Maestro Dick Bright (band leader) - the Guy Lombardo of rock.

Dick Bright's professional career began in 1974 by playing electric violin in the Berkeley-based, Little Roger and the Goosebumps, whose Dr. Dimento favorite "Gilligan's Island/Stairway To Heaven" is a cult classic. For the next eleven years Bright became a fixture of the Bammies (Bay Area Music Awards) as musical director where his thirty- piece rock orchestra backed the likes of Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt.

In 1984 Bright became the musical director of the Fairmont Hotel's legendary supper club, the Venetian Room. Dick truly got a taste of working with the best in the biz as his ten-piece big band accompanied such stars as Ella Fitzgerald, B.B. King, James Brown, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, the Staple Singers, Peggy Lee, just to name a few.

In addition to his music, Bright is also a professional actor who has appeared in such films as "Mrs. Doubtfire", "Getting Even With Dad", and most recently with Eddie Murphy in, "Metro." With a flair for the theatrical, Bright hosted his own children's cartoon show from 1988-1990 on a local SF station (the one with the dogs in the chair) where he was known as "Maestro Dick". To this day, Bright swears that "nothing beats getting paid to watch cartoons."

In 1992 Dick founded SRO, a wonderful blend of 70's, 80's and 90's hits mixed with contemporary choreography and a little bit of humor. The maestro describes it as "MTV of VH1 live." Currently, SRO performs everywhere from Hawaii to Puerto Rico, Cancun to Vancouver. "It's Lawrence Welk meets Earth, Wind, and Fire", says Bright.

"Let's get busy...shall we?

Laura Ahlstrand - Vocalist

Laura Ahlstrand got her start ironing shirts for the Dick Bright Orchestra. When Mr Bright (as one is instructed to call him) overheard her humming the entire score of Bye Bye Birdie, he replaced the iron in her hand with a microphone. Six years later her mellifluous voice has soothed thousands. And if you listen closely you'll hear that Laura only sings lyrics that are thought provoking and inspirational (not to mention 100% biodegradable, net free, ozone friendly, and never tested on animals).

In her spare time she can be found overhauling her juicer, cleaning and gapping her sparkplugs, planting and watering every forth night, and/or preparing cuisine from non industrialized nations.

To hear her is to love her.

Skyler Jett - Vocalist

Not too many people can say that they knew what they wanted to do in life from the age of five. When it came to singer, songwriter and producer Skyler Jett however, this was the rule rather than the exception. "My mom was a gospel vocalist," says Jett. "She rubbed off on me and I've always been singing." Raised in Oakland, California, with a family of entertainers, the seeds were then planted and the talented artist developed from these early influences.

At 11, he emulated Michael Jackson and at 13, he started working in nightclubs. "I was the youngest one in the band," recalls Jett. "They actually made me stand outside on the breaks." Well, he doesn't do much standing around anymore. His list of credits range from recording appearances with Barbra Streisand to The New Kids On The Block, as well as, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Al Jarreau and Tevin Campbell, to name a few.

One of the highlights of Jett's career came in 1982. He joined the well established Commodores, replacing Lionel Ritchie, for a world tour of 31 countries.

In addition to composing and arranging for various artists, Jett has emerged as a significant talent in the Bay Area. In 1992, he released his single, "That's Life," and received tremendous praise.

Keep your eye on Skyler Jett - this is one flight that you don't want to miss!

Sandy Griffith - Vocalist

The lovely and talented Sandy Griffith is definitely not a newcomer to the music business. Some of her live performance accolades include: being a two time winner on Ed McMahn's Star Search; touring with Huey Lewis & the News and Kenny Loggins: as well as, sharing the stage with the likes of Natalie Cole, Alexander O'Neal, Cherrelle and Montelle Jordan. With all of that vast experience she still credits a lot of her performing experience to Dick Bright's SRO. As one of the lead singers in this popular band, she sings and dances, and has traveled extensively around the world.

When Sandy is not performing live, she is a regular on recording sessions with producers, Narada Michael Walden and Walter Afanasieff. She can be heard singing background vocals on albums by Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Steve Winwood, Shanice Wilson and countless other artists.

Currently, this talented young lady is working on her solo project and it won't be long before Sandy Griffith is a mainstay at the top of the charts.

Fred Ross - Vocalist

Fred Ross is a dynamic, talented vocalist and musician who has been performing professionally...practically since he could walk.

Fred has performed on concert bills with top talent such as Pete Escovedo, Tower of Power, Huey Lewis and the News, Curtis Ohlson, Graham Central Station and Lionel Ritchie. He has recorded vocals for a number of well known artists and producers such as Narada Michael Walden, Lisa Fisher, Pee Wee Ellis and Aretha Franklin.

Recently, Fred completed his first solo CD, "Dignity", on Strokeland Records. Visit Fred's web site and find out even more...

