Classic Rock... The Way It Should Be Played
Born in Buffalo, New York, Tommy started his professional musical career at the age of 16 fronting local rock bands, Crossroads, The Beez, and Doby Royal. While in The Beez, Tommy wrote and released a single called “Me and My Girl” which sold several thousand copies and helped the band win a Buffalo music award for originality. Tommy went on to open for such national acts as John Cougar, Judas Priest, Ambrosia, Rick Derringer, Badfinger, Greg Kihn, Deep Purple and Grass Roots. In 1986 Tommy moved to Los Angeles where he continued his musical success, recording lead vocals for the title track of a zombie movie, laying vocals as a session musician, performing with John Fogerty at a charity event and playing at several entertainment studio events providing music for the talent of such television series as Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Alias, Scrubs, According to Jim, 8 Simple Rules and many more. Now residing in Ohio, Tommy continues to tour across the U.S. and most recently opened for Tommy James and the Shondells . You can hear the original material Tommy wrote and recorded on iTunes: Tommy Geraci’s “Youth is Wasted on the Young (1976-1986)”; Veronica's Toy “Unwrapped” and Veronica’s Toy “Humans Being”.
Jim’s family is from Tellico Plains, Tennessee (mother) and Pittston Pennsylvania (father), born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Jim began playing guitar at 12 years of age when his dad, a HAM radio operator, traded a radio ham set for Jim’s first guitar a 1954 Kay Thin Twin, which he uses today with a few modern upgrades. At the age of 15 Jim studied jazz guitar with Vince Bologna for 2 years while playing guitar in the Hoban High School Continentals Jazz Band traveling to other Brother’s of Holy Cross schools and Notre Dame University playing concerts. After high school Jim played with ‘Spyce’ a popular variety band made of ex-Hoban High school musicians and were the summer weekend entertainment at Francesca restaurant in Parma, Ohio playing every Friday and Saturday night. Jim also played in the Band Patchwork which included Paul Kapper, bass, Mark Gonder, (jazz great on drums), Mark Mothersbaugh, keyboard (pre-Devo) and Linda Vaughn, vocalist. Following Spyce and Patchwork Jim joined forces with Fred Slezak in the Madhouse which was a horn-based rock band playing the great hits of the 70’s and 80’s including Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, Eight Foot Clearance, Average White Band, Kool and the Gang. Musical changes morphed Madhouse into a dance band called Accent with Fred Slezak, Paul Kapper and two female singer fronts focusing on strictly 80’s and 90’s dance material. Subsequently, Jim has played with Blue Eyed Souls, Sight and Sound, 2 Boomers, Geez Catz, and currently Rio Bravo. Jim is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association and a life member of the American Federation of Musicians, local 24, and currently it’s Board Secretary.
Born and raised in Ohio, Paul Kapper started his musical career at the age of 10 and never looked back. From playing accordion to sousaphone to euphonium, Paul is a well rounded musician with a love for many genres of music. But it was in high school when Paul picked up his first bass guitar and joined his first rock band. Playing his first gig at the age of 14, Paul played with several cover bands until he met fellow bandmate Jim Felter. Together Paul and Jim formed a band in search of the perfect musicians, including Mark Mothersbaugh who joined their band before he moved on to start up DEVO. While attending the University of Akron, Paul continued to gig eventually joining Jim and keyboardist Fred Slezak in a popular horn band. Life and career took Paul in different directions but he never stopped playing and never lost his love for music. In the early 2000s, Paul reunited with Jim and Fred to organize a live band playing regularly at regional venues such as House of Blues Cleveland. Recently the trio was looking to start a new project. After meeting Tom Geraci, Paul introduced him to the other two members and everything clicked. They soon became RioBravo.
Fred is a classically trained pianist beginning his studies at age 9 and has given numerous solo recitals and performed with the University of Akron Symphony. He joined his first band over 50 years ago playing organ, electric piano, and synthesizer. Notable local bands over this time include Madhouse during the 70’s and 80’s, Accent – a premier club dance band in the 90’s, Rhythm Method – three-time first place winners of Docs Who Rock (Akron, Ohio United Way), and Sight-n-Sound – a high energy Motown group. He has collaborated with Paul and Jim on many musical projects since 1973.
Don was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and has been playing guitar for well over 50 years. He played in his first band during Junior High School, and has played in all sorts of bands around Northeast Ohio since. Don performed with the Cleveland area bands Bittersweet and Myriad in the ‘70’s. During his college years he taught guitar lessons at various music stores throughout Northeast Ohio. In recent years he has played in Dogwood Lane, a rock band playing all original Christian music. The Dogwood Lane lineup included Joe Vitale. He played in Caryn and the Cruise for several years, as well as the band, FROG. He has been heavily influenced by such blues and rock guitarists as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Carlos Santana, B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy and countless others.
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