Meet the Band
For those who may be interested, it’s called "The Jon Bates Band" because Jon is the common thread who, as he describes it, “was blessed with the extraordinary friendships and opportunities that gave me a chance to bring this world class group of musicians and vocalists together as a working unit”. He became well established over the years as a music contractor and producer, and was responsible for putting many different performers together for all sorts of musical events around the world. Since Jon was the one who clients, producers, agents, promoters, event planners, and club owners always dealt with, they referred to this collective wealth of musical talent as his band – “The Jon Bates Band”.
At this point in time, the group has a long established track record as “The Jon Bates Band” and has become its own entity. The name just stuck. Of course, anyone who is familiar with the group knows that the current line up consists of an extraordinary combination of players that has evolved over time, and each member is hugely accomplished in his/her own right, with an impressive musical resume all their own. The band features astounding world class lead vocalists Steve Riddick and Debbie Major, joined by multi-talented saxophonist/flutist and vocalist Scott Harper on the front line, and backed by the high potency rhythm section of Akie Bermiss on keyboards (also a featured and incredibly gifted vocalist), Ken McGloin on guitar, Bill Dotts on bass, and Jon on drums and vocals.
Steve Riddick – is truly a natural born entertainer. He has literally been singing his entire life. His forte is explosively soulful renditions of great songs in all genres, that send chills up your spine, and always inspire people to jump out of their seats onto the dance floor. After once hearing Steve featured during a Bo Diddley performance in New York, renowned Seattle music critic Rickey Wright described him as “a real deal authentic soul master”. Steve began his professional career as the lead vocalist in several elite regional R&B, Pop, and Gospel groups during his early teens, and he has performed throughout the United States and abroad ever since. Steve has shared stages with many of the great innovators and stylists of all time, including Bo Diddley, Jeffrey Osborne and Roberta Flack. He was also featured on jazz legend Roswell Rudd's "Broad Strokes" CD (available on amazon.com), and his 2009 debut CD release called “Didn’t Hear This Coming” is available on CD Baby at cdbaby.com/cd/skrilla and includes a glorious tribute called “Coretta”, honoring Coretta Scott King, as well as a wide range of contemporary R&B - all written and performed by Steve “Skrilla” Riddick.
Debbie Major – is an amazingly dynamic, soulful and energized songstress. Her trademark is her vivacious melt-your-heart charm and captivating prowess that she somehow effortlessly brings to every song she sings. Hudson Valley music critic Dean Steinberg said, “The first thing I need to mention is that Major has an incredible voice!” (Southern Dutchess News). Renowned music writer/radio host Larry Flick has further described her awesome ability to draw upon her broadly diverse influences and make a song her own as she “delivers a performance that proudly wears the influence of Maureen McGovern and Patti Austin - an odd combination that makes perfect sense when you sit back and let Major work her magic…” (Billboard Magazine). Born and raised in Texas, Debbie first came to New York as a teenager. When her family moved back a year later, she had already decided to stay and establish her singing career. First, as lead vocalist for Topaz, and soon thereafter forming her own highly acclaimed band, Streetalk, in which she performed for over 15 years. Debbie has entertained audiences coast to coast across the United States, and has performed along side many great entertainers, including Lou Rawls, Red Buttons, Melissa Manchester, The Monkees, and Rich Little. She is a co-producer of the original Adult Contemporary CD, “Thinking of You”, and the Adult Contemporary Christian CD, “You Took Me In”. She is currently working on a new compilation CD, featuring an eclectic mix of original music and unique interpretations of other artists’ songs (due for release in 2010), and she continues to collaborate with producers Elliot Glenn (On Target Productions) and Steve Raleigh (LWR Productions) on various projects. In addition to performing as a premier vocalist, Debbie uses her professional talents and expertise to educate young children, adolescents, and adults in piano, voice, and vocal performance. She has forged a powerful and effective teaching method that serves to educate and help students develop their own inherent musical talents. Debbie's extensive knowledge, experience, and expertise in voice, vocal performance, musical repertoire, technique, and her overall professionalism, natural enthusiasm, dedication, humor, compassion, and empathy have provided many talented young vocalists with the tools required for successful music careers. More info can be found at: debbiemajor.com
