Special Event March 05, 2009

Below is a special event announcement taking place in Las Vegas next week, I'll be there....

From Strokeland Records web site:

LON BRONSON LIVE IN LAS VEGAS! THURSDAY MARCH 5 WITH VERY SPECIAL GUESTS!

The LON BRONSON ALL-STAR BAND, a long-time Strokeland favorite artist is appearing LIVE in LAS VEGAS with some VERY SPECIAL GUESTS! Catch this show for a sneak preview of some of the hot musical chemistry that will be featured on the forthcoming Strokeland Records release DOC GOES VEGAS.

None other than STEPHEN 'DOC' KUPKA, LARRY BRAGGS, FRANCIS ROCCO PRESTIA, and more friends from the STROKELAND SUPERBAND will be sitting in with Lon Bronson's great band.

It all happens THURSDAY, MARCH 5 at 9:00PM (doors open at 8:15pm) at the CLUB MADRID, SUNSET STATION in LAS VEGAS.

"For any of you who would like a sneak preview of the musical chemistry that will be featured on the forthcoming DOC GOES VEGAS from Strokeland Records, come see me, Larry Braggs, Rocco Prestia, and friends from the Strokeland Superband sit in with the Lon Bronson All-Star Band at 9:00PM on March 5 at Club Madrid, Sunset Station in Las Vegas."
- STEPHEN 'DOC' KUPKA

News From Strokeland Records

Strokeland Records has just added Tony Adamo to their list of artists....the following is reprinted from the Strokeland website.

2/21 - STROKELAND WELCOMES TONY ADAMO!

Strokeland Jazz is proud to welcome singer/songwriter TONY ADAMO with his latest release, STRAIGHT UP DEAL. A talented vocalist with a unique style, Adamo tackles R&B and Soul tunes alongside jazz standards and never fails to bring a unique perspective and a funky groove.

STRAIGHT UP DEAL features many world-class musicians, including Mic Gillette, Skip Mesquite, Paul Jackson, Mike Clark, and Strokeland's own Funky Doctor, Stephen 'Doc' Kupka, along with many more renowned players and is garnering national airplay.

STRAIGHT UP DEAL includes a Tony Adamo/Jerry Stucker-penned tune called 'Groove Therapy' written as a tribute to Doc Kupka, and features the Funky Doctor himself on bari sax. Give 'Groove Therapy' a listen as our Song of the Day here on this page.

READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE AND ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

TOP Ten Complaint Comebacks From Horn Band Sound Crew: By Al Carlos

10. If you are so sensitive to sound, Why didn't you BITE ME when I asked you?

9. If you are such an expert, why do you still wear a Walkman?

8. This is simple, the closer your fat head is to the speaker, the louder the music will be.

7. Playing the triangle in the marching band does not qualify you to comment on music.

6. If you know so much about sound why do you keep asking Ladies to dance and they keep saying NO!

5. There is a point in inebriation where your ears simply don’t work, trust me I’ve worked Heavy Metal.

4. The reason you can't hear the B 3 is becasue we don't use one stupid.

3. A high hat can not only be loud but painful to wear as well.

2. Why are you bothering me at work, you don't see me going to Mc Donalds and slapping the fries out of your hand.

1. If it’s too loud, you are too old.

TOP Ten differences between Star Wars Fans and Horn Band Fans by: Al Carlos

10. OB-1 – On the one…

9. The force be with you – The funk be in you.

8. 3 CPO – 3 See their old PO, (Probation Officer)

7. R2-D2- Are you Drunk too?

6. Stand in lines for days- Did lines for days.

5. Darth Vader- Oakland Raider.

4. Light Sabers- Straight Razors.

3. Chewbacca- Ju Mama.

2. Luke, I’m your Father- Luke, I’m not your Father, because your Mother is too ugly, and I’ve never been that toasted.

1. Hans Solo- Horn solo.

News From "The Groove Hogs"

From The Groove Hogs Myspace Page:

The Groove Hogs Need Your Help!!!

The Groove Hogs are making a live DVD recording on Friday April 10th 2009. The show is going to be at Knox's Silver Valley Ballroom in Manitowoc, WI. You are invited to be a part of the show! Tickets are $10. Go to http://www.groovehogs.com/ for tickets & info! Spread the word. even if you can't be there. Help us fill the room. For Tickets and Information visit http://www.groovehogs.com/....special/Knox.asp

By the way HornDrivenRadio has one of "The Groove Hogs" songs in our current Rotation.

Current Featured Artist: Funk Filharmonik

We are featuring three songs from Funk Filharmonik’s new CD : “Everybody Get Down” the title song “Everybody Get Down”, “We Get The Notion”, and “Gimme Lovin”.

“Everybody Get Down” can be purchased at CD Baby (click on the CD artwork to go to CD Baby).