David "Omar" Seabury - Vocalist

David has been involved in the local Rock & Roll scene since the mid 70's. He played bass guitar with such bands as "Little Roger and the Goosebumps" and "Jonathan Richman", and drums with Berkeley's infamous "Psycotic Pineapple". When on break from his "Omar" duties with SRO, he heads the band sensation "The Feztones", of course.

Also an accomplished painter, sculptor and photographer, David credits music and art as being the driving force of his life. "They intertwine even as they compel." He paints and assembles his sculptures in much the same way that he writes music: beginning with no set goal, he then improvises and lets the piece emerge. The inspirations for his paintings and sculptures come from both musicians and artists.

David began painting in 1988, using discarded paint and canvases from the Berkeley dump, where he worked as a salvager for Urban Ore. In 1989 he began assembling sculptures using scrap metals. "I received no formal art instruction, except for some positive support from my art teacher, Bill Dane at Berkeley High School." Most of his education comes from reading art books and visiting museums and galleries

"I consider my lack of formal training an advantage. No one has been around to tell me, You can't do that or It's done this way." His aim is to create visual stimulation, to challenge viewers to ask, "What the hell is going on here?" Many styles and influences are embraced in his art and he doesn't concern himself with worrying about whether his work is ground breaking or "original".

Tony Stead - Keyboards

At age 9, Tony Stead started playing guitar then switched to piano at age 12. His professional career began at age 15 playing concerts, club dates, casuals, recording sessions, tours, television and radio dates all over the US, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, and Australia with The Gospel Hummingbirds, Joe Louis Walker, Chris Isaak, Ike Turner, Lenny Williams, Rodney Franklin, Robbie Shakespeare, Little Anthony, The Coasters, The Drifters, the Supremes. The list goes on.

Tony can be heard currently on the new album of Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste titled "Zigaboo.com" (Legendary drummer of the Meters).He also has been gigging and recording with The Dave Meniketti Band (of Y & T fame), Chris Cobb, Pamela Rose, The Wendy Waller Band

When not performing with SRO, Tony devotes much of his life to the love of playing with his mighty organ.... The Hammond B-3, that is. It gets really hard sometimes to spank that left hand across the ivory beast, but he manages to keep it up for quite a while.

Gerald Aguon - Drums

Temporarily could not be reached for comments. But don't worry we will soon have this debonair guy's bio posted, So, stay tuned.

Dewayne Pate - Bass

Dewayne is a graduate of the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles where he studied privately with Jeff Berlin and Bob Magnusson. Upon graduation in 1981, Dewayne continued to reside in Los Angeles where he found himself working with the likes of Steve Lukather and steel-guitar players, Sneaky Pete Kleinow and J.D. Manness.

After living for two years in Los Angeles, Dewayne spent some time doing "pay your dues" road gigs, most notably with Bobby Freeman of "Do Ya Wanna Dance" and "The Swim" fame.

Since returning home to the Bay Area, he has worked with a wide array of artists including Huey Lewis & The News, Boz Scaggs, Tracy Nelson, Robben Ford, Pete Escovedo, Charlie Musselwhite, Bonnie Hayes, Chris Cain and others.

His highly acclaimed instructional video, "The Art of Tapping" met with rave reviews and is now being sold around the globe.

Dewayne is currently a columnist for Bassics Magazine, and can be found recording with the Ford Blues Band.

Tommy Dunbar - Guitar

Tommy Dunbar is a founding member of the Rubinoos. This pop quartet has appeared on numerous TV shows: American Bandstand, The Rolling Stone Magazine Anniversary Special, The Old Grey Whistle Test (England), Top Pop (Netherlands), Rockpalast (Germany). The Rubinoos opened a 56 city U.S. tour for Elvis Costello, toured Europe several times, and has recorded a half dozen albums, including one produced by Todd Rundgren. Their version of the Tommy James song' "I Think We're Alone Now" was a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

Aside from being the chief songwriter for the Rubinoos, he has penned songs for Modern English, Yuko, The Party, Kyle Vincent, and a band that featured Omar (David Seabury) on drums with The Psycotic Pineapple.

You can find more of Tommy's writing and production skills in the films "Revenge Of The Nerds", Bachelor Party", "Once Bitter", and the recently released "Fern Gully II".

His life long dream:
To play for Florence Henderson.

Louis Fasman- Trumpet

Louis Fasman grew up in Redwood City. Though a Bay Area native he went to College at CSU Los Angeles. While living in the LA area he toured with the Maynard Ferguson Band, the Paul Anka Orchestra, and Circus Vargas.

In 1991 Louis moved back to the Bay Area. Besides SRO, currently works with the Pete Escovedo Orchestra, Wayne Wallace's Rhythm And Rhyme, and the American Musical Theatre of San Jose. You can find his trumpeting on CD recordings by Steve Winwood, Pete Escovedo, Ray Charles, Rebecca Mauleon, Wayne Wallace, as well as, on movie soundtracks include "Soapdish", "Triumph of the Spirit", and "Hot Shots".

His interests include Baseball, Golf, Tennis, Wine Tasting!! (sounds good about now), and playing music of all varieties.

