Gene Argel, native of the Pacific Northwest, studied piano and composition at the University of Puget Sound, and played in various clubs and venues in Seattle while completing his degree in education.
Gene says: “I’ve always had a Hammond B3 organ”; “I’ve played in Las Vegas, Denver, and on the road in the 70’s, and in Los Angeles in recording studios and clubs.”
In 1980, Gene moved to Honolulu to play for the Dick Jensen show, with saxophone player Gabe Baltazar at the Cavalier jazz club, and with trumpeter Joe Burnett (“Joe B”) at Valentino’s.
Paul Marchetti is from Englewood, New Jersey. He started his career in 1973, touring and recording with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary. During this time Paul appeared on such TV shows as the Tonight Show, the Merv Griffin Show, the Mike Douglas Show, Midnight Special, In Concert with Dick Clark, and many local shows in various cities.
In 1976 Paul recorded with Brazilian musician, composer, arranger, and producer, Eumir Deodato, and also worked with Brazilian percussionist Rubens Bassini. In 1977 he recorded the rock opera “Intergalactic Touring Band “, a project for Passport records. In 1978 Paul worked with vocalist Martha Velez and recorded the album “American Heartbeat “, for Sire Records. Later that year he toured Japan with Japanese rock star Joe Yamanaka, recorded the album “Joe Yamanaka Live at Nippon Budokan “, for Atlantic Records.
Emil Richards started playing the xylophone at age six. He is a graduate of Julius Hart School of Music, (now known as University of Connecticut) and Hilliard College. He joined the Hartford Symphony Orchestra while in tenth grade, working under Arthur Fiedler and Fritz Mahler. He began to work around New England with Bobby Hackett, Flip Phillips, and Chris Connor.
In 1959 he moved to Los Angeles where he worked with the Paul Horn Quintet, Jimmy Witherspoon, the Shorty Rogers Big Band, Lennie Bruce, and Lord Buckly. He started recording for Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle, Judy Garland, Sarah Vaughan, and Doris Day.
Danny M studied jazz with Thad Jones at William Patterson College in New Jersey. After moving to Los Angeles in 1983, he became an active touring and recording free-lance bassist. In addition to television, movie, and show work, he had the opportunity to work with many latin, jazz, and fusion artists. He also worked with jazz and pop artists while with the staff orchestra of the “The Merv Griffin Show”.
After 9 years in Europe that included 2 years in Paris with the Orchestre National de Jazz, Danny M* is now living on an island commonly known and described as Maui.
Eric Schneider was born and raised in the Chicago area. A prodigy, he was able to play melodies on the piano at age three. He started piano lessons at five, clarinet lessons at ten and saxophone lessons at fifteen. After graduation with a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois, he moved back to Chicago and joined Jim Beebe’s Chicago Jazz Band. An audition tape sent to Earl Fatha’ Hines resulted in a four-year world-wide engagement, as well as the album Eric and Earl (Hines insisted on second billing).
With Hines’ blessing, Eric accepted an offer to join the Count Basie Orchestra and toured with Basie for two years and recorded three albums including the Grammy Award-winning 88 Basie Street. He has recorded two other albums as a leader and many others as a sideperson.
Doug White, original house band favorite at Blackie’s Bar & at Blackie’s jazz events.