Jon Bates - Throughout his teen years, Jon lived for the next jam session, and played drums in a regionally popular New York Rock ‘n Soul group called “Tidewater Mansion”. While attending Ithaca College, he began playing with a hybrid aggregate of the Ujama musical theatre and dance group at Cornell University called “Black Magic”, which was led by former James Brown pianist Curtis Taylor. This eventually led to opportunities to open shows for several major acts at the time, including New Birth, Curtis Mayfield, Edgar Winter, and Chubby Checker. Jon then moved on to Boston to attend Boston University and study with Anthony Raciatti and Alan Dawson at The Berklee College of Music. After graduation, he briefly moved to New Paltz, NY, where he first met and played in a high potency funk band that featured a phenomenal vocalist named Steve Riddick. Shortly thereafter he "went on the road" with former Atlantic recording artist Lloyd Sims. Later that year, he was offered a position at Downtown Sound Studios in Greenwich Village (NYC), which gave him the unique opportunity to work intimately with some of the most highly acclaimed musicians in the world. It also opened the door to an assistant position with the legendary CBS record producer John Hammond, and ultimately gave Jon the opportunity to play on numerous recordings. During that time, he also co-founded a high-energy jazz fusion band with some of the studio musicians he frequently played with, performing regularly around NYC under the studio’s name, "Downtown Sound". One of the bassists in that band was Bill Dotts, with whom Jon and others also founded “The Brooklyn Loft Tenants Association”, and built one of the first artists’ lofts there ever was in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (a 5,000 sq. ft. factory space only a few subway stops from Manhattan, where we could live and play music 24/7, aka “heaven”!) Over the years, Jon has established a very solid track record as a drummer, bandleader, and music contractor. From 1987 - 2001, he was also a production coordinator for many worldwide music events, helping to present numerous renditions of “The Floating Jazz Festival”, “The Blues Cruise”, and many other highly acclaimed events aboard luxury cruise ships around the world. Jon currently has production and/or performance credits on more than one hundred commercially released recordings. Anyone interested will find most of his discography in the All Music Guide database, or at: albumcredits.com/Profile/54893
Scott Harper - is an instinctively rich and extremely gifted musician. His talents are masterfully revealed on the alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, as well as on flute and vocals. He creatively blends a widely diverse range of influences, and always seems to have just the right musical flavoring at his fingertips. He is also very adept at adding tasteful percussion parts or even guitar enhancements when needed. Scott comes from a musical family. His Great Uncle was a professional whistler on the Vaudeville circuit, his Grandfather was a church organist and piano teacher for sixty years, his Dad is a pianist and singer, and his older brother is also a guitar player and singer. Therefore, it was completely natural for him to sing and play along at an early age, and his musical interests inspired and propelled him from elementary school straight through to graduation from Stony Brook University. He has performed in many prestigious venues, including Shea Stadium, The Hard Rock Café in Orlando Florida, Mandalay Bay and The Luxor in Las Vegas, the USS Intrepid, Disney World, The QE 2, and the Hartford Civic Center, to name a few. He has played with both the Apollo Theatre and BB King’s house bands, Jeffrey Osborne, Billy Vera and the Beaters, Rob Thomas, Milt Harris, Roxy Perry, Face The Music, blues legends Hubert Sumlin, Little Melvin Underwood, and Little Sammy, and he is a founding member of a highly acclaimed New York pop/R&B group called “Live Society”. Active in studio work, Scott has recorded commercials for Sprint, Seagrams, Amoco, ESPN, and others. His baritone sax playing can be heard on the last four award-winning “Funk City” and “Classic R&B” horn loop libraries from Big Fish Audio, and he can also be seen and heard on the big screen with fellow members of The Jon Bates Band in the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival feature film debut of “Handsome Harry”, starring Jamey Sheridan and Steve Buscemi. Scott has also recorded with children’s song writer/performer John Farrell, and has distinguished himself as a prominent music educator. In his free time, he can usually be found on an adventure somewhere, exploring the great outdoors with his wife Debbie and their children.
