Jackie's Groove

"In 2007, [Journey guitarist] Neal Schon discovered Arnel Pineda in a YouTube video of Pineda singing with Filipino cover band, The Zoo. Pineda's tone, power and ability to sing a wide variety of material, including Journey classics, impressed Schon. After watching all the videos he could find with Pineda, Neal made an excited midnight phone call to share the news with bandmate Cain. Soon thereafter, Schon personally contacted Pineda, who initially thought it was a prank and didn't believe that he was talking to a founding member of one of the biggest bands in rock history. Six weeks later, Pineda arrived in San Francisco to audition and, within a few songs, had secured the job."

The Mind, soul, rock n roll heart beat and operator behind Tarah Who? is French / American Singer & Multi-Instrumentalist (drummer, guitarist & bassist) Tarah G. Carpenter.
Born in Paris, Tarah got her first drum set at age 14 and shortly after began playing the bass, and the guitar.
After performing drums and bass in Paris for a few years,in several bands, Tarah decided to travel to Los Angeles to explore the music scene. Tarah answered an ad on craigslist "looking for an artist to perform original songs at a warehouse Party Downtown". After performing solo for the first time, the songs she had secretly written on the guitar, she decided she wanted to do her own music and started playing under the moniker Tarah Who?.

Lawrence Park is a Korean-American R&B singer from San Francisco, CA. He currently lives in San Diego, CA where he graduated from UC San Diego in 2012 with a Political Science Major.
During college, he met his vocal coach, mentor and father figure Ken Anderson who has been mentoring him since 2010.
www.lawrenceparkmusic.com
www.lawrenceparkmusic.com
Lawrence met Ken Anderson through a UCSD Gospel Choir class, in which a friend recommended him to take (If you go to UCSD you NEED to take this class).
Lawrence started his own YouTube channel in 2013 and is determined to make it into the YouTube scene.
He also is a Singing Coach and has verified students from ages 9 to 53. If you are interested in having a singing lesson, you can find more information here.
Lawrence’s performance history includes: being a finalist for Kollaboration San Francisco 2014, opening for YouTube Stars JR Aquino, Andrew Garcia, Brian Puspos, Just Kidding Films, Dan AKA Dan, NBC’s The Sing-Off finalists and Pitch Perfect 2’s Filharmonic, world famous band Parachute, and many more.

Known as the “Minister of Groove,” Zoro is an internationally renowned rock star, motivational speaker, author and the consummate definition of the rare man who marches to the beat of a different drum.
As one of the world’s most respected musicians, Zoro has sat on the drummer’s throne commanding some of the most famous stages in the world of rock and R&B music. Z has toured and recorded with Lenny Kravitz; Bobby Brown; Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons; The New Edition; Jody Watley; Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire; Sean Lennon; Lisa Marie Presley; Lincoln Brewster; Phil Keaggy and many others.
“Zoro wrote the book on dynamics, touch, control and groove,” says Modern Drummer magazine. Throughout his career, he consistently has been voted the No. 1 R&B drummer and clinician by premier music industry publications such as Modern Drummer, Drum!, and Rhythm Magazine. 
Z authored the No. 1 award-winning and best-selling book and DVD series The Commandments of R&B Drumming, The Commandments of Early Rhythm & Blues Drumming and The Commandments of The Half-Time Shuffle (Alfred Publishing). His books are listed in the Top 25 Drums Books Of All Time.
Zoro is a kinetic bundle of human energy and enthusiasm. He captures audiences and readers around the world with his unmistakable trademark hip style, sense of humor and contagious conviction. As author of the critically acclaimed and highly successful book, The Big Gig: Big-Picture Thinking For Success, Zoro has equipped countless people with the tools needed to excel and succeed.
A powerful and purposeful communicator who is all heart and soul, Zoro connects with people of all ages simply because he’s real, relevant and relatable. The indelible mark Z makes with his music, words and life continues to have a profound impact on those who come across his path.

