Dennis Keith Johnson
Bassist, Vocalist and Leader of Dennis Keith Experience

In addition to all of his leading responsibilities, Dennis has performed and/or recorded with bands and artists such as: Chase (Epic Records), Survivor (Scotti Brothers Records), Software (Head First Records), Dennis DeYoung (A & M Records), Jerry Butler (Motown Records), B.B. King, Jim Peterick (Epic Records), and Steve Dahl; in venues that include the Tonight Show, Newport Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Budukan (Tokyo), Chicagofest, Summerfest (Milwaukee), Poplar Creek and Holiday Star Theater. Dennis may also be heard playing on hundreds of TV/radio jingles such as Sears, State Farm Insurance, United Airlines, McDonald's, 7-11, Miller Beer, Busch Beer, Old Style Beer and Nintendo.

Click here for his detailed Discography.

Cherryl Fonfara
Vocalist and Co-Leader of Dennis Keith Experience

On top of being a vocalist with The Dennis Keith Experience, Cherryl has performed and/or recorded with a variety of artists including Sweetening, Angela Bofill, Michael Bolton, Vic Damone, Patti Austin, Morris Chorus, Spunk, Freda Payne and Wayne King, as well as performing with her own group Cherryl Fonfara and Company at venues like Chicagofest. She has also sung jingles for products such as Illinois Bell, Sears, Kellogg's, McDonald's, Old Style Beer, Henniger Beer, Busch Beer, Illinois Lottery, and RCA; and has performed as a television and radio voice-over for products such as Betty Crocker Easy Delicious Desserts, Mutual of Omaha, Thorspring Mineral Water, Great Frame-Up, Village Saucerie, Safeway, Ford, Cash & Carry, Westin River North, St. Paul Federal, and US West.

Robin Simone
Vocalist

Singer-songwriter Robin Simone also enjoys success as a studio vocalist, working in sessions at top studios in the Midwest and Florida; she frequently performs with musicians throughout the nation and has won numerous talent competitions, including Ed McMahon's Star Search. Robin is currently writing and producing songs for her upcoming solo album to be showcased in Chicago's top clubs later this year.

Tommy Sullivan
Vocalist

Tommy is noted for his vocal performances with the band Funk House, who had electrified audiences throughout Illinois, including Northern Illinois University (DeKalb) and the Rockford River Fests. Funk House was well known in Chicago for their performances at the China Club, Excaliber's, and Traffic Jam; he also has sung jingles for Nissan and Ace Hardware.

Brad Raymond
Vocalist

Besides Brad's soulful performance in Shadow of The Blues, a theatrical song cycle of the poetry of Lanston Hughes, he was featured in lead roles for DePaul Opera Theater productions, including The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro. Brad was also a cast member of Lyric Opera's production of Amista and Light Opera Works's production of Wonderful Town. Brad has been sharing his passion for music with Chicago public school students for the past six years as a vocal instructor. He currently serves as the Artistic Director of the prestigious Choir Academy, the Associate Conductor of the All-City High School Chorus, and is a featured soloist on the yearly All-City High School Chorus Alumni concert.

Joe "Cool" Cropin
Guitarist

Joe's credits include the Spies, Night Beat, Eric Scott, Jimmy Damon, Felix & the Cats; Joe can heard on Pop Staple's Grammy winning record "Father, Father".

Donald Neale
Pianist/keyboardist

Donald has performed with Joe Kelly, Lynne Jordan, Cyrus "Harmonica" Hayes, Mexican superstar Nelson Ned, the Ken Gueno Septet, Central Standard Time, the Frontline Latin Jazz Ensemble, Suenos, La Confidencia, Orquesta, Libertad, Northstar, Lakeshore Symphony Orchestra, the Harper Community College Orchestra, Springfield Ballet, Smokey Robinson and currently leads his own tipico charanga ensemble, Nueva Charanga. He has released two compact discs of solo piano music, For the Piano (1993) with compositions by Beethoven, Debussy and himself, and Pieces of Night (1998) featuring the music of the legendary Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, and most recently a disc of all original chamber music with his chamber group Lingua Musica entitled The Latin American Suites (2001).

