The Heart of Rock & Soul is Still Beating! With THE STREETPLAYERS!
Reunited after a 17-year absence, "They're Back! & Hotter Than Ever!"
"This group hasn't missed a beat!" "A Must-See, Must-Hear Band!"
Playing the Hottest Classic Soul, R&B, Funk, Classic Rock, Pop, Disco and Dance Hits
of Yesterday & Today with a Heavy Emphasis on Soul / Rhythm & Blues.
The Streetplayers band formed in 1979 from members of various groups playing on the music scene in the '60's. Some of their many musical influences include - The Temptations, The Four Tops, James Brown, The Doobie Brothers, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, and numerous other top Motown and Atlantic/Stax artists.
Featuring a Powerful Horn Section, Hellfire Blazing Guitar Licks, Heart-Thumping, Gut-Wrenching Bass, Dead-On Hard-Driving Drumming. And Rounding Out the Instrumentation is the Distinctive Sweet Soul Sound of the Hammond B3!
Couple This With Dynamic Lead Vocals, Superb Harmonies, and The Hottest Music Performed By The Hottest Band Around, And You Get The Complete Entertainment Package That Always Keeps Them On Their Feet!
Don't Miss An Opportunity To Hear & See
Mario Mendez - Keys, Vocals, Manager
Mario began performing at the ripe old age of fifteen. He was introduced to the music profession by his cousin, Sam, who also happens to be the drummer for The Streetplayers. He started his venture playing guitar, but he could never find an organ player. So, he set the guitar aside, bought a Farfisa, a Leslie tone cabinet and a Fender Bandmaster amp and switched to keys. By that time he had also started doing vocals.
Mario was instrumental in forming The Streetplayers band in 1979. Comprised of friends and musicians that had played together off-and-on since 1965, The Streetplayers performed until 1990. After a seventeen-year hiatus, Mario could not stand not playing any longer. So, in 2007, he got The Streetplayers back together again, including six of the original Streetplayers.
Not willing to carry his B3 or CP70 around anymore, Mario now uses a Hammond XK3 and a Yamaha MM8 and is loving every minute of it!
Mario says the highlight of his musical career to date was singing with Motown’s Levi Stubbs & The Four Tops at the Huntington Riverfest in 1996! Mario also says he's having more fun playing music now than ever before, or nigh on to it!
Garland "Tinker" Ball - Saxes, Vocals, Gadgetman
Tinker began performing at fifteen with a group called the "Royal Crowns" at the "Saturday Dance Party" held in The Logan Theater. He continued playing through high school and college with various groups in Logan and Huntington, where he attended Marshall University.
Tinker is one of the original members of The Streetplayers. He left the group in the late '80's and began playing in the Pikeville-Lexington, Kentucky area, where he stayed until his return to The Streetplayers in 2007. He still maintains his Kentucky ties, playing with several groups, and as "Resident Artist" with the "Long Island Recording Studio" in Lexington, Kentucky.
Memories of his Kentucky years include opening for stars such as Earl Thomas Conley, Trisha Yearwood, and Willie Nelson, while with "Marlow Tackett & The Music Co. Band". Backing-up Percy Sledge, and performing with Mack Rice, the composer of "Mustang Sally" during Mack's "Mustang Sally Tour" in 2000. (That's right! Wilson Pickett did not write Mustang Sally!)
Tinker is also an active Band Parent/Booster with the Logan High Marching Band, where his daughter, Jessica, plays tenor sax. Look for him in the concession stand at any LHS event and he will be glad to sell you a delicious hot dog!
Richard Kazee - Trumpet, Vocals
Richard is a native of Logan, WV and now resides in Christiansburg, VA. Richard, (along with Mario and Tinker), is a founding member of the original Streetplayers band formed in 1979 and now rejoins his old friends in this newest version of The Streetplayers.
Richard has been playing the trumpet since the age of thirteen, and, in the mid '60's, was the youngest member of the All American Band, based out of The Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Virginia. With the All American Band, he played a summer-long European concert tour that encompassed thirteen countries.
Richard majored in music at West Virginia University, where he played lead trumpet in the WVU Jazz Band, under the direction of Jay Chattaway.
In addition to playing with The Streetplayers, Richard also plays big-band swing music with two bands in and around the Virginia area.
Richard plays a medium bore Mt. Vernon Bach Stradivarius trumpet with a custom-made JetTone mouthpiece.
Jimmy Dillon - Guitar, Vocals
Jimmy began playing in the early '70's. Groups include Underground Railroad, Sunday Morning Blues, Express, and The Gospel Truth Singers. Jimmy also has a solo show that includes blues, rock, and original compositions. His style is distinctively blues-flavored, with a touch of overdriven dirt, however, his performances with The Streetplayers feature a much cleaner style. Visit Jim at jimdillon.com
Vern Henderson - Bass, Sound Engineer
Vern first picked up a bass at fellow bandmember and guitarist Jimmy's house some 40 years ago. And, as has happened to a lot of bass players, it was the only instrument left, and nobody else wanted to try it. So, he picked it up and started following along with the guitar barre chords. And the rest, as they say, is history.
In addition to being bassist for The Streetplayers, Vern can also be seen playing with other local bands, playing at charity events, and lending a hand at local school functions whenever needed.
Vern has also, for the last 30 years, been an active volunteer at The Aracoma Story, a local theater production company, playing bass in the pit orchestra and as sound engineer.
Sammy Mendez Torres - Drums
Marty Ojeda - Tenor Sax, Trombone, Vocals
Del Curry - Guitar, Vocals
Albert "Bert" Dress - Drums
