Rex Merriweather

trumpet · flugelhorn · Firebird trumpet · Superbone

An award-winning composer, Rex has been fortunate to have some amazing teachers such as Barbara Buehlman, Donald E. Casey, Neil Dunlap, Bruce Mack and Clint "Pops" McLaughlin. Rex has opened for and played with such notable artists as Maynard Ferguson, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Michael Drake, The World's Most Dangerous Band (David Letterman), Buddy Miles, Stan Kenton, Steve Morse, Wayne Foster, Lou Rawls, Arturo Sandoval and the Ray Charles Band, to name a few. In addition to his exciting live performances, Rex has also been seen and heard in commercials for Datsun and Statewide Insurance and has been featured in the films "Sharkskin 6" and "Lights" as well as television's "Ally McBeal", Judy Tenuta's HBO special, and with Chef Guy Fieri on the Food Channel. He is also leader of his own big band, "This Ain't Your Daddy's Big Band," whose debut CD has garnered international acclaim. He has toured and recorded with the Samurai Homeboys, wrote and recorded horn parts for Sharon MaRee's Grammy nominated album "Triumph", wrote and recorded Music for television shows on Telemundo and Univision channels, wrote and recorded horn parts for Londen After midnight's - "Violent Acts of Beauty", and wrote the theme music for tv show "Call Back". While living in Chicago performed with Koko Taylor, Charlie Musselwhite, Planet Groove, Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley, Otis Rush, All Bubba Blues Band, Junior Wells, Lonnie and Ronnie Brooks, Barrelhouse Chuck, Buddy Miles. Additionally, he's performed at the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival in Jamaica. An original member of southern California's top 60's Motown group, Stone Soul, he studied Physics of Acoustics at IIT (Illinois Institute of Technology), was graduated from the prestiges LARW (Los Angeles Recording Workshop), studied Music Education at Vandercook School of Music Chicago, and studied Jazz at College of Lake County. Fellow classmates were, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, David Bandman, Dan Miller and many more that have gone on to prosperous careers in music. Rex has received several Congressional letters of thanks for volunteer work with young students, and lent his name to the creators of the 2010 movie "Future Cop" (filmed in Chicago). Rex Merriweather is proud to be sponsored by Curry Mouthpieces.
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Don Lucas

DON LUCAS migrated to Hollywood from Boston, Massachusetts after a two year International Tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra as Lead Vocalist opening for Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Jerry Vale and Teresa Brewer, Carol Channing, Bobby Rydell and Debby Boone. He has sung behind Barbra Streisand (way behind!) and with "Jersey Boy" Frankie Valli as one of the Four Seasons in Frankie's farewell tour. As leader of the Palm Beach Orchestra plays locally and just finished up ten years with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra as musical director of The Pied Pipers vocal group. In regional theatres around the country, Don has shared the stage with John Lithgow, Rosemary Harris, Roger Daltrey, Harry Groener, John Mahoney and Loretta "Hotlips" Swit. Favorite roles include the Emcee in Cabaret, La Cage aux Folles as Albin, and Mr. Showman-ship, Liberace in Judy's Scary Little Christmas. Los Angeles premieres include Eating Raoul, original works at the Taper and Tiffany Theatres, and multiple productions of Hello Mudduh, Hello Faddah including Off-Broadway. TV Credits include Golden Girls, a three-year stint on General Hospital, and a four-season association with Picket Fences. Don recently completed filming "The First Tycoon", coming soon to a film festival near you and remains the only actor in Los Angeles authorized by Lucie Arnaz to portray Ricky Ricardo at Universal Studios Hollywood since 1996. His debut CD Nice 'N Easy released in 2011, is now in its second printing. Don keeps busy earthquake-proofing his Sherman Oaks home of sixteen years.

Christine Aparicio Merriweather

"Born in East LA!" Christine Aparicio, daughter of prominent Latin/Jazz drummer and timbalero, Eddie Aparicio. At age 14 began studying with famed jazz vocalist/ artist/composer; Jeri Southern. Later by Gene Byram in Hollywood. At the age of 15, auditioned and was accepted by the "Young Americans"singing group, (Thank you Carolyn De Merjian!). Appeared on many national television shows including: The Ed Sullivan Show, Red Skelton, and The Junior Miss Pageant. Christine recorded several albums with the group and was a featured soloist at Disneyland and other large venues such as the Century Plaza Hotel, The Los Angeles Music Center and the Schubert Theatre. Christine currently performs with several Big Bands and Swing bands in and around the Los Angeles area. Visit her website where you can purchase and hear samples of her new CD entitled "More..."
ChristineChaulsett.com