Funk Filharmonik band members:

Ron Fox - trumpet
Greg Schleich - keyboards
Jack Knight - bass
John Scarpulla - tenor saxophone
Brent Carter - vocals
Ozzie Melendez - trombone, vocals, musical director
Tom Bowes – vocals
Steve Finkelstein – percussion
Chris Karlic - baritone saxophone
Dave Lavender - guitar
Vinny Cinquemani - trumpet, vocals
Lee Finkelstein - drums, co-leader

About Funk Filharmonik (from their Website):

Some say the Long Island funk scene started in Huntington, on one of those magical Monday nights in 1985 at Canterbury Ales, a popular musicians hang featuring the Jim Pin Band. A five piece horn section with whom the rhythm section had recently been rehearsing squeezed into the jam packed club in front of the club's infamous ultra-compact fold down stage. When they punched out the last note of Tower of Power's “What is Hip,” the crowd went wild, and what was to eventually become Funk Filharmonik was born.

It all actually started as nothing more than a rehearsal band.” Ozzie Melendez, the band's trombone player, principal writer and arranger, approached the band's former tenor sax player Alex Stewart with the idea of a band that could duplicate the sounds of Earth Wind and Fire and Tower of Power.

They presented the idea to bassist Rich Ebler and drummer Lee Finkelstein of the Jim Pin Band who Alex had been playing with on Monday nights. As it turned out, Lee and Rich had visions of the same band for years. An immediate alliance was formed. “I was so excited,” recounts Ozzie, “that I went home, and the very next day started transcribing six of my favorite Tower of Power tunes”. According to Lee, the group just started as a rehearsal band simply for the thrill of playing this music.

When Gary Smith, owner of the Brokerage(Seaford, NY), and long time pillar of Long Island's live music scene heard the line up of the band, he booked them sight unseen, without a demo tape. Many of Funk's members had performed regularly at The Brokerage and Gary knew the caliber of musicians he was dealing with. Funk Philharmonia (as they were originally called) first gig was on November 21st 1985. Since that first gig, there have been surprisingly few changes in the band's line up, especially for a group of this size.

Funk Filharmonik's big, fat, fiery horn sound and chunky rhythmic vibe has become a magnet for musicians and music lovers of all stripes, from jazz hipsters to rockin' bikers, from students to teachers, youngsters to oldsters, fans of jazz, funk, soul, R & B, listeners, dancers … and basically anyone who is in need of a “soul vaccination.” The Funk band has influenced many other local bands. Their performances have become a local hang for so many players. One never knows who is in the audience and might come up to sit in with the band, particularly when they gig in Manhattan.

The band does, after all, feature some of Long Island's hottest and most in demand players. Collectively, they've recorded and performed with icons of popular music, including Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Bootsy Collins, Shaggy, the Winans, Mariah Carey, The Allman Brothers, and so many more. Many of these guys have played with jazz and Latin giants including Tito Puente, Willie Colon, Freddie Hubbard, Jonathan Butler, Marc Anthony, Lionel Hampton, Jennifer Lopez, the Brecker Brothers, and a list that goes on forever. Their talents have added to countless TV and Broadway shows, and commercial jingles. At any given moment, these guys might be off as a band, a horn section, or individual players in the far corners of the world playing in such diverse settings as presidential inaugurations, midnight sun concerts in Sweden's Arctic Circle, or spiritual drum and dance ceremonies of Ghana, West Africa. The Band also prides itself in the many benefits they and their loyal following of funksters have supported for humanitarian and environmental causes.

For more about Funk Filharmonik check out their website by clicking here, or go to http://www.funkfilharmonik.com/

New Playlist Added

Playlist is in Artist order, not in order of play:

