ARTISTS

Seven-time Grammy-nominee, Broadway composer, and the first artist to ever have a song downloaded more than 1 million times on iTunes, Sara Bareilles has taken the world by storm. 'It's tempting to simply applaud Bareilles' capable Fiona Apple-on-Prozac homage for what it is: slightly edgy, stompy piano-based pop rock. That is, until she unfurls the ear splittingly impressive climax note of the Maroon 5-esque "Come Round Soon." Whether banging away at the driving "Love Song," turning slinky for "Bottle It Up" or getting contemplative on the gently orchestrated "City," Bareilles' writing voice is uniquely her own'. - Caryn Ganz Rolling Stone Review. Sara Bareilles lent her support to music education for West Coast Songwriters Association and Music for Minors.

An American rock, R&B and soul singer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates -- the number-one selling duo in music history. Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best soul singers of his generation. In 2004, Hall was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Since 2007, Hall has hosted the web television series, Live From Daryl's House which has won numerous awards. Hall shared his talents to raise money and awareness for Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a cause near and dear to his heart.

For over two decades, three-time GRAMMY Award-winner, Keb' Mo' has cultivated a reputation as a modern master of American roots music through the understood excellence of his live and studio performances. Guitarist/vocalist Keb' Mo' draws heavily on the old-fashioned country blues style of Robert Johnson while keeping his sound contemporary with touches of soul and folksy storytelling. His songs have been recorded by B.B. King, Buddy Guy, the Dixie Chicks, Joe Cocker and Robert Palmer. He’s also collaborated with a host of other artists including Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Cassandra Wilson, Buddy Guy, Amy Grant, Solomon Burke and Little Milton. Keb’ Mo’ performed to support Playing for Change and its music and art education programs for underserved communities around the world.

Two-time award-winning superstar, Kenny Loggins is a brilliant and gifted guitarist who has captured hearts by exploring the “endless power of the song to communicate,” for over four decades. His hits include “Danny’s Song”, “Celebrate Me Home”, “Footloose” and “I’m Alright”. In 1991, Loggins’ “Leap of Faith” album featured “Conviction of the Heart”, the unofficial anthem of the environmental movement. In 2007, his “How About Now” album hit the shelves, with reflections of his musical history combined with songs that dig deep and look to the future.

This year’s Danville d’Elegance Gala Dinner features a presentation by our special guest, Linda Ronstadt, with her personal story: My Life in Music and Living with Parkinson’s. Grammy award winning musician Linda Ronstadt is arguably the most versatile vocalist of the modern era. She has broadened the latitudes of the pop singer, expanding her canvas to include country, rock and roll, big band, jazz, opera, Broadway standards, and Mexican and Afro-Cuban influences. Although she sang her last concert before retiring in 2009, Linda has since released her autobiography, Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir, and was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

English Beat is a 2 Tone Ska revival band co-founded by Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger in Birmingham, England in 1978. Their rhythmic songs - still vibrant today - fuse ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock, which gives them a sound unlike anything out there. Their lyrics in such favorites as "Save it for Later" and "Mirror in the Bathroom" deal with themes of love, unity or sociopolitical topics. What the crowd gets at an English Beat show is one of the most fun and upbeat live shows around. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be blown away by the English Beat and it's front-man Dave Wakeling, the ever-changing "King of Ska"!

GRAMMY® winning singer-songwriter and guitarist, David Pack has won international acclaim both for his insightful solo work and his stellar turn as main composer and frontman for the pop-rock powerhouse band Ambrosia. Pack, who has one of contemporary music’s most distinctive voices, is also renowned as a producer for stars including Wynonna, Phil Collins, Aretha Franklin, Kenny Loggins, and Michael McDonald, and as a music director/producer of global stage events including both of President Clinton’s inaugurals. Songs like Pack’s “Biggest part of Me”, How much I feel”, “Holding onto Yesterday”, and “You’re The Only Woman”, are just a few of his award-winning contributions that we heard in the intimate concert for Autism.

