Info on our band |
MUSIC Ned Gray and Friends |
DRUMS-GRAY VOCALS-BENEVIDES KEYBOARD-DANIELS GUITAR-JAMES GUITAR-HUGET BASS-FULTON VIOLIN-ADAMS DANCE-DE ANN |
Vegetarian Country cooking show features a live band with:
NED GRAY-Band Leader & Drummer
"Best damn drummer I've ever heard"-
For more information contact 415-819-6518 |
Ned Gray has completed 11 programs as band leader and drummer for the Vegetarian Country cooking show. His outstanding musicianship gained him special honors in high school. Ned continued his music studies at the Nebraska Wesleyan University where he performed with the University orchestra. In 1972 Ned toured with the USO which included performances in Iceland, Nova Scotia, England and Greenland. Ned has toured with the groups, "Heaven and Earth", "Blackhawk", "Bravo" and "Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen." His performances with the country western band "Bravo" took him to Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Guam, and Hawaii. In 1993 Ned Gray released his successful CD "Looking for the Groundswell." In addition to playing the drums and singing, Ned also plays the guitar and harmonica. Ned has recently been cruising the Caribbean drumming up a great time for all on board. He toured on Carnival Cruiseships the Triumph: 2/00 thru 6/00 and the M/S Holiday 9/99 thru 10/99.
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| We chop the leeks and Ned keeps
the beat. Vegetarian Country's master of marinating music now has a CD available. You too
can sauté and sashay to the rhythm and blues. CD-$12.00+shipping to order call Toll free by phone or fax |
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Doug Adams and the group Light Rain are considered pioneers of what has come to be known as "World Beat" music. Their four albums feature Adams violin as it weaves sensuous melodies over the rhythms of doumbec (an Arabian drum) and finger cymbals.
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DREAM DANCER Light Rain's first album
was recorded in 1977 and became an underground hit. Sales of that album soon
numbered in the tens of thousands with orders coming in from across the United States and
around the world. Dream Dancer was discovered by
the Joffrey Ballet who set a dance to some of its music. The dance, also named Light Rain, became known as the Joffreys
signature work with audiences demanding to see (and hear) it year after year in some of
the finest theaters in the world. Available in CD-$16.00 +shipping Toll Free 1-800-665-9123 De Ann's Dream VIDEO-$30.00 +shipping Enjoy the beauty of belly dancing featuring the music of Light Rain. An exquisite sensual journey through dance. |
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DREAM SUITE |
A follow up album
featuring guest artists The Kronos Quartet Available in cassette-$10.00 + shipping |
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VALENTINE TO EDEN |
Light
Rain's third album. Mysterious and romantic, Light Rains music sings to the gypsy in each
of our souls. With their unique hybrid of Arabic and American musical sensibilities Available in cassette-$10.00 + shipping |
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DARK FIRE |
After a long break
from their mid-eastern musical explorations, in 1993 Light Rain burst back into the
world-beat arena with the powerful and exotic CD; Dark
Fire. Many consider the deep and sinewy performances
captured on Dark Fire to
be Light Rain at its very best. It certainly has become Light Rains bestseller.
