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Aunt Kizzy's Boyz
BLUSD (Blues Lovers United San Diego) chose Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz to represent San Diego in the 2006 IBC (International Blues Challenge). The Boyz took 2nd place in the competition in Memphis TN, where they competed with 130 bands from around the world. They also recently opened for Etta James in the Pechanga Showroom to a sold out crowd where they received a standing ovation and performed an encore song. The band is also involved in the BITS (Blues In The Schools) program, and have performed for over 1,400 young kids, exposing them to live blues.
Aunt Kizzy's Boyz web site |
The Charles Burton Blues Band
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Orange County, California, Charles built his first electric guitar from scratch at the age of ten. He played in local rock and country bands until, in his early twenties, he embarked on a musical journey that took him from Florida to Fresno, Memphis to Australia, Japan to Bahrain, and points in between playing blues, swing, rock, and jazz. Since settling in San Diego, Charles has worked with the Blues Brokers, the Deacons, Michele Lundeen, Len Rainey, the Bayou Brothers, and King Biscuit Revue. Charles has developed a distinctive guitar style based in the blues with elements of the many other sounds he loves. His vocal stylings range from sweet and silky smooth to rough and gutsy.
The Charles Burton Blues Band's web site |
Johnny Dam
Johnny’s fast paced delivery, described as “Shotgun” by fellow comedians, is just that… the punch lines keep coming, and the audience gets no rest until he leaves the stage. Born in Los Angeles, Johnny was always the class clown. “I took advantage of every opportunity to deprive my fellow students of the finest education the Southern California Public School System had to offer.” He includes comedians such as George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Bill Hicks among his influences. “Listening to those guys taught me that the only thing funnier then the truth is the painful truth.” His views are based on the harsh reality that every joke has a victim. Audience members have described Johnny’s humor as raw and full of reality. It is not unusual to hear someone say, “He speaks the truth,” as they leave his show. You will agree with him; and, you’ll be glad he said it and not you. Johnny Dam has shared the stage with such stars as Carlos Mencia, Pablo Francisco, Robert Schimmel and Craig Shoemaker, just to name a few. “I have been very fortunate; I’ve had the honor of working with my idols.” A military favorite, Johnny has performed at bases all over the world. In November 2005 he was part of a USO/AFE tour that performed for the troops in the Middle East. “I lost a cousin in the Pentagon on 9/11 so I feel it is my duty to my family and my country to support the troops any way I can.” For Johnny, it’s not only about performing comedy. He also teaches his craft at the Ontario Improv in California. He has been teaching and conducting writing workshops for over two years. “I love teaching. It keeps me from getting complacent in my craft.” Johnny released his first CD “The Painful Truth” in November of 2005. It is available from Apple iTunes, CDBaby.com, Towerrecords.com and AOL’s MusicNet. In April 2006 he wrote and directed his first film entitled “Support Live Comedy”, the first installment in a series of five films.
Johnny's web site |
Gayla Johnson
“The truth and nothing but the truth, so help me Buddha!" “It’s not who I am that makes me weird, it’s who I’m becoming.” Gayla was born at a young age and raised in Los Angeles, California. After Low school and High school, Gayla was college bound. At California State University Chico she studied speech, sociology, and news writing. She was also actively involved with the student government. She was an active member of the Student Enrichment Committee and Multicultural Board for the length of her college career. Other activities included modeling, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, an assortment of internships, and travel to Washington DC, sponsored by the University to represent the student body at the annual Black Media Coalition Conference. Gayla entered into the realm of Stand-up Comedy after finding no satisfaction in most any other any other realm. It’s tough