Matt Phairas

Born and raised the son of a preacher man in rural Indiana, Matt grew up singing in the church. At age 5 he sang his first solo, "This Little Light Of Mine", while rockin' a lightning bug costume and he's been singing ever since. In addition to singing lead vocals with Rex's band, Matt also sings lead vocals in Stone Soul and his voice has been featured on TV, Radio and Internet ads for Michelin, Heinz, Mastercard, Burger King, Kodak, Napster and more. Matt has also served as songwriter/singer for "Cheech and Chong's Animated Movie" and television's "NCIS".
StoneSoul.com

Darren Atkins

alto sax · clarinet · flute

Darren Atkins, a longstanding member of This Ain't Your Daddy's Big Band sax section, has played sax (plus survival flute and clarinet) for several decades, mostly in the L.A. and surrounding areas focused on Big Band and smaller combos for dances, casuals, and entertainment in a variety of settings: The Fabulous Esquires Big Band, Ed Nani's Moonlight Orchestra, Clyde Reasinger Big Band, Chester Whitmore's Big Band (and Magnificent 7), Cool Blue, and Red, Hot & Blue, to name a few. While always striving for continuous improvement in musical excellence and yet too young to officially be considered a patron of the arts, he sponsors his music habit with a long-time career in consultative selling of business application software during the week.

Rial Gallagher

baritone sax · bass clarinet · flute

Rial is a busy Los Angeles based saxophonist. Besides holding down the Bari chair in Rex Merriweather's This Ain't Your Daddy's Big Band, Rial currently can be found playing with Strokeland Record Artists "Barela" and with L.A. indie music scene's The Abe Lincoln Story. When not playing with these acts he can be found playing in many southern California jazz big bands. His recent past includes stints with Blues Bettie, The Marc Why Group and The Paul Cacia Jazz Orchestra. One of original members of the Tuscaloosa Horns, Rial has played around the Southeast in various jazz, funk and R&B bands.

Dan Heffernan

alto sax · soprano sax · flute

Dan Heffernan has performed and/or recorded with: Shelby Lynne, Mary Wilson & The Supremes, Peter Cetera (CHICAGO), Kenny Cetera (CHICAGO), Danny Seraphine (CHICAGO), Gene Simmons (KISS), Lee Oskar (WAR), Johnnie "Guitar" Watson, Emily King, Roy Gaines, Lucky Peterson, Alan King, Buddy Greco, Edie Adams, Robert Goulet, Ben Vereen, Melba Moore, Branscombe Richmond & The Renegade Posse, Sylvie Vartan. He has appeared on the TV shows "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" and "My Fair Wedding."

Steve Mann

alto sax · tenor sax · soprano sax · clarinet · flute

Steve was born in New York City and came up playing with the top R&B bands in Manhattan during the late 1960's. He has performed with top artists such as Rod Stewart and King Curtis and toured and recorded with numerous other talented performers throughout his career. After relocating to the west coast, Steve has been working steadily in the Los Angeles music scene. Currently, he is playing with Rex Merriweather "This Ain't Your Daddy's Big Band", two jazz quintets (Street Smart, Jocelyn Michelle B3 Quintet), and a 6-piece blues band (Blue Vice).

Jim Scimonetti

soprano sax · alto sax · tenor sax · baritone sax · piccolo · flute · Electronic Wind Instrument

Jim Scimonetti plays all the woodwinds. He has been a professional Los Angles based session musician and live performer since leaving the US Air Force in 1972. Jim has a very wide musical vocabulary. While his main love is R&B and Blues, Gospel, he also fits right in with Funk, Classic Rock, Smooth jazz. Oldies Doo-Wop, as well as Big Band and Classical Orchestras. He is an improviser and he also reads music. He also likes working with musicians who write and create new and original material. Jim loves to put life and excitement into every note he plays for the people he plays for. Jim is married to his high school sweet heart (Lois). They married in 1969. They live in Lancaster California where they squander almost every cent they make on their grandchildren. Jim has performed with Dick Dale, Solomon Burke, The Drifters, The Coasters, Autur Menezes, The Righteous Brothers, and Chuck Berry.

