Georgia
TamBoricua is Atlanta's premier Latin Dance band. They have taken the Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms of bomba and plena, along with some salsa, merengue and Latin jazz, to give a show that is guaranteed to make you dance! This is a group of 11 young musicians from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia, and the United States. They have extensive education and experience, having between them four Masters of Music degrees, two Bachelors of Music degrees, and decades of experience performing and teaching in Atlanta, the Southeast and Puerto Rico. With over seven years performing in Atlanta, they have opened for Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle, Oscar D'Leon, Joe Arroyo, Los Van Van, and Rey Ruiz. They have been part of the Post Party events for the Poncho Sanchez and Marc Anthony Concerts. They have participated at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Music Midtown, the National Black Arts Festival, and Milwaukee's SummerFest, the world's largest music festival. TamBoricua also performed at the first Atlanta Salsa Congress in 2005, and have traveled outside of Georgia to South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama and Wisconsin. Their repertoire includes hits from Hector Lavoe, El Gran Combo and Juan Luis Guerra, songs that TamBoricua performs in their own unique style. The press has called TamBoricua 'one of the best Latin bands in Georgia' and 'a group of international caliber'. TamBoricua hopes to continue on growing and entertaining audiences in Atlanta, the United States and Puerto Rico. Thank you for your support!
Sundance Jenkins is Mark Swift, Aaron Strickland, and Mike Mink from the regional band Strawberry Nixon along with guitarist Tripp Castleberry from the regional band Clydesdale. (Strawberry Nixon was voted Valdosta's Favorite Rock Band of 2005 By 11th Hour Magazine's Reader's Poll) SJ travels with a playlist that includes Blind Melon, Pearl Jam, U2, Widespread Panic, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, even Brooks and Dunn, among others, as well as a wide variety of originals that will be on their upcoming CD. Members of Sundance Jenkins have made appearances on National and International television on The Nashville Network and through syndication to other countries. They have also been on hand to play live with such acts as Ricochet, Andy Griggs, Vanilla Ice, Great White, Afroman, Dave Hlubek of Molly Hatchett, and Naked Beggars/Cinderella's Eric Brittingham and Jeff Labar.
Traveling with a playlist that includes Outkast, Pearl Jam, Incubus, Snoop Dogg, Matchbox Twenty, Collective Soul, Willie Nelson, Brooks and Dunn, and a wide variety of originals that will be on their upcoming CD, Strawberry Nixon has been on hand to play with such acts as Ricochet, Andy Griggs, Vanilla Ice, Great White, and Afroman, performers who until now have yet to be included in the same sentence. Oh, and let's not forget the night in Ormond Beach, Florida when Dave Hlubek, original guitarist for the legendary band Molly Hatchet, thought enough of the group to jam with the guys for a set. They have unpacked their gear in six states and have played for club owners and fraternities in Atlanta, Jacksonville, Clemson, Auburn, Troy, and Nashville, Tennessee; arriving as unknowns to their audience, but often being quickly invited back for return engagements. The original incarnation of Strawberry Nixon was an acoustic duo comprised of Mark and his son Brandon, who returned from Atlanta during his senior year in high school. Both Swift men had been involved with other musical acts, but Brandon's return home provided them with their first opportunity to play together professionally. While many fathers and sons struggle to hurdle the generation gap, the Swift's mutual interest and talent for music was the bridge needed to keep their bond strong although the miles had kept them apart. 'My dad is the reason I started playing music,' said the younger Swift, 'And after I returned home I knew it was the only thing I wanted to do to make a living and he had the experience to show me how to do it right.' After a few practice sessions at their home, Strawberry Nixon made their debut on stage at Bayou Bill's South in Lake Park, Georgia in the fall of 2002. Even now they keep the acoustic duo alive by playing Strawberry Nixon Unplugged gigs each week, when the schedule permits, and use these performances to iron out new covers and work through the many originals that they have between them. After a few months of their acoustic form, a desire to expand musically struck both men, and soon a decision to form a full-fledged group was agreed upon. Once the decision was made to take on new members, it didn't take much effort to find the guys they were looking for, as Mark Swift just thought back to his previous bands long defunct to come up with two names that fit, Aaron Strickland and Mike Mink. In 2005 they added drummer Steven Carter into the mix. Strawberry Nixon has a new look, but the versatility they were relying on has gone unchanged. Along the way there have been some ups and downs, inevitable swings that time on the road demands, but they all agree that it has been fun and it always will be. Each member has many vivid memories of the past couple of years, but one story they all agree that gives them the most pride is the one relayed to them from a friend of Mark's. Before heading to the Middle East, U.S. Army Sergeant Derek Moore of Valdosta picked up a copy of Strawberry Nixon's acoustic CD and listened to it with his buddies while in Kuwait waiting for orders to move into Iraq. Moore emailed Swift to inform him that the CD was being played as his vehicle entered Baghdad, with a particular focus on the song Hotel Soldiers, which speaks of the brave people who give up their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. The band members are quick to remind those who will listen, it is not all playing and writing. It is often up to them to research and get booked at new venues and load and unload a trailer full of gear each time they play, but they measure their success by more then their income. 'When people are crammed at the front of the stage, requesting and singing your original songs, it is easy to forget all of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes,' Mark Swift said. 'We truly enjoy being around each other and we are responsible for people having a great time, that's pretty powerful,' Mink added. Although they are keeping things under wraps, the band says they have had a plan from the beginning and they feel they are six-months to a year ahead of the schedule they had laid out for themselves. They are working on a new CD and they continue to knock on doors and spread their music as far as they can.
I most often perform as a solo singer/songwriter. If the venue commands a larger ensemble, I do have a three piece band ready to gig as well. I am available for any type of show. I have an long list of covers and originals. One set could range from Garth to Greenday. I am determined to share my original work, and really enjoy doing so.
As a child, family members recognized Jenelle had a God-given gift. It was while performing in a 5th grade stage production that someone in the audience recognized this gift too. After the production was over, that same audience member approached Jenelle?s mother and suggested she be enrolled in singing classes. Jenelle?s mother followed their advice and her vocal coach, Mrs. Dorothy Dash, was able to reach inside this young talented child and release the true gift inside. Having sung with several Washington-Metropolitan area choirs, Jenelle?s first major opportunity came when she joined the Tri-Area Community Choir (TACC). She was the featured soloist on TACC?s first CD project ?In Service.? It was with TACC that Jenelle had the opportunity to fellowship in ministry with many nationally known Gospel recording artists, including Yolanda Adams, John P. Kee, Shirley Caesar, Vickie Winans, Beverly Crawford, Edwin Hawkins, and many others. Jenelle has performed at many east coast events such as the ?Saturday Night Gospel Explosion? in Hampton, VA, ?The Spirit of Washington,? a cruise sponsored by radio station Heaven 1580, ?Gospel Live,? in Hyattsville, MD, University of Maryland, and the ?Cable Church Directory,? aired twice weekly on the PAX network hosted by Stellar Award winning announcer Traci Morgan. Jenelle has also been featured on numerous radio interviews, as well as, being awarded a lead role in a major stage play that opened by way of New York at the Lincoln Center, in 2003. Hard work and dedication to the Lord continues to open many doors for Jenelle. She continues to follow the plan the Lord has worked out for her and she has no doubt that God will do exactly what He said. She is commissioned to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and compel the unsaved to seek Him. Jenelle and her group work hard at spreading God?s messages to the masses through her songs. One of Jenelle's favorite scriptures is Psalm 146:2 "I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." (NIV) In Jenelle?s own words, ?As long as God keeps filling these pipes, I am going to sing.?