PLAYERS + MUSICAL BIOS
Michelle
Joni
Michelle Joni's musical career started in musicals, landing many a lead and significant theater role from elementary to high school. She first developed as a songwriter in summer camp, where the annual Girls Sing and Color War events both required clever parody songs and chants from each team. Sharing a birthday with Weird Al Yancovic, Michelle always felt she was meant to be writing song parodies.
This lead naturally to an early career in covers. She pursued cabaret, singing at Susanne Bartsch parties, open mics and bars, bonfires and side stages, making DIY music videos, Fever in the morning, Fever all through the night, and eventually joining forces with singer songwriter pop pianist Janna Pelle, to form Michelle My Pelle, a Beatles Cabaret Duet.
As she began to get more mic time, she only wanted more of it. She realized that if she could write great parodies and also sing soulful covers, she could probably put the two together and make her own music. It started out satirical, situational and often self-deprecating, as Joni's early songs capture her life story in action, and the curious paradoxes of the spiritual path. The speed at which she was able to write and release songs increased exponentially as she learned how to beatbox and freestyle flow, and simultaneously figure out the ropes of the music production process. She has put out music with producers Robin Hood, Redddaz, The Tone and Chris Young, and has fueled the creation process with live music collaborators including Killin H8 (Sir Kn8 and Hila the Killa), Ohene Cornelius, Christopher Leyva, Jeff Connors and Happy Accident.
Swimming in Rainbows marks a significant next evolution in Michelle Joni's musical career.
INSTAGRAM @michellejoni
ROBIN DIAZ
featuring
+ percussive accomplice
Robin was born and raised in Los Angeles California. He began his love affair with drums at 6 years old, playing on boxes, pots and pans and then graduating to a drum kit at the age of 8. During Jr.High he was playing in multiple bands, garages and backyard parties; eventually graduating to the L.A. club scene. After high school he attended Musicians Institute in Hollywood California, under the PIT program. It was there that he studied with top session drummers and teachers Joe Pocaro, Ralph Humphries and Fred Dinkens to name a few.
After graduating MI Robin began playing and recording with local artists in L.A. and then soon hitting the road. For Robin being on the road was not just about playing live, it was an opportunity to cultivate relationships with other musicians, singers, songwriters and producers who would later called upon him to record drums for their projects.From there it grew from one record then another, to having songs all over the radio; being played all over the world.
INSTAGRAM @robindiaz
Ricky Z
Dangineer
Ricky Z, Guitarist, Composer and Producer steps out as an artist in his own right with his debut Contemporary Blues Album “The Long and Dusty Road”, featuring Bill Champlin, Lisa Kekaula (the BellRays), Walfredo Reyes Jr., Ed Roth, and Bill Lanham. He paints a landscape that encompasses the depth and scope of both traditional and modern blues with a twist of Funk & Rock ‘n Roll and a hint of Cajun. Pure and solely Ricky Z.
After a rich career that has spanned from Live Shows and Touring to Recording, T.V. and Movie work, Ricky Z has worked with a myriad of stellar artists including Jessica Simpson, Lauryn Hill, Josh Groban, Steven Tyler, Steve Lukather, The Sweet, Vesta Williams, Don Grusin, Beto Cuevas, Orianthi, Gloria Estefan, and Michael Bublé. Learn more at rickyzonline.com
INSTAGRAM @rickyzgtr
Dan Moore aka Dangineer was born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA into a thriving local music scene, where he quickly found mentors in the musicians playing in bands such as Dishwalla, The Ataris, Sugarcult, and others. He also got his first taste of studio life as an intern and assistant engineer for these bands' recording projects, and fell in love with recording and production at an early age.
After a few years of touring as a drummer with a handful of local and national acts including Plain White T’s, The Ataris and Drake Bell, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a full time career as a recording engineer and producer. He's been trusty Dangineer to John Fogerty, Aloe Black, and Juan Gabriel to name a few, but can still be found behind the drum kit whenever he gets a chance!
INSTAGRAM @dmoorepics
MARK HUDSON
Laurence Juber
GRAMMY® winning guitarist Laurence Juber is a solo performer, recording artist, composer and arranger. His playing fuses folk, jazz, blues, pop and classical styles, creating a multi-faceted performance that belies the use of only one instrument.
A music graduate of London’s Goldsmith’s College, he was featured guitar soloist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra before becoming established as a studio musician in the mid-1970’s.
First internationally recognized as lead guitarist in Beatle Paul McCartney’s Wings, with whom he won a Grammy, Juber has since established himself as world-renowned guitar virtuoso and entertainer.
Juber, known to his fans as LJ, has released 25 solo albums which spotlight his unique touch and tone on acoustic guitar. The latest, LJ Can’t Stop Playing The Beatles! is the third in his series of arrangements by the Fab Four.
As a studio musician, he can be heard on recordings from artists as diverse as Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks, Seal and the French chanteuse Sylvie Vartin, plus he is featured on the soundtracks to hundreds of TV shows such as Home Improvement and movies including the academy award-winning Dirty Dancing, Good Will Hunting and Pocahontas. Learn more at laurencejuber.com
INSTAGRAM @laurencejuber
Mark is a Grammy award winning songwriter and producer who has worked with artists such as Ringo Starr, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Harry Nilsson, Cher, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper and Celine Dion. Mark first came on the scene in a rock band with his brothers, Bill and Brett--the Hudson Brothers. Their band, deeply influenced by the Beatles, had two top-20 hits, “So You Are A Star” and “Rendezvous” produced by Bernie Taupin for Elton John’s Rocket Records. In 1974, the Hudson Brothers became Sonny and Cher’s summer replacement on television, which eventually evolved into the Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show. It was one of the first live-action variety shows in the 70s mixing music and comedy. The brothers became friends with John Lennon during his Lost Weekend period through Elton John, and their Beatle influence continued. The Brothers enjoyed much success with 7 albums and concert tours worldwide.
Mark then went on to learn music production from the legendary Phil Ramone, and began producing and writing songs for a variety of top artists. In 1992, Phil felt Mark was ready to fly solo while working on Ringo Starr’s “Time Takes Time” album. Mark went on to produce 8 albums with Ringo including “Ringorama”, “Vertical Man” and “Choose Love”, to name a few, and was often joined by George Harrison and Paul McCartney as guest stars on Ringo’s albums.
Then, in 1993, Mark wrote the Grammy winning song, “Livin’on the Edge” for Aerosmith, which went to number one worldwide. In 2005, Mark was a cast member on the Simon Cowell smash hit, “The X Factor” along with Sharon Osbourne. Mark was the vocal coach known as “Weird Beard” and Sharon’s partner for 3 years on the hit series. During that time, Mark wrote and produced, “It’s Chico Time”, which went to number one in England. He also produced Ozzy Osbourne’s first number one single titled, “Changes” with Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne.
In 2011, Mark produced Pete Seeger, Jeff Beck, Seal and Billy Bragg tracks for the critically acclaimed Bob Dylan Tribute Album for Amnesty International. In 2012, Mark released his much anticipated solo album, “The Artist”, which is a psychedelic autobiography, with guest stars such as Ringo Starr, Steven Tyler, Harry Nilsson and Joe Perry. In 2014, Mark released his solo CD called, “The Hooligan”, and believe me, the name fits. Also, Mark produced the late Harry Nilsson’s last album and is in the studio doing overdubs and preparing to mix the amazing songwriter’s final work. In 2017, Mark reconnected with Hanson after 20 years, and produced their iTunes top 10 Christmas album, “Finally It’s Christmas”.
INSTAGRAM @markohudson