Jeanne Carr

trombone

Jeanne Carr is an Actor's Equity, Broadway Touring Company Actress who starred at the age of 5 as Gretle in the "Sound of Music" with Florence Henderson, and Bob Wright. After years of other shows with various stars and a lot of singing and dancing she picked up the Trombone in the fourth grade. By senior year she won first chair at Allstate. She was also the first chair of the 76 Trombones in "The Music Man" with Tony Randal at the St. Louis Muny. After following her dreams to Hollywood she again found her Trombone offering her opportunities such as a recurring part as a student trombonist on the series, "Fame," and a National Tri-Star Tour with "The New Christy Minstrels." As an Actress, she's appeared on Soaps such as "The Young & The Restless," "Santa Barbara," Rituals," guest starred on "A Different World," and starred in various commercials. Jeanne moved to New York to raise two beautiful musicians of her own and found her way back into music when she subbed for a big band called, "The Melody Makers." She soon began singing for the band as well and over the next 10 years she played and sang with "The Georgie Wonder Band, " and The Swing Docs." She sang and played her bone at three Governor's Balls in New York, and sang in a jazz trio with the great Dr. John Angerosa, and Norm Frederick. Finally, the empty nest syndrome brought Jeanne west again to Hollywood to pursue her passion; Acting, Improv and Stand-up comedy. Something was missing though, the bone. Jeanne learned that the great "Glen Roberts Band" played every Thursday at Viva Cantina and again started subbing to get her lip back in the door! From there, the Great Rex Merriweather asked her to sub for the most exciting band ever, "This Ain't Your Daddy's Big Band!" Jeanne is finally home again with a great wealth of mentors as she brings her bone back the way it has always brought her along for the ride.

Carlos Luna

trombone

Carlos has played with James Brown, Martha and the Vandellas, Wilson Pickett, Captain Beefheart, and The Whispers. Besides being a recording and performing trombonist, Carlos is also a music producer, composer, arranger, orchestrator, and music director. He has worked on "Late Night" starring David Letterman, and "Late Night" starring Joan Rivers, and with luminaries such as Jerry Goldsmith, Asdru Sierra, Tito Gomez, Michael Sembello, and for labels such as Warner Brothers.
Carlos Luna's Big Bands

Evan Mackey

trombone

Evan Mackey is a trombone player based out of Los Angeles. He studied music through High School and College acheiving his Bachelors Degree in Music from California State University Northridge. He studied trombone under the excellent tutelage of Tom Whaley, William Booth, and Alex Iles. Also a member of the Urban Renewal Project, he has toured the world with Eric Burdon and The Animals, and performed with Jac Ttanna and the Horn Dogs, The Jimmy McConnell Orchestra, The Clyde Resinger Big Band, The Joe Vento Jazz Orchestra, The Buzz Maddox Septet, and Dirk Fischers Nonet. His album credits include recordings of CSU Northridge ensembles throughout his eight years as a student there and "We Are America" a single that was recorded to raise money for families affected by the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.

Harry Smallenburg

bass trombone

Harry Smallenburg retired from teaching English for 40 years at various colleges, most recently Pasadena Community College, to go back into music, long an avocation. In addition to playing bass trombone in "This Ain't Your Daddy's Big Band" (and others) he composes and arranges for a variety of jazz ensembles, and also plays vibes. He has recorded four individual albums: Just What I Was Thinking, Morphology, Inadequate Adult Supervision, and Live at the Balzac. He digs the vibe in TAYDBB, not to mention Rex's post-rehearsal homemade cookies.
Carlos Luna's Big Bands

Dallas Crane

trumpet

Dallas is a good guy, just living his life, you know? [The following text is for the sole purpose of keeping the page from breaking, and is definitely not a powerful spell to catapult the band to success. It's totally okay to look at it; nothing will happen. Honestly. Completely safe. Look at it. People will think you're totally cool if you look at it and, like, say the words in your head. Or, and stay with me, you could even whisper them aloud, if you wanted to, you could do that. It's fun! Try It! You'll see.] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Sound Cloud
Orchestration Online

Keith Fiala

trumpet

Trumpeter, composer, producer, author, educator/clinician, video production guru, and currently personal assistant to 10-time Grammy winner, Arturo Sandoval. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa and later Austin, Texas, Fiala has also spent time starring on Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau Band.
KeithFiala.com

Paul Litteral

trumpet

Paul Litteral has been an in-demand trumpeter for decades. He founded the Uptown Horns with saxophonist Arno Hecht in 1978 and he has since worked with many rock and soul groups, including such names as J. Geils, the Rolling Stones, Robert Plany, Tom Waits, Joe Cocker, James Brown, Pat Benetar, and Ray Charles, and appeared on over 150 albums. While originally based in New York City, Litteral's work in Los Angeles as a trumpeter, arranger-composer, and musical director resulted in him gaining the nickname of “Hollywood Paul.” He currently performs with Angela O'Neill and the Outrageous 8, and many others.

David Stassel

trumpet

Upon graduation from high school in Indiana, was accepted to study trumpet under William Adam at the Indiana University School of Music. While studying with Mr. Adam, earned an economics/political science B.A. and, subsequently, an MBA. After concluding a four-decade corporate and international banking career, resumed playing trumpet in 2016. Currently playing with a number of bands and serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Police Department Band.