***Afroskull-Space Chicken
***Al Kooper-Id Rather Be An Old Mans Sweetheart (Than A Young Mans Fool)
***Anna King-Mama's Got a Bag of Her Own
***Anthony Setola-Oakland And Back
***Archie Bell And The Drells-The Soul City Walk
***Average White Band-Back To Basics
***Back To Basic-Key To Your Heart
***Beaufunk-Beaufunk Swing
***Bernie Worrell-Rock The House
***Big Band Der Bundeswehr-Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
***BIG HORNS BEE-Vamp Intro (Reprise)
***Bill Bergman & The Micro Jets-The Metro 3:30 A.M.
***Bing & The Bingtones-Funk With Me
***Blowzone-Pocket Change
***Bobby Byrd-I Know You Got Soul (Long Version)
***Bobby Wayne-Soul Station
***Boston Horns-50 lbs of Soul
***Brecker Bros.-Sneakin' Up Behide You
***Bruce Katz Band-Hep-Ology
***Candy Dulfer-Sax-A-Go-Go
***Chad Rager Groove-Squib Cakes
***Charles Wright-Love Land
***Cherry Poppin' Daddies-Zoot Suit Riot
***Chester Thompson-Power House
***Chuck Brown-Let The Good Times Roll
***Clayton/Scott Group-Color Of Love
***Cold Blood-You Got Me Hummin
***Cracked Ice-New Shade Of Bue
***Dan Penn-Zero Willpower
***Danny Weis-Graham Street Shuffle
***Daryl Hall-Cab Driver
***Dave Koz-Faces of the Heart
***Dave Murphy Band-Right This Moment
***David Egan-Half Past The Blues
***David Raitt & Jimmy Thackery-Id Rather Be Blind, Crippled, & Crazy
***David Sanborn-Hey
***Electric Flag-Soul Searchin'
***Francis Rocco Prestia-Don't Play Around
***Funk Filharmonik-Everybody Get Down
***Funk Filharmonik-We Get The Notion
***Funk Filharmonik-Gimme Lovin
***Gene Dozier-Hunk Of Funk
***Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band-There's The Rub
***Gota Yashiki-What's Up Charlie
***Grant Smith And The Power-Keep On Running
***Grant Smith And The Power-99.5
***Grant Smith And The Power-Her Own Life
***Heads Up Superband-Dancing At The Pogada
***Himlaväsen-Ain´t No Stoppin´ Now
***Ike Quebec-Blues For Charlie
***Jack Hammer-Swim
***Jaco Pastorius-Soul intro/The Chicken
***James Carr-You Don't Want Me
***Jay Beckenstein-Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
***Jay Soto-Slammin'
***Jazzkantine, Nils Landgren & Pee Wee Ellis-Schmackofatz
***Joe Cocker-Cry Me A River
***John Findlay-Intoxicated
***Jon Burr Band-Another Kind Of Love
***Joyce Cooling-Before Dawn
***Les McCann-Funk It
***Line Drive-You've Gotta Believe In Something
***Liquid Soul-This And That
***Lou Donaldson-Midnight Creeper
***Mann Brothers-Afternoon Delight
***Manu Dibango-Soul Makossa
***Marc Broussard-Love And Happiness
***Mark Dolin-Can't Stop Thinkin' About Ya
***Max Carl & Big Dance-Show Me The Money
***Maynard Ferguson-Watermelon Man
***Men From U.N.C.L.E.-Knock On Wood/Studio
***Mi22-Hit me with your rhythm
***Michael Grimm-I've Been Loving You
***Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers-Jackie Wilson Said
***Mingo Fishtrap-Catch The Bus
***Molasses-Straight From The Players
***New York Trumpet Company Artists-Fanfare and Reflections (for E.C.C.)
***Newtone-In The Beginning
***Nils Landgren-Give it up
***Norbert Stachel-Likeside Shuffle
***Out Of Control-Cardiac Party
***Patrick Allen-You Lit A Fire In Me
***Phantom Blues Band-Think
***Poncho Sanchez-Shotgun Slim
***Prime Time Funk-Fiesta De La Noche
***Reuben Wilson-Blues For McDuff
***Rick Braun-Down and Dirty
***Ridin' Thumb-Believe
***Rod Hedland-Someday
***Sage-Ants
***Santa Fe And The Fat City Horns-Ain't That Peculiar
***Santana-Watch Your Step
***Scott Martin-Just Don't Want To Be Lonely
***Seawind-What cha doin'
***Shilts-Promise Is A Promise
***Smokin With Superman-2 Sweet Fine Hams
***Steve Bassett-On A Saturday Night
***Steve Ferrone's Farm Fur-Pick Up The Pieces
***Strokeland Superband-Kick It Up A Step
***Strokeland Superband With Glenn Walters-Diamond Billy's Uptown Bar-B-Que
***Super Funky Express-One More Dance
***Susan Owens-Other Women Blues
***Tad Robinson-Too Late To Turn Back Now
***Ten Wheel Drive-Tightrope
***The Blues Brothers-634-5789
***The Chad Rager Modern Big Band-Sing, Sing, Sing
***The Chops Band-Groove Me
***The Doobie Brothers-Long Train Running
***The Groove Hogs-Shoulda Read The Rules
***The Hip Pocket-The Pocket
***The Ides of March-Vehicle (1970)
***The Maxwell Project-Radiation Funk/Meltdown
***The Mike Reilly Band-Back To The Basics
***Tom Saviano-Making Up Lost Time
***Tony Adamo-Groove Therapy
***Tower Of Power-Cruise Control
***Was (Not Was)-I Can't Turn You Loose
***Zen Blues Quartet-What A Life

TOP Ten reasons, Tower of Power will not be Dancing with the Stars: By Al Carlos

10. Female professional dancers afraid of un-wanted pregnancies.

9. Male professional dancers afraid of un-wanted beat downs.

8. Producers could not take the liability should one of Docs suspenders fail during a Paso Doble.

7. Network brass has seen the Knock Yourself Out dance which immediately disqualified them.

6. The only time the band wore costumes was before they quit drinking and met Bill W.

5. In Oakland, a quick step is only used during shoplifting.

4. The old dude middle judge still player hates them for upstaging Tom Jones a few years ago.

3. Scores on Judges cards would be higher than fans credit scores.

2. If they could get millions of fans to call in, they would be in the R&R Hall of fame where they belong.

1. TOP and the Funny Home Video guy are the only two with real jobs.