Drummer, Producer, Songwriter, Hitmaker (R & B, Soul & Funk), Narada’s smoldering R&B pop hits introduced such superstars as Whitney Houston (“I Wanna Dance With Somebody”) and Mariah Carey (“Vision of Love”) to the spotlight. Aretha Franklin, Wynonna Judd, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, and scores of others have sought Narada out to fashion some of the biggest hits of their careers. Narada has earned equal acclaim as a recording and performing artist in his own right and recently released his 12th album.

By the time San Francisco-based singer/songwriter/pianist Vienna Teng quit her full-time software engineering job at Cisco Systems in the summer of 2002, she had signed with independent label Virt Records and was preparing for her debut release, Waking Hour. Just a few short months later, she was featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition, made her network television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman, and was followed around by a camera crew from CNN for a prime-time profile. She was soon opening for artists such as Shawn Colvin & Joan Osborne and had her song, "The Tower," used in the NBC prime-time series "Ed." Her days are now filled with interviews and sold-out performances. Needless to say, it has been an abrupt shift from her cubicle days.

Hailing from Denmark, passionate folk/pop singer, Claes Cem has built a grassroots following as an independent artist. He has played over 1,000 shows across the world and was named Best Singer at the Emergenza Music Festival contest in Denmark. Over the past three years, Cem has put his heart, soul, and stories into his recordings, collaborating with several Grammy Award winning producers in Nashville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Thailand. Claes Cem's works have been featured on television shows such as ABC's "Extreme Makeover" and "The Bachelor. His past two singles "Rosie” and “40,000 Feet” enjoyed success and received extensive airplay on Danish National Radio and he is currently touring the United States in support of “You Ain’t Beaten Yet”, the first single from his debut album.

Composer, pianist and three-time GRAMMY® nominee, David Benoit has made an indelible mark on contemporary jazz. He pioneered the popular smooth jazz sound of the '80s, and his straight-ahead jazz recordings, television and film scores, and his classical compositions continue to win coveted industry awards. Benoit has performed with Leonard Bernstein, Kenny Loggins, Faith Hill, and many others. His song “The KEY TO YOU”, which he co-wrote with friend and collaborator David Pack, became the theme of HOSV’s 2006 concert for Autism.

Since his first professional concert, he has received much acclaim for both his technical proficiency and his mature, intuitive style of playing. Eigsti has performed on stage with many well-known and respected musicians, such as Dave Brubeck, Diane Schurr, James Moody and others. Mr. Eigsti was presented at three “Rising Star” concerts at the famed Ravinia Festival in Chicago.

An Irish soul man, whose passionate vocal style and energetic stage presence capture the best elements of catchy, "danceable" pop-rock jams, with a touch of classic "Blue Eyed Soul" for good measure. Armed with a distinctive Irish tenor and an emotive falsetto, Eoin weaves a tapestry of songs together which conjure up the narrative eloquence of James Taylor and the modern existentialisms of James Blunt.

Though only in her 20's, "Megan Slankard's vocal style is so distinctive that simply naming influences (Ani DiFranco, Alanis Morissette) doesn't do it justice. Her vocal melodies are immediately arresting, she uses hip-hpo phrasing and whisper-to-roar dynamics like a pro, and she never lets her impeccable technique eclipse the emotion she pours into her performances." — Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Shana Morrison’s musical style has been called pop with a side of blues and a side of rock. She has also been known to include other ingredients, like country, R&B, and jazz into the mix. Her material seems to be ever-changing and hard to pin down categorically. What always remains the same is Shana's unique and wide-ranging voice.

LUCE was founded in San Francisco in 2000 and released their fifth album in February 2013. The band, lead by singer Tom Luce, is made up of …. The single “Good Day” peaked at #39 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and was heard in the movies “13 Going On 30” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 days”, and several TV shows and commercials.