Johnnie Bamont - Saxophone

This talented and versatile saxophonist has a contemporary style that lends itself to today's demands for working in many different musical situations. A San Francisco native who grew up in the musically diverse environment that the Bay Area offers, from grade school through college, Johnnie Bamont was performing in jazz, classical, Latin and R&B groups.

Johnnie currently works with Bay Area artists Boz Scaggs and violinist/harpist Carlos Reyes. He not only has been on recording dates ranging from the Oakland group Tony, Toni, Toné to jazz vocalist Diane Schurr, but you can find him on tracks for the movie, "Duets", featuring Gwyneth Paltrow. When in LA he works with Greg Adams (arranger/trumpet formerly with the Tower of Power) and was filmed with Greg's band on a Latin talk show pilot as part of the house band. The band also includes musicians such as Brandon Fields, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Chuck Finley, and Melvin Davis.

Check it out Johnnie's full Biography .

Rene Jenkins - Trombone

Keyboard, didjeridu, arranger, songwriter, wine-lover/collector/connoisseur, kazooer, bathroom-singer, and just an all around "good-guy"

In the field of Jazz & Pop, Rene Jenkins has performed with some true heavy weights: Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, Bill Watrous, Maynard Ferguson, Joe Williams, Bobby Shew, Richie Cole, Tom Scott, Patti Page, Bob Crosby, Harry Babbette, Warren Cuvington, Greg Almond, and all the "use to be" greats. Rene also prides himself on being featured on all the most obscure record labels in Northern California. Names of labels could be provided, yet in the interest of keeping obscurity they are not listed here.

When asked about his personal goals: "Mastery, to be fully in the moment; to speak the truth; to have the cleanest intestinal tract ever known to man; to walk on water, manifest light and love on the planet; bring Heaven and Earth together; set practical goals; be fully me; play the SHIT out of the trombone!!!; to be healthy, happy, and abundantly rich!!!"

Tops on his list of special interests: Indigenous cultures study; shamanism; traveling; wine collecting, aging, bartering, and organizing educational blind-tastings; Shiatsu massage; alternative medicine; scuba diving; mushroom hunting; backpacking; and, much more!

Taipai Chung - Violin

Taipai Chung (a.k.a. Tippy) was discovered working as a snake charmer, luring snakes out of their baskets with the voluptuous eloquence of what has become her trademark violin playing. One humid evening, in the squalid depths of the Paraguayan subway, Dick Bright stumbled upon her and realized that here was the violin siren he had been searching for. He begged and pleaded with her to join his band, offering everything from malt balls to vegetarian potstickers. She finally relented, but only on the condition that he pay for a spinal operation which one of her snakes needed. Taipai has been luring ordinarily reticent party goers out onto the dance floor ever since.

Not only is Taipai proficient in hot snake tunes and the SRO songlist, she holds a turbulent passion for the classical genre as well. Her classical group, Q, has experienced the odd phenomenon of performing at weddings where guests, swept away by luscious Bach renditions, have undergone sudden spontaneous combustion. Her talent is indeed, a force to be reckoned with.

Holly Heilig - Violin

Though Holly Heilig grew up all over the Mainland US, she spent her formative years in the SF Bay Area beginning violin studies at age 7. As a professional, she began performing at the age of 18. Now she is a mainstay violinist in many of the Bay Area regional symphonies, including: California Symphony, San Jose Symphony, Monterey Symphony, and the Women's Philharmonic.

"Ten years ago I founded and started managing my own classical string quartet with whom I currently perform."

Through her endeavors as a the consummate violinist she has had the privilege of accompanying many distinguished entertainers. Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Rod Stewart, Moody Blues, Luciano Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra, Yanni, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Burt Bacarac, Johnny Mathis, Dionne Warwick, Doc Severenson are among an ever growing list.

Patty Kim - Violin

Patty Kim, a classically trained violinist, is one of the newest members of SRO and has been playing since the age of five. Growing up in the Los Angeles area she participated in many festivals and won several competitions, as well as, played with various chamber and symphonic organizations. Patty attended the University of California in Los Angeles where she majored in Violin Performance. After graduating from UCLA Patty moved to San Francisco where she has resided for the past 3 years. She now teaches privately and plays with several symphony orchestras throughout the Bay Area.

Holly Silk - Dancer

aka "Ruby"

Measurements:
36C (with pads)
23
34

Philosophy: Life is like an ice cream cone...if you don't lick it, it's gonna melt (drip).

Likes: Kittens, jewelry (send garnets & gold only!) and, a good self tanner.

Dislikes: When you can't blow dry your hair like they did at the salon!!

Stephanie Klann- Dancer

Stephanie is the newest of the Banji girls. A native Northern Californian, Stephanie has been dancing since the age of three and has performed around the world (thanks to cruise ships!). She joined SRO part-time in May of 1999 and was promoted to full Banji girl status in January, 2000. Her favorite artist is Dr. Dre, her favorite music is hip-hop because it "gets my mojo working".