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Charlie Vatalaro - Alto and Tenor Saxaphone - Band Director
Born and raised in the Boston
area, Charlie was a regular on the local club circuit by his mid teens. His first big break came as a member of the
Greater Boston Youth Jazz Ensemble led by John LaPorta. A stint in the 18th U.S. Army Band followed
where he was a featured soloist on clarinet and saxophone, as well as staff
arranger. After the Army, Charlie
received a B.A. degree in jazz history from UMASS Amherst, and an M.A degree in
jazz techniques from Goddard
College.
Over the years he has been a sideman or opening act for such
musical heavyweights as Cannonball Adderley, Roland Kirk, Aretha Franklin,
Patty La Belle, B.B. King, Tom Jones, Paul Anka, Sonny and Cher, Debbie
Reynolds, Peggy Lee, The Lettermen, The Vogues and Steve Lawrence and Edie
Gorme, to name a few.
A respected woodwind artist, clinician, arranger, record
producer and educator, Charlie is currently Director of Recording and Broadcast
Services at the U. at Albany, Albany, NY. He is also a featured soloist with blues legend,
Ernie Williams.
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Rocky Petrocelli -
Drums
A
20 year veteran of the Ernie Williams Band, Rocky is a consummate drum set
artist and percussionist. He is an
expert on the rhythmic interpretation of the American blues idiom as well as
contemporary drum set performance. A
teacher for many years, he is the co-author of a text on contemporary drum set
technique and styles with legendary drummer Dino Danelli of the Rascals and is
the owner of Rocky's Music Store in East Greenbush,
NY.
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Michael Kelley - Keyboards
... has been playing keyboards in and around the Albany area since
the early 70's. His band, The
Sharks, received considerable success throughout the 80's
recording six albums and touring the northeast. In the mid 90's he
signed on with the Albany
based and nationally known group Blotto of which he is still
a member. He joined The Ernie
Williams Band in 1997 and has seen many
personnel changes since then. Along with Ernie he also does gigs
and studio work with a variety of artists and is currently playing
and singing in his own trio called Circle of Wills.
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Hank Soto - Guitar
Featured
soloist with the legendary Stony Creek Band, Hank delivers strongly musical,
yet driving, and emotionally charged performances. A master of various guitar styles, Hank is as
comfortable in any performance situation, and is especially noted for his slide
guitar work. As a performer who exhibits
the rare combination of virtuosic technique and melodic sensitivity, he is in
constant demand.
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Michael
Dunn - Bass
... a native of Woodstock
NY has been with Ernie Williams
for the past eight years and, together with the band, has burned up stages in
honky tonks and concert halls. With much studio experience, he has contributed
to several Ernie Williams recordings including the fine 2003 CD "Something
on my Mind". In addition, Dunn has toured all over North America and recorded with such luminaries as The
Band, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Eddie Kirkland, Graham Parker, John Hyatt, John
Anderson, Cyndi Lauper, and Eric Clapton.
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David Malachowski - Guitar
...is a guitarist, producer and journalist
based in Woodstock NY. Though known for his high profile work as
bandleader/guitarist with superstar Shania Twain, Malachowski has garnered
acclaim in the blues world as well, touring the states and Europe, and
recording 3 CDs during his 5 year tenure with British blues rockers Savoy
Brown. Malachowski also played the San Francisco Blues Festival in 2005 with
Long John Baldry, Rod Price and Kim Simmonds as the British Blues All-stars.
Malachowski has played with Ernie Williams for years now,
and always looks forward to the his music and friendship.
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Jason
LaDanye - Guitar
... started playing piano and guitar at age seven. Even at such a young
age, he became interested in blues and jazz styles. When Jason was
fifteen, he joined Ernie Williams and quickly became the featured soloist in
the band. Jason worked with Ernie for four years with frequent trips to New York City, Chicago and Boston. While working
with Ernie, he recorded one live and three studio albums. It was during this
period he first became recognized on the upstate New York music scene. Opportunity knocked and Jay left the Ernie Williams Band
to tour with the Grammy-nominated, W.C. Handy Award-winner, Shemekia Copeland
for four years. He plays opposite legendary producer, Dr. John, on Copeland's
third CD, Talking to Strangers, released in 2003. Although Jay now fronts his
own band "Lil Jay and the Cardsharks", he frequently plays lead guitar or
keyboard with the Ernie Williams Band.
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