Steve Gillis
Drums & Percussion

Attended Boston's Berklee College of Music. Has performed with Inner City, Sugar Blue, Dion Payton, Henry Johnson, Ken Chaney, MVP, Sumo, Bomb Pop and Eternalux. Has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Last Call with Carson Daly, MTV's The Rock Show, Late Night, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman. Can be heard on recordings by Filter (Title of Record, The Amalgamut),

Michael Levin
Saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist

Michael Levin has performed and/or recorded with Bernard Purdie, Barrett Deems, Jerry Goodman, The Temptations, Fireworks Jazz, Henry Johnson, The Four Tops, Clark Terry, Oscar Brown, Jr., Sumo, Charlie Musselwhite, D-Section, Jim Post, Ivan Neville, Mothra, Myron Floren, DJ Jess, The Supremes, Nash Kato, Bobby Vinton, David Amram, Diane Schuur, The Mills Brothers, Waterhouse, Ben Vereen, Claudia Schmidt, Steve Cole, David Bromberg, Nell Carter, Sue–os, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Cerqua Rivera Art Experience, The Revolution Ensemble, The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Ethos Chamber Orchestra. His solos are prominently featured in recordings by producers of Chicago House Music such as Terry Hunter, Jere McAllister, Glenn Underground, and Paul Johnson. His numerous appearances at clubs and festivals throughout the Midwest include performances at Ravinia, Chicago Fest, Medinah Temple, Taste of Chicago, The Jazz Showcase, South Shore Jazz Festival, of Blues, Lake of the Ozarks Jazz Festival, Buddy Guy's, Rockford Jazz Festival, and three appearances at the Chicago Jazz Festival. He has played music for theatrical productions including works at Northlight Theatre, Drury Lane, The Royal George Theatre, and Steppenwolf Theatre. He is featured on many commercials and industrial productions, with recent tracks ranging from spots for Sea World and Ameritech, to soundtracks for shows at the Adler Planetarium, to specials for PBS. He holds an M.A. from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Communications from the University of Illinois.

Hary Kozlowski
Trombone

Hary has toured as featured soloist with Tommy Dorsey Band. Live/recording credits include the Temptations, Deitra Farr , the Four Tops, and the Booze Brothers.

John Lewis
Guitarist/vocalist, Senior Composer

John has performed original music at the Hennesey Jazz Festival (L.A.) and played R & B for corporate events in NY City and the Inaugural Ball in DC, among many others.

Frank Portolese
Guitarist/vocalist

Frank has performed with Joe Pass, Sammy Davis, Jr., Shelley Manne, Ira Sullivan, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, and Bobby Shew. His debut CD Transparent is on the South port label and his second CD Last Call was released in February 2000. His other recording credits include Libby York, Judy K, Laurie Cole and Frank Winkler. He has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Reader, Jazz Times, Guitar Player and Just Jazz Guitar.

Jeff Dewbray
Vocalist

Jeff is known for his work with the bands Dartagnan and Vishusgruv at Metro, Toto's, and China Club. He has performed/or recorded with various artists including the Spencer Davis Group, Night Ranger, and Jeff Murphy of the Shoes.

Wendy Morgan
Vocalist

Wendy performs with her own Band, Girls on Film at most of the festivals around Chicago; she also sings jingles for McDonalds. She released her debut CD in 1996.

