LEAD VOCALISTS
Josephine Crooks is no stranger to the Pittsburgh music scene. She has appeared with the Pittsburgh Musical Theater in Miss Saigon, with John Holt Productions in Best of Broadway, Lady Legends, Divas and Divas Together Again. You may have seen Josie fronting local bands Dancing Queen, Spectrum, Protégé. Persephone’s Dream, and The Holidays. She has recorded several songs in Nashville and was recorded on the 3WS Home for the Holidays Volume II album. Josie was a finalist in the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops Search for a Star talent contest. She has performed twice with the classic rock band Chicago (If You Leave Me Now). Originally from Cebu, the Philippines, Josie is married and has a 16-year old son. |
Gwen Davis A native of Pittsburgh, Gwen joined Leon Daniels and the El Venos in 1998 and the group recorded two music videos for WPGH TV Channel 13. They appeared with the Skyliners, Little Richard, the Dubs, the Vogues and many others. The group also provided backup vocals for Eddie Holman when he appeared in Pittsburgh. Gwen joined the variety band Protégé in 2003 and, with this group, she has shared the stage with the Temptations, the Supremes, and Jackie Evancho. She has also done solo appearances sharing the stage with Kenny Vance and the Planatones, the New Holidays, Johnny Angel and the Halos,The Magic Moments, and more. In 2014 Gwen formed a duo (The G & J Project) with vocalist Josephine Crooks. |
Joseph Fedore is a Pittsburgh-born singer who has been performed in the area on numerous stages, and abroad nationally, where he toured with the Latshaw Pops Orchestra as a vocalist. His most well-known work has been in the arena of musical theater, where he has appeared in numerous productions with: Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, and Pittsburgh Public Theater. Singing with groups and bands since the age of 13, Joseph has amassed a huge love of music from artists such as: Little Anthony and the Imperials to Justin Timberlake. Joseph has also formerly been a member of the PGH-based group, Protege, and Gary Racan and the Studio E Band. |
Lindsay Fitzpatrick has been seen across Pittsburgh and inter-national stages for the past 10 years. She has worked at various theme parks, for traveling cruise lines, and for various regional shows across the country. Lindsay performs locally with the Latshaw Pops Orchestra and has been a part of the Pittsburgh wedding band industry as well. She is so grateful to have the opportunity to do something she loves and entertain audiences at the same time. Lindsay also owns a business that specializes in princess entertainment as well as photography services for the Pittsburgh area. When she is not singing or working, Lindsay loves spending her free time with her family and bulldogs. |
BAND MEMBERS
Tom Brenic A lifelong Allegheny County resident, Tom was introduced to the bass guitar by an icon of the Pittsburgh music scene, Ron "Moondog" Esser, way back in the 20th century and has been laying down the Bottom ever since. His musical journey has included stops through a variety of bands and genres including Doo-Wop with the Marcels, the Jive Five and the Elmonics, Country with BLU River and Sierra, Rock with the Boilermakers, Shade Ten and Marshall & the Deputies, Top 40/Dance with Ready or Not, Protege' and Magic, and Big Band with the Syria Shriners Stage Band. Tom has also had the privilege of opening for national acts Chubby Checker, the Oak Ridge Boys, Three Dog Night and the Supremes at some of the biggest venues in the Tri-State area. |
Laura Daniels Laura is a Pittsburgh native with a varied background as a musician, teacher and actress. She has music directed and taught musical theater for more than 30 years at schools including Pittsburgh CLO Academy and Center for Theater Arts in Mt. Lebanon. Music directing credits include Hairspray, Matilda,The Addams Family and Legally Blonde. Acting credits include You Can’t Take it With You(Alice), Pirates of Penzance(daughter) and Top Girls(Lady Nijo/Jeanine). She has taught for The Woodlands Foundation “Notes from the Heart” camp for special needs individuals. Laura studied piano with Frank Cunimondo, Bill Crystal and Vince Lascheid. She appeared at the City Winery in NYC with her band, Klezlectic and trumpet player, the late Lew Soloff of Blood, Sweat and Tears. She enthusiastically enjoys working in many different styles. She has played with The Platinum Band, The Hot Matzohs, Algo Latino, Acoustic Daze, The Bridge, Brass Impact, The Holidays, Mike Stout, Elite Showband, Kim Alexander Band, Hooligan Brothers, Tuika’s Polynesian Review, John Puckett, Black Rock Country and Klezlectic. In addition, Laura has created studio tracks for several Pittsburgh musicians. |
Ted DiSanti is an Associate Professor of Music at Seton Hill University where he serves as the Coordinator of Commercial Music. Ted directs the SHU Commercial Music Ensemble and teaches courses in Jazz History, Jazz Improvisation, and Songwriting, With degrees from the Berklee College of Music in Boston (Professional Music) and Youngstown State University (B.M. & M.M.), Ted holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Trumpet Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Before coming to Seton Hill, DiSanti appeared regularly with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rocky Mountain Brass Quintet, the Muddy River Brass Quintet, the Fargo-Moorhead Opera Company, and the Jazz Arts Big Band of Fargo-Moorhead. In addition, he has appeared as both a classical and jazz soloist in Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. As a jazz performer, Dr. DiSanti has shared the concert stage with numerous recording artists, including saxophonists Bobby Watson and Jim Mair, trombonist Tom "Bones" Malone, trumpeters Clark Terry, Ingrid Jensen, and Warren Vaché, pianist Gene Harris and drummer Louis Bellson. |
Teddy DiSanti is a first-year music teacher at Greensburg Central Catholic where he teaches Junior and Senior high band and orchestra, and is the music director for the school's musical productions. In addition to teaching music full time, Teddy is a professional jazz and classical saxophonist. In addition to jazz & party band freelance and musical theater work on the saxophone, Teddy also plays bass professionally for musical theater groups. |
Charles Harris Better known as Chas, he started playing drums at a young age, basically self taught. He played in his high school's marching band for two years. He also played with his music teachers in various night clubs in South Carolina. He has always loved playing the drums and recently started building drum kits. Chas comes from a family of singers, one being his sister Gwen Davis who is also a member of The Gemtones, He played with several bands in South Carolina and in Pittsburgh. playing every genre of music including gospel music for his church. In 2009 Chas joined the variety band Protege'. As of February 2022 he is the newest member of The Gemtones. Chas has also shared a stage with Shirley Caesar, Jackie Evancho, The Temptations and the Supremes. His ultimate goal is to make the audience feel the beat. |
Nick Scanga Nick has been performing for over 35 years. Credits include The Night Owl Band, who had a local hit, “Lay That Rhythm Down,” and who opened concerts for Blood Sweat & Tears, South Side Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Gil Scott Heron and Johnny Guitar Watson. He has also performed and co-written songs with Chuck Corby and wrote several with Night Owl. Nick is well versed in nearly all musical styles and over the years has worked with artists ranging from The Four Coins, Dancing Queen, John Parker, The South Hills Chorale, 3rd Street Jazz Ensemble, Don Aliquo, Jerry Lucarelli, Black Rock County, the Holidays, the Dubs, the Townsmen to projects covering most every musical style from cool jazz to the ripping guitar of Carlos Santana. He was a key member of Stillwater, the previously mentioned Night Owl Band and for many years with Freeze, one of the area's top entertainment acts. He often performs as a solo artist, as a duo, or with On the Level in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. |