| Tony Carminati has been playing in several Connecticut based bands for many years. Originally a guitarist in the early 70’s, Tony picked up the bass at a jam session, and decided that’s what he wanted to play from then on. In the mid 70’s he was a founding member of a local band called the Bedlam Brothers, which played top 40 tunes and was very successful in the local clubs and area schools. The band was together for about 5 years. After that, the band regrouped with a different lineup, different songlist, and formed one of the areas hardest working bands, Tiara, which lasted for approximately 12 years. During those years, the band had several different lineups of musicians. One of the members, was keyboardist Gary Cordeiro, who currently plays with Tony again in the Johnny Press Mess. Tiara was very successful in the private sector, playing weddings and private parties, and then filling up the balance of available dates doing the Sheraton and Ramada Inn circuit. After taking some much deserved time off, Tony then got back into music, playing with a short lived band, Bad Dog, which covered songs by the Who, Zeppelin, Doors, and the like. A short time later, Tony was asked to join a new band, Soulshaker, a blues rock band, which featured guitarist Johnny Press. The band started to develop a small following, but due to personnel priorities, didn’t last too long. A few months later, the phone rings and it was Johnny Press, who, with Ed Peabody and his brother Ned, decided to form a new band. Tony was asked to join, which again reunited him with keyboardist Gary Cordeiro, and rounds out the current members of The Johnny Press Mess. |
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| Ed started playing Harmonica at age 14 after watching James Montgomery. He started bands, with his brothers, called The Trygve Lie Band, RT21 & Blue Steele. He has shared the stage with many of his idols, James Cotton, James Montgomery & Rod Piazza. One of his major influences is the late & great Paul Butterfield. |
| Gary Cordeiro has over twenty years experience playing keyboards professionally. He started out playing for Worcester based rock bands Rockahol and The Kim Page Band, and the Connecticut based Tiara. For two years Gary was the music director at the Publick House in Sturbridge, performing five nights weekly. He has also performed weekly at the Beechwood Inn in Worcester. Gary then went on the road, playing as a solo pianist and as part of a duo for the Hilton and Ritz-Carlton hotel chains. Gary's playing style has developed over the years from rock and jazz influences to its current blues feel. |
| Ned was 7 yrs. old when he first played the drums. He had no lessons, but just knew what to do naturally by instinct. He got his first set of drums by 9 and his first gig as a drummer by 10 in the band Trygve Lie. When he started playing clubs, his Mother had to accompany him because he was under age. He also played in his High School marching and stage bands. Ned has always adapted to whatever music he's playing at the time, whether it be Rock, Blues, Country or Jazz. He has 37 yrs of drumming experience. In 1997 he played drums with Blue Steele and won a competition to become Connecticut's Best Blues Band. They later travelled and competed in Memphis. They eventually ended up third in the country. Some of his influences are Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker, John Bonham, Buddy Rich, Terry Bozzio, Neil Peart, Mitch Mitchell, Vinnie Coliuta & Ian Paice. He's looking forward to doing more studio work and teaching clinics, doing what he loves best, playing Drums. He has opened for Rod Piazza, Pat Travers, Roomful of Blues, Bo Diddley, James Cotton, James Montgomery, The Amazing Rythym Aces and many more. Now if you want to catch him live, come down to see the Johnny Press Mess, where John thinks Ned is a driving force of nature that just forces the band to be great. |
| To view Johnny's biography, click here. |