Akie Bermiss - (pr: ah-key) is a Brooklyn native, raised by former activists in a musical household full of jazz and politics. He began singing in church, then in school, and quickly drew attention far and wide for his awe inspiring vocal stylings and abundant musical talent. He soon became a highly in-demand vocalist, and while attending Bard College, Akie began seriously studying piano under the auspices of John Esposito, Erica Lindsay, and composers George Tsontakis and Kyle Gann. He became increasingly active in the jazz studies program there, and was soon a first call piano player throughout the region, often without people even realizing what an amazing voice he has. During college, he rounded out his gigs by also performing as lead singer and keyboardist with “The Foundation”, and he co-founded “The Mimetiks” with bassist Kyle Jaster, “to hone the improvisational aspects of their sound to astounding levels, incorporating improvisation, not only in harmony and melody, but in rhythm, form, and lyricism”. Akie is currently a founding member, keyboardist, and featured vocalist in an incredibly fresh and meaty Brooklyn based group called ABARAKI, and keeps a very full work schedule as a keyboardist, vocalist, and teacher. He is also a composer (with published works performed by the American Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado String Quartet), and a children’s book author - ”I Hate to Be Sick” (Scholastic Books). In addition, he is a freelance journalist, a shameless blogger, a lover of science fiction, a huge fan of Criollo Cigars, and... he takes his bourbon: neat.
Bill Dotts - is second to NONE! His extensive touring schedule with various world renowned acts, including The Harlem Gospel Choir and jazz fusion legend Lonnie Liston Smith, has taken him around the globe to Japan, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, throughout Europe, and across the United States many times. With The Jon Bates Band, he has also backed up music greats Bo Diddley, Jeffrey Osborne, Roberta Flack, and others, and he has performed for many years with the renowned World Beat Afro-Caribbean group known as “Spirit Ensemble”. Bill is highly regarded by fans and musicians alike for his uniquely solid and distinctive rhythmic style, and his tastefully inherent musical instincts. His only other passion as intense as playing bass is his love of science fiction, but fortunately he is able to devote ample time to both. Some of the many inspired recordings he has performed on include the soundtrack for Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, Now That I’ve Got Your Attention (Lesette Wilson), Inspirations (The Spirit of Life Ensemble), and Broad Strokes (Roswell Rudd).
Ken McGloin – has been a working musician since the age of 14. Ken notes that when he became head of the Music Department at The Poughkeepsie Day School a few years ago, “it was the first regular job I ever had. I've always made my living playing music." A big part of his duties at PDS is teaching students how to write and perform original songs, as well as overseeing the writing and performance of their annual school musical. Ken is also the musical director of an internationally acclaimed enterprise called “Face The Music”, which presents innovative team building programs, using music to inspire and enhance the performance of management and sales teams, administrators, researchers, and ranking professionals at Fortune 500 companies (www.facethemusicblues.com). He remembers that some of the first songs he learned as a kid, when his mother got him a guitar at the age of 12, were off old blues recordings by Mississippi Fred McDowell and Freddie King records. He became heavily steeped in the Blues and Rock ’n Roll, but his primary focus shifted toward jazz during high school, and even moreso once he entered the prestigious University of Miami music program. His music education also included master classes with jazz greats Dave Holland, Larry Coryell and John Abercrombie, and he studied classical guitar for five years. Ken is an accomplished and virtuosic player, able to play many styles with an authentic feel and appreciation of what makes each valid in its own way. He has led bands ranging from swing to hip-hop, folk to funk, and his "hard-core alternative" band, Lunchmeat, played the main stage at the 1994 25th Anniversary Woodstock Festival. He also writes music for TV and film. His music has been featured on two of MTV's most popular shows, “The Real World” and “Road Rules”, as well as The Oprah Winfrey Show, and the ESPN network.
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