THE BAND

BAND PROFILE

The East Wind Band hails from Sacramento and is Northern California's premier Old School Funk, Soul, R&B and Classic Rock party band. This elite group of seasoned musicians evokes the authentic horn-driven sounds of the '60s, '70s and '80s with renewed energy, passion, intensity and excitement.

Founded in 1969, East Wind evolved into a funk-based horn band with the likes of Tower of Power, Average White Band and Earth, Wind and Fire. Their popularity soared during the early '70s as they ignited high school dances, proms and homecomings throughout the Sacramento valley and Bay Area along with special appearances in SoCal. They have performed with renowned recording artists such as The Dramatics, Bloodstone and Hiroshima. Their lustrous 8-year stint came to an end at the peak of the disco era when the group called it quits to pursue other interests and career. Now after thirty-something years, East Wind is back with a vengeance fueled by several of the original members. With the addition of prominent lead vocalists and talented musicians, East Wind now delivers one of the most dynamic musical experiences to hit the stage.

Musical influences include: Tower of Power, Average White Band, Kool and the Gang, Sly & the Family Stone, Earth, Wind and Fire, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Al Green and many other great artists.

Susan Rains Photography

BARBARA LONG

// lead vocal

East Wind Member Since: 2009

Favorite Bands: Rufus w/ Chaka Khan, EAST WIND BAND, Spyro Gyra, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Yellow Jackets, Tower of Power, Seawind, Ohio Players, Cameo . . . . . .

Favorite Musicians: Jonathan Butler, Chaka Khan, Michael MacDonald, Anita Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Gino Vanelli, George Duke, Israel Houghton, Ella Fitzgerald, DJ, Jentin Joe and . . . . . .

Musical Influences: All things jazz, George Duke, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight . . . . . .

Barbara's Comments: I am eternally thankful to my LORD and to my favorite two people in this life, Darrell and Jentin. A special thanks to EWB for being such a joy to work with.

Dale Nabeta Photography

BUDDY DAVIS

// lead vocal, keyboard

East Wind Member Since: 2008

Favorite Bands: Tower of Power, Earth, Wind & Fire, Santana, The Temptations, Kool & the Gang,
The O'Jays, The Coasters, The Drifters, Led Zepplin, The Doobie Brothers, Huey Lewis & the News, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, James Brown

Favorite Musicians: Michael McDonald, Elton John, Billy Joel, Billy Preston

Musical Influences: Church, Tower of Power, James Brown, Motown, Coasters, Drifters, Platters, Beatles, Elvis Presley, Rolling Stones, Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire

Buddy's Comments: I've worked with and opened for many renowned groups such as The Coasters, The Drifters, The Platters, Tower of Power, Confunkshun, Blood, Sweat & Tears and Robert Palmer. I've also worked alongside superstars such as The Rat Pack and Wayne Newton during a 7-year stint in Las Vegas. Upon coming to Sacramento, I aligned with various groups such as Odysus, The Verge, Masi and Soul, Rhythm Coalition and The Buddy Davis Band. I'm currently performing with East Wind, All Fired Up and Motor Town Groove.

Dale Nabeta Photography

DARRELL JOE

// percussions

East Wind Member Since: 2009

Favorite Bands: TOP, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Rufus w. Chaka Khan, Cameo, Stylistics, Chick Corea Electric Band, Yellow Jackets, Foreplay, Jeff Lorber Fusion, Bob Marley and the Whalers, Black Uhuru, Salvador, The Police, Johnny Clegg and Savuka, Steely Dan.

Favorite Musicians: David Garibaldi, Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Billy Cobham, Jeff Lorber, Brian Culbertson, Horacio Hernandez, Jonathan Butler, Sting, Norm Stockton, Marcus Miller, John Pattitucci, Michael MacDonald, Sarah Vaughan, Sly Dunbar, Chaka Khan, Iz, Tito Puente, EWB, Babs Long and Jentin Joe!

Musical Influences: Duane and Kathy Elmore, Stan Lunetta, "Favorite musicians" listed above.

Darrell's Comments: It's a real blessing to be able to keep "Old School R&B music" alive in East Wind. I especially take great joy in seeing the "younger generation" connect with this music!

Susan Rains Photography

MARTY LEONG

// bass, background vocals

East Wind Member Since: charter member

Favorite Bands: TOP, EW&F, Brothers Johnson, AWB, Santana, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Return To Forever, The Crusaders, Weather Report, Jeff Lorber Fusion

Favorite Musicians: Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius, Bill the Buddha Dickens, George Benson, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Jimi Hendrix, Al DiMeola, Kenny G, Lenny Pickett, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock

Musical Influences: Larry Graham, Louis Johnson, Francis Rocco Prestia, Stanley Clarke, my Mom (a pianist who instilled the love of music in me by starting me in violin lessons during 3rd or 4th grade), Chinese Community Church

Marty's Comments: As a Sacramento native, I can enjoy many outdoor activities such as softball, fishing, & auto racing due to the great weather. For equipment, my current love is my custom built 5-string with a cobra inlay built by Garz Guitars in Doyle, CA near the California-Nevada border (www.garzguitars.com). But my first bass, a 1963 Fender Precision Bass, is still pulled out as needed, or upon request for some o' dat "olde skool special funk".