Marie Alexandre
Vocalist

Marie, who is fluent in Spanish, French and Creole, has performed with Eddie Higgins of London House fame, Rich Daniels Big Band, Franz Bentler Orchestras, Frank Caruso Orchestra, and Ken Arlen Orchestra, to name but a few, in venues as varied as Miami Beach, San Juan Puerto Rico (including Sagrado Corazon and Interamericana at Cupey), and all around the Chicago area. She has appeared NBC televised Chicago Emmy Awards program "Chicago Sizzlin'" hosted by Byron Allen and is the host vocalist for a Chicago Jazz Singer's Showcase (VocalBOP), Monday evenings approximately twice a month, at the Lushlife Night Club in Chicago. Check out her first CD, a jazz Christmas collection entitled Yule Fool (www.cdbaby.com/cd/alexandre).

Francisco "Patch" Paz
Percussion & Drums

Studied at the University of Costa Rica as a Multi-Instrumentist, then at the Musician's Institute of Technology with Jeff Porcaro. Can be heard as a composer for "Real TV," "Hard Copy," "Entertainment Tonight," and "The Howie Mandel Show," plus many video games by Williams Electronics. His CDs, released in Costa Rica: Pachi Demos, featuring the singles "Siente Mi Ritmo" (#1 on charts) & "Dime," Pachi Paz, featuring "Solo Pienso en ti" & " El Golazo" (also #1 on charts).

Tim Burke
Trumpet/flugal horn

Tim has toured with "The Music of Andrew LLoyd Webber", "Evita", "A Chorus Line", "Dreamgirls", and "Starlight Express". He also has toured with the big bands Stan Kenton and The Woody Herman Orchestra. In town you can hear him playing in "Chicago", "Fosse", "Ragtime" etc.

Dan Leali
Drums/percussion

Dan has toured and/or performed/recorded with such artists as The Blue Man Group, Saxophonist/Multi-Instrumentalist Mark Rivera (Billy Joel, Foreigner, Peter Gabriel), Saxophonist Frank Catalano, Guitarist Fareed Haque, Bluesmen Pinetop Perkins and John Primer, and Funk/Jazz group Liquid Soul, receiving a Grammy Nomination for his performance on that band's 2000 recording, Here's the Deal. Dan has also been active in the recording studio, performing on commercial jingles for such products/organizations as Budweiser, Miller Lite, Golden Grahams, and the U.S. Army.

Peter Bartels
Trumpet/flugal horn

MA from Baylor University; recording & live performance credits include Deitra Farr & the Spinners; Teaches for Chicago Schools & Musical Express.

Rob Berry
Keyboardist/percussionist

Rob's writing and playing can be heard on jingles such as Sears, McDonalds, United Airlines, and Captain Crunch; and has recorded and/or performed with John Sebastian, Silverlake, and Frank Gregory on Optimism Records.

Brian Sandstrom
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass

Brian can be heard with on Hal Russell NRG Ensemble CDs (Calling All Mothers, Conserving NRG, This Is My House, Hal On Earth, The Finnish/Swiss Tour, & Generation); on Green Mill All-Stars CDs (Von & Ed, The Haint , both on Delmark Records): with Professor John CDs (Big Hands, The Long Walk Home); on CDs from Southport with Frank Portolese and Frank Catalano; as well as playing live at many venues in Chicago.

Steve Baughman
Saxophonist

Steve has toured and/or performed with George Burns, Donald O'Conner, Barrett Deems, Ira Sullivan, Lyn Halliday, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Diane Schuur, Diane Reeves, Sherri Lewis, The Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and many others. His clients have included Roy Haynes, Los Lobos, Lenny Kravitz, Les Claypool, Stanley Turrentine, Donald Harrison, Oliver Lake, Branford Marsalis, Peter Brotzman and Evan Parker to name a few. With numerous national tours to his credit, including Guys and Dolls and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, as well as commercial work for Microsoft; Steve can be heard on Via Libre Trio with Jorge Estrada from Guadalajara, Mexico.

Bryan Clavey
Front of House Mixer/Engineer

Graduate of Columbia Collage, Chicago; Live & studio engineering credits include Lucky Boys, Confusion, 602 North club soundman, & George Clinton.

Hugo Hernandez

Head Gear, Sound, and Lights technical manager