George Greenfield

George Greenfield’s music probes LIFE — “You got to slow down, take a look around, life’s not as bad as it seems. So I reach in my soul for a prayer I can hold, and hope I wake up from this dream... LOVE — “The light of the dark shows the way from our fear to our heart where our love is still yearning. The light of the dark shows the way to the place where the fire of our love is still burning...” LOSS — “Good-bye so long, so hard to say, when heartache’s just a word away...” and, SELF — “Painting life I’m colorblind. Loving red’s a state of mind. Walking I can’t feel my feet. Somehow I make it down the street.” His songs speak of the search for basic honesty in personal relationships, the evolution of self, intimacy and life’s journey.

George first began playing guitar at the age of 13 and began
writing songs while at the University of Buffalo. At the university, he
also founded and managed a successful coffeehouse supporting up-and-coming
singer-songwriters including Don McLean and Bruce Cockburn. After
graduating with a degree in Arts Management, George moved into concert
promotion featuring such artists as Elton John, Eric Clapton, and James
Taylor. He subsequently was Assistant Director of New York’s Town Hall,
Orchestra Manager of the Baltimore Symphony, Director of New Line
Presentations (the former lecture and literary division of New Line Cinema). In 2003, after many years as president of Lecture Literary Management, Inc., he founded and is president of CreativeWell, Inc. - the Montclair based lecture and literary agency (www.creativewell.com).

Living parallel lives, he continued writing and pursuing his music while building a company that is consistent with his ideals with a dedication to issues of social justice, the environment and political awareness. With the forthcoming release of his debut CD “Light of the Dark,” George’s commitment to share his music with a wider audience enters a new phase of dominance in his life.

He lives with his wife and five year old son in Montclair where he has performed with Parents Who Rock. He listens to a wide range of music (like the rest of us) with favorites including: Batacato, Annie Lenox and Mika (all among his 5 year old’s favorites), assorted Bach, Telemann & Mozart, Chet Baker in Paris and Cesaria Evora. Most influential band: The Beatles.

Angels Garage

With respect for rock’s past and a view to its future, Angels Garage churns out a snappy set of covers and originals that make you want to shake the floorboards.

Since 2004 the band has entertained at Montclair fundraisers, parties and beerhalls.

Featuring Christine Kelly, vocals; Fabio Giron, guitar; John Whipple, trumpet; Angel Kenney, percussion; John Poglinco, bass; and Dave Cushing, drums.

Felt

Started in 2005 after (Alma convinced Richard to dust off his guitar for her first “parents who rock” show)- eventually and he joined Tarquin and Jim- who picked the name.

Felt began like any other “Dad Band” But there must have been some magic in that old drum set they found, cause pretty soon they found their groove.

http://www.myspace.com/feltband


From left : Ian Smit (guitar, seated), Richard Eigen (second fiddle), Tarquin Learned (guitar and vocals) Matt Hauser (drums), Jim Robertson (bass), Steve Feldman (percussion)

Megan Lewis

Megan Lewis is a mother of two girls, Sarah and Elana, and a lawyer as well.

I'm Not the Only One Asking is her debut recording.

Big Mamou

Big Mamou plays an original mix of traditional based Cajun and Country music, from infectious two steps to drunken waltzes to soulful ballads to rocking Zydeco.

John Sherman has fronted former New York bands Jole Blonde and The Zephyrs, and toured with Richard Thompson.

Jim and Julianne have had their songs used in both film and TV - Julianne has toured with Walter Egan and performed with Travis Tritt.

Billy Loos played drums with the Hydraulic Mosquitos, Sex Pod, and Bay of Pigs, and is currently also performing with Her Vanished Grace.

Larry Buksbaum played lead guitar with Killer Fish, and produced both The Smithereens and Kid Creole and the Cocoanuts.

John Sherman, accordion, vocals
Julianne Fenhagen, vocals
Jim Fenhagen, bass, vocals
Billy Loos, drums
Larry Buksbaum, guitar

Paul Ruderman

Lyrical ingenuity, and deep grooves, define Ruderman's “thing” and create an infectious, original sound that has been appealing to metropolitan New Yorkers and college audiences for more than 15 years. Formerly on Atlantic Records' subsidiary Q Records, Ruderman toured nationally throughout the 90's and into the new millennium before moving on to raise a family with his wife Jacquie.

Lots of Ruderman nuggets can be found at Ruderman.com, and you can hear him now at annual reunion concerts in Manhattan, or at Parents Who Rock in Montclair, New Jersey, where he currently resides.

Meryl McCusker

Singer/songwriter Meryl McCusker began in the arts with a high stepping career in musical theatre. She landed lead roles in US and European companies of Cats, Annie and A Chorus Line as well as credits in film and television.

Full time motherhood did not curtail her passion for music and Meryl is currently in her ninth year as a teacher for Music Together, a nationally known early childhood music program.