to keep a corporate job when you’re funny. Her first attempt at any acting career was a disaster. Theoretically college had prepared her for the real world, right? She put on a suit, walked into a casting office, offered her application, resume, 3 letters of recommendations, SAT scores, and her 4 year Communications degree, only to be asked, “Will you pose nude?” Four years wasted in college? Or were they? Disheartened she realized study isn’t everything, high school dropouts are making millions, they’re called rappers. Gayla first tried her “mic technique” by reporting the news. It turned out less glamorous then expected. She was employed with KCPM-TV as a News writer, KCHO-Radio as the "Daily Calendar" announcer and KHSL-Radio as a roving reporter interviewing the public. She’s worked as a news writer and researcher for KTTV-Fox CH 11, KWHY CH 22, KHJTV and KFWB News. Nice jobs, crappy self-expression. It was Connie Chung who influenced her towards the art of “communication”, and Lucille Ball toward the art of Comedy. Connie had poise, Lucy was clumsy, Connie had a classic, controlled manner, Lucy was thrilling, Connie showed professional proficient standards, Lucy was unorthodox and tricky, Gayla endeavored to become both of them, creative, expressive, rich and on TV! Gayla’s Stand-up Comedy is an expression of ethnic diversity. Her 15-year relationship with Greg Dean, her Caucasian boyfriend, Fiancé, Comedy Coach, Mentor and owner of the GREG DEAN STAND-UP COMEDY WORKSHOPS in Los Angeles, has revealed enlighting truths, myths, and wild perceptions about people, whether Black, White, Latino, or Asian. She has appeared on B.E.T.’s Comic View, headlined at the International Humor Conference, Ramada Inn’s Comedy Outpost: and placed in the Funniest Female in California Competition at Martini Blues, Huntington Beach, CA. She has toured and performed at LAFFS Comedy Club in Albuquerque, NM: Jokers Comedy Club, Omaha NE, sharing the stage with Don “DC” Curry@, Renn Woods, Sammy Shore, and Headliners Doug McCraw, Rusty Z and Beth Donahue. Gayla performs regularly at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles and features at many shows in the LA area, including the Melrose Improv, Irvine Improv, Tempe Improv, San Jose Improv, Ice House in Pasadena CA, and The Laugh Factory in Hollywood. She is the producer/coordinator and assistant teacher of the Greg Dean’s Standup Comedy Workshop in Los Angeles. Recently, she decided to REALLY start a funny COMEDY CAREER and get MARRIED! Gayla and Greg are at the end of a 15-year courtship. So, what was the obvious next step? MARRIAGE! With the condition that she continues to get the free training, of course!.
Gayla's web site |
Henrietta Komras
Henrietta's love life isn't working. I joined a dating service called "Who's Left?" Even when she does get a date, it doesn't work out. "They matched me up with an old guy, it was so depressing. I finally got a good bite on the ass, then I realized the guy left an hour ago and I just rolled over on his dentures." The more she complains about her terrible dating life, the harder audiences laugh. She grew up in Canada, but left 'cause it was too cold. To keep warm, she took up ballet and at age eleven auditioned for the Junior Ballet Company of Canada. When she fell on her ass, she realized that comedy was a better bet than "Swan Lake". Before she started doing comedy, she was married to a rabbi for twenty years. She started thinking about doing comedy because everyone said she was funny at temple. Finally, she left the rabbi and headed for Hollywood. Now she's making up for lost fun. "I even tried a threesome - the two guys fell in love with each other." She studied acting with Margie Haber and Ivana Chubbuk and comedy at The Groundlings and CBS Studios. She has studied stand-up with Judy Carter, Mark Lanow, and Steve North. She is currently part of Brook Forest Entertainment's Stand-Up Reperatory Company. Henrietta performs at all the major clubs in Los Angeles including The Improv, The Comedy Store, The Ice House, and The Laugh Factory as well as in Las Vegas and throughout the west. Her comedy has been heard on VStar Wireless, 1KTV, Laugh Trax, and she has done nationally-syndicated comedy pieces for Premier Radio. She has appeared in numerous national commercials and has a principle role as Mrs. Tupay in New Line Cinema's "House Party 4".