Jerry Scott Edelnant

guitar

Jerry Scott Edelnant (he usually goes by "Jerry Scott" because even he mis-pronounces his last name) has held down the guitar chair for the past 6 years with Rex Merriweather's 20-piece jazz/rock/blues "This Ain't Your Daddy's Big Band". Jerry has spent many years playing in rock, jazz, blues, pop and several big bands, and met Rex as a member of another big-band. One day at a gig, Rex told Jerry he was thinking of starting a rock-style big-band and wanted to play lots of Spy and TV show themes, and asked if he was interested in joining? Jerry – who as a child used to record TV show themes on a portable cassette recorder and listen to them for enjoyment – jumped at the chance and hasn't looked back. Jerry is also a gifted guitarist/composer. He is on a lifelong quest to find more of his acoustic guitar's secret notes with which to craft beautiful instrumentals that speak to your heart. He says his music is calming and healing and is cheaper than therapy and safer than voodoo. Jerry can be heard playing his uplifting soundtracks for special events around town.
JerryScottMusic.com

Dave Grover

bass

Trumpet, Trombone, Bass player and recording Engineer, Dave is from Mystic Conneticut. He grew up in the San Fransisco bay area and started to play trumpet in 4th grade. He played lead in his high school jazz band, and they won the Monterey Jazz Festival High School Band competition. That got him a chair in the A Jazz band at CSUN (1971-73) under the direction of Joel Leach. During high school, he also took up the string bass to impress the ladies. Bands Dave has worked with as a trumpet/trombone player read like a veritable who's who: Lionel Hampton (1971), Mitsi Gaynor, Elvin Bishop, Rufus and Chaka, Michael Walden, Sister Sledge, Graham Central Sattion, Mickey Thomas, Omega, The Checkmates, Tribe, The Boppers, The Younghearts, Dennis Wilson, Stacy Lattisaw, Wayne Henderson, Side Effect, and sat in on many occasions with Tower of Power. He has performed on movie and television soundtracks, and has created horn and string arrangements for many recordings. After leaving the music biz in the 80's he got into computers...retired and now once again a full time musician playing upright and elec Bass, Grammy nominated Recording engineer, a studio owner (Mystic Mountain Sound), and has a business providing live sound reinforcement.
Mystic Mountain Sound

Marco Monahan

keyboards

Marco has been playing, composing and arranging since he was three. To be fair, his early arrangements weren't that great, being mainly re-workings of the classical assignments given to him by his much-consternated piano teacher ("What are you doing?! That's Mozart! You can't rewrite Mozart!" – "But I fixed it!"). He's been pretty much carrying on like that ever since: Top 40 bands, dance bands, rock bands, funk bands, combos, pit bands, big bands, pops orchestras, record dates, TV, film, theme park ride music, European performances, yada yada yada, This Ain't Your Daddy's Big Band. Marco is also an award-winning Multimedia Generalist, working in audio, video, graphics, motion graphics, and the written word. Additionally, he claims to be something of a web designer. [As it happens, he did this website, so if you manage to get any complaints to the webmaster, it'll be him that ignores you.]

Al Person

percussion · drums

Music performance/industry experience: Drum Corps International Anaheim Kingsmen, Snare (1985) · Dos Pueblos High School Marching and Jazz, Dr. Ike Jenkins, Director (1985-1988) · Drum Corps International Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, Tenor Line (1987-1991) · Santa Barbara City College Wind Ensemble and Jazz, Dr. Charles Woods, Director (1989-1991) · Drum Corps International solo competition, Tenor Drums, 8th place (1990) · CSU Northridge Percussion/Music Industry, Joel Leach, Director/Chair (1996-1999) · CSU Northridge Jazz, Gary Pratt, Director (1998) · Hopeless Records, CFO (1998-Present) · Square, rock band (1999-Present) · CSU Northridge, guest Instructor Music Industry (2000-Present).

Chris Ross

drums

Chris Ross is a drummer, producer, vocalist and percussionist living in the Los Angeles area. He has toured and recorded with Maria Muldaur, Coco Montoya, Lyle Lovette, Mark Chestnutt, Kenny Loggins, John Waite, Three Dog Night, Grammy Award winner Pete Anderson, and Hall of Fame singer Sam Moore. Chris has also worked as a house producer for Delta entertainment (the former 4th largest U.S. independent label) with his CD's sold at all major retailers including Costco, Target & Best Buy. He has produced CD's in almost every style: jazz, rock, blues, big band, reggaeton & holiday music. Chris has also worked on multiple theater performances, playing drums, percussion, singing and sometimes acting at such performances as "Atlanta" (Geffen Playhouse), "I Love My Wife" (Brentwood Theatre) and the "Simply Shakespeare" Fundraiser with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, at the Shakespeare Center of LA.
ChrisRossDrums.com