Available in CD-$16.00 +shipping Call Toll Free 1-800-665-9123 |
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Vegetarian Country is honored to include the world class vocal talent of Glenda Benevides. In the L.I.T.E. Productions Glenda's music creates a feeling of intimacy and lyrics that are inspirational. Her talented voice brings forth ancient sounds to warm the heart while blending the rhythms of Africa and American soul. Mythical lyrics, witty sense of humor, and her magical stage presence will take you on a sacred journey towards the reflection of self and the world. Her voice will heal the soul and free the body. For bookings and current appearances: |
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Immensely versatile, Dan is a true musical genius. He began playing music by ear while in Junior high school. At 14 years of age, Dan loved playing the piano and couldn't stay away from it. Dan's musical talent was noticed by Wilbert Baranco, Music professor at U.C. Berkeley and San Francisco State University, Who began instructing Dan in jazz piano and musical composition. |
Dan's 16th birthday found him the leader of a band that was the "red hot" finalist in a California Youth Association talent contest, judged by Stevie Wonder. Dan was awarded the prize of opening a concert in which the "Wonder Man" sang, and played drums. Sometime later, while performing with the Frank Biner and the Night Shift, members of the band Tower of Power approached Dan to do some recording studio work. This lead to musical experiences with Lou Rawls, Charlie Musselwhite, Elvon Bishop, and Eddie Money, among others. In 1980 Dan joined his wife's band, Pure Honey, which he has brought to new creative heights, touring in Europe, and a soon to be released video. Dan maintains that "playing for 1 or 1 million, pleasing whoever is in the audience comes first." |
| Born in Stockton,
California. His musical career began with woodwind and brass studies in grammar school,
but when his family moved to San Francisco he gravitated to Rock n Roll and began
playing guitar. At age 20 he switched to bass and by 1972 his fine musical talent enabled
him to blossom and gain wide recognition as an accomplished bassist. His first part-time
position was with Eddie Moneys Rockets, and after 10 years he worked full time with
John Lee Hooker in Colefeat. This group played all the top rooms in the San Francisco
area, with trips to clubs in Nevada, and a 7-week stint in Kodiak, Alaska. Three members of Colefeat, including Don, then formed The Shakers, who achieved considerable national success with two singles and one album on the Electra-Asylum label. During their national concert tour they performed with such artists as the Pointer Sisters, Three-Dog Night, Blood Sweat and Tears, and the Amazing Rhythm Aces. He was with the Fabulous Titans as they achieved international success with a tour to Cuba, and the release of a single on the Chizik label and an E.P. on the Epiphany label.
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Don left the Titans in 1981, and joined the Jimmy James Band. He has contributed a great deal to the recordings of the group due to his early experience in studios as a sound engineer. Don plays bass with great effectiveness and artistic sensitivity. His remarkable talents presently contribute to every performance of the band. |
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| Guitar | ||
| Born in Oakland, California.
A resident of the East Bay Area all his life, Jimmy has played guitar professionally for
30 years. He worked with John Lee Hooker from 1974-76. While with Hooker Jimmy played on
an album called "Free Beer & Chicken" (wheat meat we're sure) that featured
such artists as Joe Cocker, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Howard Roberts, and the
Tower of Power horn section. The band toured Canada three times, and performed on the
nationwide TV show Midnight Special. Jimmy is also an excellent vocalist, having studied two years under vocal teacher Judy Davis, of Oakland. Judy coached Barbara Streisand, Janis Joplin, Eddie Money, and other top stars. Besides the Midnight Special, Jimmy has appeared on Duke Randis American Variety Showcase, and the Al Collins television shows. |
He played behind Eddie Money several times at the Rio Theatre in Rodeo, and opened up as a member of Frank Biner and the Niteshift in 1976, for the Tower of Power at Winterland on New Years Eve, and also at Marineworld and the Keystone at Berkeley. In January 1980 Jimmy formed his own band and worked at the It Club in El Cerrito for 3 1/2 months as house band. Since then he has covered most of the clubs in the East Bay, including Sophies, the Townhouse, Country Palace, Country Road West, and the West 40 Club. On June 8, 1981 the group traveled to Pendleton, Oregon for a one-night concert at the Armory. The concert sold more than 2,500 tickets.
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| Guitar | ||
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Kurt Huget has
been a San Francisco Bay Area musician for over 20 years, playing a wide range of musical
styles in a variety of performing venues. He is the leader of two longtime bands: Safe
Harbor (jazz & pop) and Moonlight Rodeo
(country rock), which will be releasing its first CD in1999. A multi-instrumentalist, Kurt regularly plays in the stage orchestra for musicals produced by the San Anselmo Town Players in Marin County. He also performs solo at hospitals, homeless shelters, and other charitable institutions such as Bread & Roses, an organization based in Marin. He can be reached via email at huget@hooked.net |
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Please send any questions, comments, pointers, mistakes, or omissions to
masranch@vegcountry.com
thanks!
Vegetarian Country
home page.