Herman Matthews began playing drums at the age of seven and has been the backbone of world-class pop, rock, jazz, soul, R&B and funk bands for nearly thirty years. At age eleven he played in his uncle's blues organ trio, which laid the groundwork, discipline, and training for working with such acts as Kenny Loggins, Richard Marx, and Tower Of Power. Herman's musical abilities  has put him in demand with many artists around the world.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Herman headed west to Los Angeles in 1988. His first major professional tour was with jazz recording artist Kirk Whalum. His other touring and recording credits include Bob James, Stevie Wonder, The Isley Brothers, Expose, Angie and Debbie Winans, Rebekah, Meredith Brooks, Kina, George Duke, Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps, Tiffany, and Everette Harp to name a handful. Herman has also had the pleasure of recording two CDs with the bad boys of funk: Tower Of Power.
Herman reuniting with T.O.P. for five shows subbing for original drummer David Garibaldi for the Tom Jones / Tower Of Power 2005 Summer Tour.
Herman is currently working with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and 3 time Grammy winner Timothy B. Schmit. Other head liners or artists he has played for via House band, Showcase, tour or Television include two-time Grammy award winner Kenny Loggins and singer/songwriter Richard Marx. David Foster, Tom Jones, Michael McDonald, Bill Champlin, Phillip Bailey, Sheryl Crow, "Baby Face" Edmonds, Herbie Hancock, Chris Botti, James Ingram, Boney James, Steven Stills, Edger Winter, Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Patty Austin, Chaka Chan, Carol King, SHeDAISY, Ronnie Millsap, Fee Waybill, Bill Champlain, Maxi Priest, Debbie Gibson, Diane Reeves, Kenny G., John Farnham, Nia, Snuffy Walden, Greg Adams & East Bay Soul, and Gavin Christopher. Herman has also played for President  Bill Clinton on three occasions as well as Nelson Mandela.
Herman has been involved with and has helped start many bands, including: Ace Boone Coon, Big Pygmies, Doc Huck-A-Buck, and is completing his much awaited debut CD Home At Last.

Steve Bruce Smith  is an American drummer known for being the drummer of the rock band Journey, rejoining the band for the third time in 2015. Modern Drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row. In 2001, the publication named Smith as one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time, and in 2002 he was voted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey in 2017.
Rob Wallis is a veteran drummer and President/CEO of Hudson Music®, Drummers Collective® and DCI Publishing®.

Matt Cusson, an award-winning singer/songwriter and pianist, continues to wow audiences and prove that he is the real deal. He is a gifted self-taught musician who excels in jazz, pop, singer/songwriter and soul, as demonstrated by his expert writing and arranging skills on his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album of 2009. That same year, Matt won (by unanimous vote) the John Lennon Songwriting Contest's top annual prize - the Maxell Song of the Year - for his jazz ballad "One of Those Nights". That song also won the Billboard Songwriting Award in the Best Jazz Song category, and came in second in the International Songwriting Competition, as well as being nominated for a 2011 Los Angeles Music Award for “Best Male Vocalist” and “Best Jazz Song”.  In 2013 Matt was also a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition with his lullaby, “Once Upon A Time”.  
 Matt attended Berklee College of Music, where he performed in the exclusive "Singer Showcase", which highlights the school's top eight singers. He cites many musical influences, such as James Taylor, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Rufus Wainwright,  Djavan, Miles Davis, and John Mayer, just to name a few. Even more impressive is the list of artists he has performed with, including Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, the Roots, Babyface, Christina Aguilera, India Arie, Boyz II Men, Paulina Rubio, BeBe Winans, Joe, Jon B, Livingston Taylor, and many others. More recently, Matt has been working and touring with his mentor and friend, Brian McKnight, star of Broadway and TV, Megan Hilty, 5 time Grammy award winner, Cee Lo Green, and Javier Colon, winner of the first season of “The Voice”. Matt has also played, sung, written, produced and arranged for countless artists and continues to find a large portion of his work in the recording studio.  
 Matt is a three-time "Amateur Night at The Apollo" winner, and has a long list of television shows that he has made appearances on, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, "The View", “Rachael Ray Show, “Live with Kelly and Michael”, “Live with Regis and Kelly”, “The Brian McKnight Show”, “Christmas in Rockefeller Center”, and "Millionaire Matchmaker”.  He was also a regular as the “one man band” and also a musical guest on VH1’s, “Big Morning Buzz Live” with Nick Lachey, where he co-wrote and arranged several bumps and songs for the show. He was a featured performer on the international "Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror" tour in 2010.  Matt's current single, "Leaving L.A." is receiving rave reviews and being played all over the world.  His 2012 Christmas EP, “It’s Christmas Time”, is a regular play on Sirius XM Radio and numerous radio stations during the holiday season.  His sophomore album, “Only Human”, will be released in the Spring of 2016.  
 “You can tell right away when Matt starts playing that he is the real thing.”
– James Taylor
 “Matt has an incredible gift.” – Brian McKnight
 "Matt Cusson is honestly one of the most talented musicians I've ever met. When I heard him live for the first time, I was blown away not only by how well he sang and played, but how easy he makes it seem. I became an instant fan. There are a lot of artists out there, but few even come close to the amount of talent he has. He combines Jazz, R&B, Pop like nobody I know. He's so good he makes you want to go home and practice your scales. If you haven't had a chance to hear Matt, you're missing out on a world class artist." - Javier Colon, Universal Records and winner of NBC’s “The Voice”