At the same time, working with her guitar Meryl has built a catalog of original material that she performs ofen with covers of other artists' songs and jazz standards.

www.merylmccusker.com

El Kabong

El Kabong consists of Carrie Cantor (rhythm guitar, vocals), Rob Halper (bass), Jim Kvoriak (lead guitar, vocals), and Michael Trullinger (drums, vocals), who have been getting together since the spring of 2007.

The band plays covers of energetic alt-country artists such as Ryan Adams, Kathleen Edwards, the Old 97s, and the Drive-By Truckers, with some straight-on, good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll via Sheryl Crow or Blondie thrown into the mix.

Though new on the scene, El Kabong has played twice at the Church Street Kitchen and will play at the Diva Lounge as part of Parents Who Rock on Jan. 26.

...

Rob Halper is not quitting his day job as Director of Video Communications at Johnson & Johnson, where he has written music for corporate videos. While at Oberlin College, Rob played guitar and sang in a band named after a carton of milk, "Heritage House", and attended classes when time permitted. He now plays guitar and bass with Carrie Cantor at the Church Street Kitchen, and bass in El Kabong.


...

Carrie Cantor is a free-lance book editor and mother of an MHS graduate, Nathaniel, and a soon-to-be graduate, Ethan.

Besides playing rhythm guitar and singing in El Kabong, she performs every other Thursday at the Church Street Kitchen (formerly Church Street Cafe) doing covers of Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow, Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, and many other artists.

Jessica Henry

Jessica Henry is an assistant professor in the Justice Studies Department at Montclair State University and a former public defender.

She has lived in Montclair for the past six years with her husband, Ken, and her two children, Jack and Max.

Aviva Patz

By day, Aviva Patz is a Montclair mom of two daughters, 6, and 3, and a freelance magazine writer and editor. By night, she's a swinging, singing mama with the amp turned up to 11.

Aviva has been singing for many years; in college, she was a mezzo-soprano with the Columbia Notes & Keys, a co-ed a cappella group, and has sung in numerous bands over the years including Mama Joy, The Scrapings and Queen Bassi.

All-time favorite bands: Liz Phair, Joan Armatrading, X, Ani Difranco,The Ramones, The Replacements

Listening to right now: KT Tunstall, Amy Winehouse, Jack Johnson, The New Pornographers, and The Shins

Spill Trouble (aka Bob Carr)

Spill Trouble, formally Bob Carr, recorded, performed and toured with his band, "Swales" for most of the Nineties. Their second album, "What's His Name" is still available on I-tunes or by contacting Bar None Records.

Currently listening to: "Hangin' Downtown" by the Replacements; "The last Time I Saw Richard" by Joni Mitchell and "One Times Got No Case" By Mac Daddy.

Just finished My first album "Hard Times". I will send a completely home-made version of this CD to anyone who makes a $10.00 (or more) donation to PWR

Michael de Leeuw

Michael de Leeuw grew up in Montclair, lives in Bloomfield and is about to move to Glen Ridge -- he really gets around! He hopes to retire in Verona or, perhaps, Caldwell.

His greatest works so far are his daughters, the Fabulous Rita and the Remarkable Josephine, credit for which he shares with his wife Claire.

Oh, and he's a lawyer or something.

Jo McElroy Senecal

Jo McElroy Senecal is a professional actress and clown whose resume includes being Kathleen Turner's index finger's body double in VI Warshawski to Dr. Sneezenpee with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care.

A proud member of The Hole in the Walll Gang Camp, where she was encouraged by Paul Newman to "raise hell" as Toe, she is inspired daily by the voices of the kids from this magical place.

When not singing, she is usually doing something else.

Grateful mom of Connor and Katie, kids who rock.

Ed Carine

Parents Who Rock bass player and soundman Ed Carine. Full bio coming soon!

Geezer

Geezer was formed in 1767 just as the gas guitars were giving over to the steam powered ones. We could only dream of the portability of electric. Steve said to Steve, "Wanna be in a band?" "Yes," he replied. And they did. Playing mostly what we used to call "Old Timey" music and attracting police attention. Later on some other people joined in and the noise (from the gas) was overwhelming. Today, of course, nothing has changed except the power supply.

Zara Phillips

Zara Phillips
www.zaramusic.com

From her auspicious debut, singer-songwriter Zara Phillips has led a charmed musical life. Her engaging and confident style combines strong lyrical themes with powerful melodies to create music that is both thought-provoking and entertaining.