Jennifer Barnes is a talented jazz vocalist, recording artist and music educator. She has sung and recorded with many musical legends including Barry Manilow, Cy Coleman, Les Brown Jr, and Band of Renown. She has appeared on the Grammy Awards and most recently, was featured on a national Chili’s commercial. Jennifer performed with Venezuelan sensation Otmaro Ruiz on piano, highly regarded bassist Chris Colangelo on the standup and in-demand jazz drummer Steve Barnes on the skins.

On May 14, 2003, 22-year-old Brooklyn-born Vickie Natale became CBS TV’s Star Search Grand Champion--earning a $1 million Sony Music recording contract and $200,000 in prize money along the way. The Music Teacher turned Soul Diva has been singing since age four and composing since age 12. Prior to her “Star Search” victory, Ms Natale had won numerous competitions, including ones at New York’s legendary Apollo Theater. In the aftermath of 9/11, Natale performed close to ground zero before an audience of 5,000, noting that she “felt honored to use my voice to help people heal.” Ms Natale’s musical stylings are infused with R&B and pop, although funk, jazz and blues also flow naturally from her voice. A passionate performer not to be missed!

Deborah Levoy possesses a riveting stage presence that is as irresistible as her luscious voice. She radiates intelligence and a bare-bones intimacy. “She has a strong, emotive voice, crisp guitar accompaniment, and an eye and ear for taking everyday life situations and creating high drama in song form," writes The East Bay Express (Oakland, CA).

Karmina, helmed by the sister duo of Kelly and Kamille, is all about real musicians who possess talent, know-how and determination. Setting themselves apart from other pop wannabes, Kelly and Kamille write, sing, produce and perform music that springs entirely from their own creative designs. As evidenced by the songs that encompass their debut album, Backwards into Beauty, and its first single, "The Kiss," Karmina's music possesses a soulful, seductive embrace that tugs at the emotions, without sacrificing the hooks, melodies and exuberant sense of fun found in the very best of pop music. Produced by Karmina and Guy Erez, the album features eleven riveting original songs, each extending an instant embrace.

Flying Other Brothers features stellar lead and pedal steel guitarist Barry Sless (Phil Lesh & Friends), keyboardist Pete Sears (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Starship), and drummer Jimmy Sanchez (Boz Scaggs, Dr. John). The octet is rounded out by Roger McNamee on rhythm guitar, Ann McNamee on percussion, Bill Bennett on bass, Tony Bove on harmonica, and Bert Keely on guitar, all five of whom lend vocals and original tunes to the mix. The band is steeped in the grand tradition of vintage San Francisco sounds and sensibility!

Chen mixes powerful emotion and intricate guitar work in his superbly crafted songs. Fascinating to watch, Kenon is a fresh and exhilarating force on stage.

Extra Large is the perfect soundtrack for ‘throw your hands in the air’ fun. Voted Best Local Band in Santa Cruz County eleven times running, Extra Large splices together funk gyrations, Latin spice, fun-in-the-sun reggae, and classic California rock vigor. This veteran six-piece ensemble has become a California coast staple adept at heating up dance floors, concert stages, and festivals. What sets Extra Large apart from the ‘dance band’ pack is that their dance music is original, upbeat, positive and fun! No ‘Brickhouse’ from this crew. Bursting with screaming horns and steaming strings, with drums and bass bulldozing any listener’s attempt to stand still, this band continues to reign as the ultimate party starter for any upbeat occasion. Sometimes size does matter, and Extra Large dutifully fills every musical gap.

Steve Eaton, Emmy nominee and author of gold and platinum songs for Art Garfunkel, The Carpenters, Glenn Campbell, Anne Murray and others, is a former member of Paul Revere and the Raiders. As a solo performer, Steve has shared the stage with Ray Charles, The Smothers Brothers, Charlie Pride, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot, The Guess Who, and Yes. Steve is an incredible musician, a great singer/songwriter, and a fabulous entertainer. We are delighted to have him as our headline artist.

Old Skool Café is a one-of-a-kind, youth-run supper club featuring talented young chefs, waiters and entertainers. They're using a fresh approach to violence prevention -focusing on rehabilitating and giving hope to at-risk and previously incarcerated youth.