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| The Real Rock Drive Roster of Musicians | |
Carmen Cosentino - Guitar / Lead Vocals
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| As a New Jersey kid Carmen Cosentino was a regular attendee of the
Upstage Club in Asbury Park , N.J. where he jammed frequently with Bruce
Springsteen, Little Steven, Southside Johnny, and other Jersey rockers.
Carmen hired Tico Torres, drummer for Bon Jovi, his first touring gig
playing drums for the Marvelettes in the late 1970’s. As lead guitarist
and vocalist Carmen has performed with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
members Ronnie Spector, which included a performance at Madison Square
Garden , Johnnie (Johnny B. Goode) Johnson, touring Asia with the late
R&R Hall Of Famer Michael Merritt (Conan O’Brian Show) on bass, as the
Johnnie Johnson Trio. He has also accrued fourteen years touring the world as Chubby Checker’s lead guitarist and musical director, eleven years with Bill Haley's Comets, and is currently performing as guitarist for 6 time Hall of Fame inductee Shirley Alston Reeves as well as guitarist and vocalist with his own band, Real Rock Drive. |
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| Jim Wacker - Keyboards / Vocals
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| Keyboard/vocals for Jim Wacker and Collateral Damage. Musical director of Chubby Checker & the Wildcats.
Jammaster at The Uptown Jam in Port Chester NY for over 22 years. Keyboard/vocals for Real Rock Drive.
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| Hurricane Bob Alfano -
Harmonica / Vocals
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| Hurricane Bob has been a member of Real Rock Drive since 2013. He has briefly been a member of several other bands over the years including The Renegades, The Naughty Boyz, The Agents, Groove Chemistry and The Dave Fields Band. Hurricane Bob has been frequently seen onstage "sitting in with the band" at countless notable venues across the country. He has had the opportunity to sit in with musical greats like Hubert Sumlin (Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf Fame), Billy Gibson (The Prince of Beale Street), Lou Pallo (Les Paul Trio), Jon Paris and Debbie Hastings (Bo-Diddley Band) and of course Carmen Cosentino and the members of Real Rock Drive. |
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| Bert Blind - Bass / Vocals | |
| Long time resident of the NYC Bleeker
Street Music Scene, having played for Popa Chubby, Joe Taino and Conner
Tribble's Interesting Guys, just to name a few. Bert overcame a tragic
accident breaking most of the fingers on both of his hands. After much
pain and therapy, Bert has come back playing stronger than ever and is
currently a full time member of Real Rock Drive. |
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| Jeff Hackworth -
Saxaphone
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| With his big tone and hard-swinging style, New York City based saxophonist, Jeff Hackworth possesses all the right ingredients to produce soulful, intelligent and passionate music. He honed his sound and feel while playing countless gigs in smoky clubs and on the road doing big-band swing with the Tommy Dorsey Band (Buddy Morrow edition) and blues with Matt “Guitar” Murphy’s band. He has performed with artists as diverse as Buddy Rich, Mel Torme', the Temptations, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chubby Checker and the Goo Goo Dolls. |
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| Richie Monica -
Drums
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| Richie was a hired gun/session player around the New York City area, and has recorded over fifty CD's with many artists, including the Billy Hector Band (alumni include Shawn Pelton, Van Romaine, Don Hickey and Sim Cain), Ja Candy (Anthony Robustelli) and Cycle of Pain (John Deservio), Tantric and Popa Chubby, just to name a few. |
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| Stevo Nelson -
Spicerack / Vocals
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| Stevo is a New Jersey native who “left to Nawlins' after he graduated high school". He started working at Tipitina's, what he calls his "Julliard". That is where the idea for "The Spicerack" was born. The Spicerack is his variation of a washboard, adorned with various percussion items such as cow bells, wood blocks and cymbals. Stevo and his unique instrument has played with a who’s who of New Orleans and National acts like The Neville Brothers, The subdudes, The Radiators, Phish, and many other local bands far too numerous to mention here. |
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| Patrick Carmichael -
Drums
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| Patrick Carmichael was the original drummer for Real Rock Drive. Patrick has an extensive array of freelance drumming experiences which includes session work, touring, club dates, and accompanying in a staggering variety of musical genres, here are some notable musical credits: MIdtown Men - Broadway star-studded oldies rock and roll band, The Blue Flower - Off-Broadway theater production, Woody Allen's Dixieland Jazz Band - Traditional Jazz, “Lion King Broadway" - Hit Broadway production, Bill Haley’s Comets - 50’s and 60’s rock and roll, Agua Clara - Andes latin music group, Van Davis - instrumental jazz and fusion, Jann Klose - NY singer/songwriter, Amy Regan - NY singer/songwriter, Moe Holmes - NY Blues artist, The Kin - NY based rock band, and Michael Powers - NY Blues, just to name a few. |
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| Alex Stone - Bass | |
| Alex was a founding member of Real Rock
Drive and has performed with Carmen for the last twenty years in
numerous bands including: Shirley Alson Reeves and Bill Haley's Comets.
He is currently upright bassist for a number of New York City Orchestras
including the United Nations Orchestra.
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| Frank Yanni - Keyboards
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| Frank Yanni was brought up in a musical household. His father played trumpet in big bands, his mother played organ
and sang in the church choir, and his sister was a concert pianist.
Over the years, Frank has developed an impressive list of notable
bands and people he has played, recorded and toured with including: 1910
Fruitgum Co., TCB, Hotspur, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and The Marvelettes.
Having performed at famous venues such as The Fillmore East, The
Metrapole, The Bottom Line, The Bitter End, The Stanhope House and BB
Kings, he has jammed with many musical greats such
as Steven Stills, Blood Sweat & Tears, Deep Purple, April Wine and MRQ.
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| John DiGiulio - Drums
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| John is Professional Drummer with over 30
years experience. He is a well respected musician who takes pride in
working well with all team players. John has toured the world with
several top artists including Gloria Gaynor, Gary US Bonds, Paul Simon,
Little Anthony and many other local bands and agencies.
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| John Oakes - Drums /
Vocals
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| John Oakes is a seasoned drummer and singer
based in Morris County, NJ. John has played drums for dozens of national
and local acts including Chubby Checker, The Platters and The
Marvelettes. As leader of The John Oakes Band, John recorded and
released three original albums: "Anything Off the Bottom Shelf", "I'm an
Acorn, I'm a Tree", "John Oakes and the Groomsmen."
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