I am blessed to be able to perform with these fine musicians who are incredibly humble and selfless, and to whom I'm proud to say "EWB is Family!"

Dale Nabeta Photography

GLEN WADA

// guitar

East Wind Member Since: charter member

Favorite Bands: Tower of Power, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly & the Family Stone, Average White Band, Chicago, Santana, Kool & the Gang, Rufus/Chaka Khan and Cold Blood plus many more.

Favorite Musicians: Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Eric Gales,

Stevie Ray Vaughan, Al Di Meola, Frank Gambale, Cory Wong, Nile Rodgers, Ricky Rouse, Bruce Conte, George Benson among many others.

Musical Influences: My Dad (who taught me to play guitar) and influences from Santana, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and Motown.

Glen's Comments: My latest rig is comprised of a Line 6 Helix processor along with a TONEX pedal going through a Fender FR-12 powered speaker.

DAVE KARACOZOFF

// keyboards, background vocals

East Wind Member Since: charter member

Favorite Bands: Beatles, Beach Boys, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Yes, Commodores, Tower of Power, Genesis, Average White Band, Rufus, Kool and the Gang, Steely Dan

Favorite Musicians: Herbie Hancock, Chick Correa, Keith Jarrett, George Duke, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Chester Thompson, Jimmy Smith, Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein, Victor Borge, Andre Watts, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald

Musical Influences: Beethoven, Chopin, Listz, DeBussy, Ravel, Stravinski, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovski, Schumann, Brahms, David Foster, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock, Chick Correa, Keith Jarrett, Chester Thompson, Oscar Peterson and teachers: Ed Avila, Jerry Murphy & Frank Wasko

Dave's Comments: Affectionately known as "Loaf" to my band mates, I am a Sacramento native with a B.A. in Music from CSUS with an emphasis in Piano Performance. I was one of the earlier member of East Wind, having joined up with Marty, Glen and Baldwin in 1972. While my family and my faith are important aspects of my life, I also enjoy golfing, skiing, flying and co-own a successful business. I feel blessed to have reconnected with my "old friends" on the musical project that we consider to be the new and improved "East Wind Band". Like fine wine, I like to think we have improved with age. Please enjoy.

Dale Nabeta Photography

SELWYN JONES

// congas, vocals

East Wind Member Since: charter member

Favorite Bands: Earth, Wind & Fire, Brothers Johnson, War, Tower of Power, Chick Corea Electric Band, Hiroshima, Santana, Rhythm Vandals, FBI Band, The Funk Brothers, Steps Ahead, The Caribbean Jazz Project, Incognito, Yellowjackets, Down to the Bone

Favorite Musicians: Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, George Duke, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, all members of EWB, Rhythm Vandals and FBI Band, Robert Turner & all the musicians and singers from Calvary Christian Center

Musical Influences: Mongo Santamaria, Armanodo Peraza, Giovanni Hidalgo, Candido Camero, Big Black, My Dad who was not only a great sax player but also a sax restorer and repairman, Poet/Laureate Eugene B. Redmond who has been one of my biggest fans, a great friend, la familia and booster of my early days as a percussionist

Selwyn's Comments: First and foremost...I give all praise and glory to my LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST who has blessed me with a great musical journey. I have had the privilege to know, play and sit in with many great musicians, poets and dancers over the years. Music has been and continues to be both a pleasurable and life centering experience.

Dale Nabeta Photography

TIM RAGAN

// trumpet

East Wind Member Since: 2008

Favorite Bands: Tower of Power, Chicago, Steely Dan, Huey Lewis & the News, Earth Wind & Fire,
Santa Fe & the Fat City Horns

Favorite Musicians: Mic Gillette, Arturo Sandoval, Bill Chase, Danny Falcone, Ron Coolidge

Musical Influences: Dr. Hank Smith, Dr. Richard Clendenon, Joseph Alessi, Claude Gordon, Bill Armstrong, Tower of Power horns

Dale Nabeta Photography

BALDWIN WONG

// trombone, flute

East Wind Member Since: charter member

Favorite Bands: Tower Of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, Average White Band, Chicago

Favorite Musicians: Louis Armstrong, Doc Severnson, Sir James Galway, Wynton Marsalis, Mic Gillette

Musical Influences: Herbert Harrison my junior high school music teacher! Thank you Herb!

Dale Nabeta Photography

LES CHINN

// saxophone

East Wind Member Since: 2004

Favorite Bands: Chicago, Cold Blood, Tower of Power, Average White Band, Michael Brecker Group

Favorite Musicians: My Bandmates, the late Bob Holsapple, the late Michael Brecker, Sonny Rollins, Lenny Pickett, Richard Elliot, David Sanborn, Yo-Yo Ma, Andrea Bocelli

Musical Influences: Mom & Dad for their love of music and dance.

DALE CHINN

// trumpet

East Wind Member Since: 2015

Favorite Bands: Tower of Power, Bruno Mars, Chicago

Favorite Musicians: Chet Baker, Alison Balsom, Miles Davis,

Brittni Paiva

Musical Influences: Chet Baker, Nick Holmes, Freddie Hubbard, Chris Botti, Alison Balsom