over the years, including The Monterey Blues Festival, Long Beach Blues Bash, Long beach Bayou Festival, Simi Valley Blues Festival, Topanga Days Festival and the Simi Cajun Music Festival.

The Acid Blues features some of the best Blues Musicians in the world. Such as “Master of the Hammond Organ” Former Organist for John Lee Hooker and Freddie King The Legendary Deacon Jones, Harp Player for the Late Great Jimmy Smith, Michael Fell ,  Former Drummer for Zoo Entertainment recording Artist "Nature" Brendan Etter. Bassist for "Chicago Blues Reunion"  Rick Reed.  as well as guitar great Billy Bates.

He is now one of Southern California‘s most Dynamic Blues  Performers, with an Engaging Husky Blues voice and his Psychedelic-Blues Wah Guitar. Artwork Jamal’s voice has been compared to B.B. King and Barry White. He takes you on a journey from the plantations of the south,to the clubs in Chicago, and the sidewalks of Beale Street Sprinkling Psychedelia along the way.

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In a dramatic scene reminiscent of the life story of many a blues legend, Doña Oxford was born in a parking lot in the back seat of an old Chevrolet. Although the event perhaps falls short of qualifying as the stuff of fable (since it occurred not in the Mississippi Delta, but outside a hospital on New York City’s ritzy Upper West Side), Doña’s impatience to enter the world was an early indication of the guts, determination, heart and soul with which she imbues her music.

Doña has toured all over the world, bringing her amazing keyboard playing and vocals to devoted fans in Europe, Japan, Canada and the United States. With this many accomplishments, one would think that Doña Oxford must be satisfied. Not so! In addition to playing around the world and indulging her diverse interests (Doña is an accomplished drummer, graphic artist and auto mechanic), she has performed on many Major Motion Picture soundtracks, including Eddie Murphy’s Norbit,, Martin Lawrence’s Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins and the very funny comedy, Senior Skip Day.

Doña has also released Rowena Said…, her full-length debut album , RAW her live sophomore release, and Step Up her latest full length album, all nationally distributed under the FountainBleu Records label. Now, calling Los Angeles her home, Doña continues to impress audiences worldwide with her double fisted, high-energy performance. It's all attitude, sultry good looks and a down and dirty beat.

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Award winners at the Monterey Blues Festival, and headliners at clubs including BB King’s and The House of Blues, they bring a fresh twist and humorous social commentary to exciting, original music that draws on traditional influences like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Tower of Power.

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Native of Southern California, Michael John and his band, The Bottom Line, have earned their spot in the Blues scene.

This six piece high energy Contemporary original blues band has played at many Festivals, Concert theaters and venues such as The Doheny Blues Festival, Monterey Bay Blues Festival, BB King's Blues Club, Galaxy Theater, Coach House, Ventura Theater and with venues like JJ's Blues Club and many others. They have shared the bill with Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, The Robert Cray Band, Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Coco Montoya, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robben Ford, John Hammond, Bobby Blue Bland, Solomon Burke, Rod Piazza and Tommy Castro to name a few.

Michael John's strong, soulful vocals are without a doubt his main instrument while also supporting the groove with a style all his own on harmonica and rhythm Guitar. Michael John's music has been receiving positive feedback and airplay on blues stations throughout the United States.

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One word sums up TNB’s mission: “Dance!”  With a world class rhythm section, great singers and soloists, and an intense stage show, TNB brings people to their feet. Soul, blues, rhythm & blues, jazz—TNB does it all. Playing a mix of their own originals and classic dance tunes, TNB appeals to everybody, regardless of race, age, or class. TNB has an impressive touring and recording schedule.   In 2006, TNB played for over 50,000 people, released two CDs, and placed songs on the television show, “My Name Is Earl.”  In 2008, the band released its seventh CD, “Live at Rusty’s” to much acclaim.  Tom Nolan Band is from Los Angeles, California. You may have seen them at a community concert, blues or jazz festivals around the state, or playing at Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier, where they have been in residence for fifteen years. They have appeared at benefits for Habitat for Humanity, Katrina Relief, the Concern Foundation, the MS Foundation, the Red Cross, Heal the Bay, and many Los Angeles schools.  With seven CDs to their name, a busy performing schedule, and a large local following, TNB continues to bring joy and fun to the California music scene. In a word, “Dance!”

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