Henrietta's web site |
Thai Rivera
Alright, in case anyone hasn't noticed, I do stand up. I perform a lot in a week and have a lot of friends who are comics. I have lived in LA for close to 3 years now, I am originally from Phoenix, but was raised in a smaller town called Casa Grande. I DO enjoy living in LA but will be the first to admit my attitude and personality are NOT very "LA". I don't hate everything I don't think you have to be flawless to be a worthwhile person and I don't think about what you can do for me before I decide whether or not to be your friend. I LOVE doing stand up probably more than anything in the world (aside from God and my family) it's pretty much all I do with my free time and it never really seems like work to me. For me even when it's bad it's good. I do every kinda' spot you can imagine, and I really do mean that, I do comedy clubs (Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, Friars) Bars (Liam's, Whiskey Bend, The Well) to Coffee houses (Bliss, Coffee Haven) I even performed in my church for 2 nights. I love comedy so much that I try not to mention when I first meet strangers and only because once I get started talking about it I sometimes can't stop myself :-) I do have a STRONG belief in God and do try to get to church every Sunday. If you don't believe in God, or go to church, I don't judge I am a person who truly does respect the opinion's of others and the rights of other's to have their opinions. The only thing I ask is that you don't try to talk me out of my beliefs and I in turn won't try to talk you into them. Other things about me: I never, ever sleep with socks on, I won't even try it at this point. I don't currently party, as in drink or smoke. I AM not very materialistic although I do like some nice things. I sleep on the floor and I don't judge people by what they do for a living or where they live I have met VERY intelligent people that were homeless and VERY dumb people that were filthy rich, not to mention I was living in my truck for my first four months in LA. I don't like to lie I wouldn't say I NEVER lie because that would make me a liar but it is rare since I am a 30 year old man who asks very little of others which tends to eliminate the need to lie. You like me, you like me, you don't, you don't . Lying won't help the situation. Oh yeah and I have a VERY cool roommate that I feel is a very good friend and GREAT person he has been a great friend to me and I owe him BIG. Now if you want to see something that I find VERY entertaining watch my friend, Boon Shaka Laka, dance up a storm :-)
Thai's web site |
The Larry Washington Band
Since beginning in 2003, BeatworkzLtd has become one of the premier Audio Sampling CD companies with a clear focus on quality, sounds, samples & loops. Born in Detroit, MI, BeatworkzLtd's founding musician, producer, Larry Washington began his musical career at an early age playing drums behind R&B acts, various Motown artists, opening for BB King, The Spinners, Al Green, The Ohio Players, and others, performing at clubs, concerts, and writing music throughout the Midwest in 1977. Larry moved to Seattle where he continued to perform at such noted venues as Jazz Alley, Paramount Theatre, and The Tacoma Dome. It was in Seattle where Larry broadened his skills in production to include a solo project, First Impression and Larry's remake of Black Orpheus that received much radio play throughout the Pacific North West, a jingle for Executive Hosts Restaurants, and also supplied Half Time Music for the Seattle Super Sonics. After much correspondence and sharing of his music, a Motown (LA) contact encouraged Larry to move to Los Angeles in 1987. Larry manages BeatworkzLtd, performs clinics, concerts and tours throughout the year and still finds time to write, produce, and maintain his publishing company.
The Larry Washington Band's web site
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Grace White
Grace White, aka That Old Hippie Chick, is a classic bohemian with a mother who stalks her, a father to whom road rage is an art-form and a stand-up comedy act like no other. White launched her comedy career at the onset of her "Middle Ages," and has gone on to open for the Jefferson Starship, 3 Doors Down, Edgar Winter, Leon Russell, Father Guido Sarducci, and Kevin Pollack. She made her film debut in "The Independent," starring Jerry Stiller and Janeane Garofalo and has appeared on "Good Morning America." White is a symphony in contradictions, a blur of reluctant energy and a compulsive workaholic entrepreneur who stubbornly maintains her title of World's Laziest Woman. She's also a successful single parent (her daughter's never been to jail), and has earned a solid reputation for herding aspiring comedians through their performing puberty. That Old Hippie Chick may not be the last of her tribe, but she is surely one of the most entertaining.
Grace's web site |
ZOO2
ZOO2, a U2 Tribute, started in late 2002 when Brian started the hunt for a new musical project after Not for You, a Pearl Jam tribute band dissolved. Brian and Mike had worked together briefly back in 1999, and when Brian called Mike regarding a U2 tribute Mike said "Girls like U2, yes I'm in". Mike and Rich had worked together in several music projects since the late 1990's and when Mike called Rich he said "I Like Girls and Girls Like U2, I'm in". Brian had a singer from the Pearl Jam tribute and ZOO2 was off and running. The Pearl Jam singer left to pursue other interests in early 2003, which put the brakes on ZOO2 for a month or so while we auditioned some other singers. We decided to work with Joe and we were back working on the sound and show of U2. Paul Wilcox came onboard in early 2004 to help fill in the sound. U2 uses musicians under the stage and sequences when they play live. Paul brings a great talent to ZOO2, moving the live sound quality of ZOO2 to a place between all the other U2 tributes and U2. ZOO2 unraveled in June of 2005, Rich moved on with another U2 Tribute and we coerced Dale Brainard into picking up the drum duties for ZOO2. The Journey continues...
Zoo2's web site |
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