Eric “EQ” Young was inspired and influenced to study the bass by legends like Larry Graham. EQ played with Bay Area bands Radiance and Force One Network before being joining ConFunkShun, first as a guitarist and eventualy as the bass player.

Richie Kotzen began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of seven, he was inspired to learn the electric guitar by the band KISS. He started his career in a band named Arthur’s Museum. Kotzen was eventually discovered by Shrapnel Records’ Mike Varney, and he recorded his first solo album by the age of 19.
In 1991, at age 21, Kotzen joined glam-metal band Poison, co-writing and performing on the album Native Tongue. This album produced two top-twenty singles which Kotzen co-wrote, “Stand” and “Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)”.

In 1999, Kotzen replaced Paul Gilbert as guitarist in the mainstream rock band Mr. Big, performing on their album Get Over It. He also contributed guitars to their subsequent release Actual Size. The record included the Kotzen song Shine, which debuted at number one on Japanese radio charts. After Mr. Big disbanded, Kotzen released the solo album Change, in 2003. The title track and the song Get a Life were featured in TV commercials throughout Japan.
In 2006, Kotzen was the opening act for The Rolling Stones in Japan on their Bigger Bang tour.
In 2013, the rock supergroup The Winery Dogs released their self-titled debut album on May 15 in Japan, with a worldwide release on July 23 of the same year.
Richie is releasing a new solo album, Salting Earth, out April 14.

Andy Summers rose to fame in the early 1980’s as the guitarist with the multi-million record selling rock band The Police. The Police were the number one band of the time and dominated the music scene and the media in the eighties with several number albums and singles including Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, Don’t Stand So Close to Me, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Invisible Sun, and Message in a Bottle. The band was the recipient of several Grammys and awards too numerous to mention.
Andy Summers innovative guitar playing created a new paradigm for guitarists in this period and has been widely imitated ever since. Prior to the Police Andy Summers played with various bands in the London scene including the Soft Machine, Kevin Coyne and also Kevin Ayers.
Post Police Andy has made thirteen solo records, collaborated with many other musicians and toured the world as a solo artist. In addition he has composed film scores, and along with many photo gallery exhibitions published books of his photography.
In 2006 his autobiography One Train Later was released to great success and was voted the number one music book of the year in the UK. The film Can’t Stand Losing You based on the book saw it’s theatrical release in the US by Cinema Libre in March 2015. The DVD of the film will be released on July 14th 2015, along with Andy’s latest CD – Metal Dog.
Recent projects include the record Circus Hero from his new band Circa Zero released in April 2014, touring in Brazil with Rodrigo Santos and scoring music for the Turkish film And the Circus Leaves Town.
Current photo exhibition have been at the Leica gallery in Los Angeles, Paris/LA Independent Photo Show, Kunst, Licht gallery in Shanghai, CCC Gallery in Beijing and Photokina in Cologne, Germany.
Upcoming photography exhibitions are scheduled for August in Sao Paulo Brazil and Rio de Janeiro with Globo newspaper.
Andy is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Guitar Player Hall of Fame, has the keys to New York City! He has been awarded the Chevalier De L’Ordre Des Arts et Des Lettres by the Ministry of Culture in France.