Zara Phillips began her professional career working as a backing vocalist for Bob Geldof. Live-Aid creator Geldof recruited Phillips for his first solo projects after he departed the chart-topping UK band The Boomtown Rats. She worked on Geldof’s album “Deep in the Heart of Nowhere,” music videos and television appearances on some of the U.K.’s most highly-rated programs. She also toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Born and raised in London, Zara loved to sing and dance from a young age and enjoyed spending hours in her room writing all the lyrics to musicals and performing each part. She auditioned for school shows but was told her voice was too deep and never got the leads. A boyfriend persuaded her to join a band and soon started playing gigs around London. She also started tinkering with the guitar, asking any musician she knew (including Geldof and Illsley) to teach her a chord.

Zara is currently directing and producing a documentary film entitled “ROOTS: UNKNOWN” due for release in the Spring of 2008. This educational and informative film will focus on the emotional influence adoption has on the adoptee and their families. Interviews and sound bites with adult adoptees, their families and children will be mixed with artistic images of their art and creative expression.

In addition, Zara is also an author. Her book, ‘Mother Me’ is about Zara’s personal journey to motherhood from an adoptee's point of view. ‘Mother Me’ is being published by BAAF (British Adoption and Fostering) in the UK and will be released on March 3rd 2008. She regularly talks and facilitates workshops and events related to adoption issues, along with performing her music at clubs in NYC and New Jersey.

Zara currently resides outside New York City with her husband, Jonathan, and three children.

Brian Saltzman

Brian Saltzman is a lifelong shower singer, who after 12 years of badgering by his wife (Parents Who Rock founder Alma Schneider), first performed in public at the age of 41.

In his other life, Brian is a sales performance consultant to large corporations, dreams of playing poker professionally, and raises four kids with Alma.

Alisa Harmon

Alisa Harmon, mother of 3, is the director of HARMONIZE, LLC, which offers music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers as a licensee of Music for Aardvarks & Other Mammals - http://www.njaardvarks.com/.

She also provides music therapy support for the Developmental Learning Center - Montclair's pre-school for children with special needs. Alisa also performs at various venues around North Jersey.

music:
ANTIGONE RISING
K T TUNSTALL
TOBY LIGHTMAN
PAULO NUTINI
KERRY ANDERSON
LOTS OF INDIE ARTISTS - check out my MySpaceMusic page!

Ellen Paretti

Bloomfield mom-of-two, singer/guitarist Ellen Paretti is proud to be a PWR regular appearing on the "Go Play Outside" cd. This folk singer likes to pretend to be a rocker by singing with local Glen Ridge band "Chronic Pain."

She is also a board member of Goals for Life, a non-profit organization which raises money for breast cancer by holding a women's-only soccer tournament.

music favs: James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Dave Matthews.


Today's playlist: Jeffrey Steele's "Gone" and Antje Duvekot's "Pearls" (thanks, jo)

Brian DeLaite

Singer/songwriter Brian DeLaite began performing in the late-80's on the Boston music scene. Moved to NYC and fronted alt-rock band Postponing the Inevitable for most of the 90's.


Currently performs in the spare bedroom when the kids aren't sleeping.

Fave Bands - Elvis Costello, The Clash, The Pixies, The Pogues and Pavement

Current Heavy Rotation - Dropkick Murphys, Kings of Leon, Kanye West & Frank Black

Scott E. Moore

Scott E. Moore is a respected indie singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for his unique blend of soul, modern folk, jazzy-blues and Americana. He has been featured on public radio and toured throughout the US, earning a reputation as a "musician's musician and a "songwriter's songwriter." He has performed venues large and small, alongside a wide variety of genre-bending artists such as Patty Larkin, Kelly Joe Phelps, Toshi Reagon, Richard Buckner, Melissa Ferrick, Cowboy Mouth, The Smothers Brothers (yes, you read that right), among many others (see 'Writer's Hang' below).

Scott is also founder and host of The Writer's Hang performance series out of Hoboken, NJ. This residency has single-handedly created a high-quality listening room scene and has earned national recognition. Among numerous accolades, Scott and The Writer's Hang were featured in the acclaimed Sundance Channel documentary, "Keeping Time: New Music from America's Roots," along with Gillian Welch, Nickel Creek, Robert Randolph and others.

The Writer's Hang has been running successfully for nearly 10 years (out of Hoboken's Goldhawk Lounge), and has solidified Scott's reputation as a songwriter, guitarist and presenter. The community of artists and colleagues that have played with Scott at "The Hang" is over 175 strong, and includes: Freedy Johnston, Richard Julian, Amos Lee, Dayna Kurtz, Phil Roy, Amy Rigby, Keren Ann, David Mead, Phil Roy, Mike Viola, Antje Duvekot, Jesse Harris, Rebecca Martin, Mike Errico, Malcolm Holcombe, Jonah Smith, Jim Boggia and many, many others.

An understated and true renaissance man, Scott is also a seasoned filmmaker and television producer/director. He won two CableAce Awards (merged with Emmys in '97) for his music documentaries on VH1, and has worked with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Daniel Lanois, Gloria Estefan, Melissa Etheridge, Take 6, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, and many others. His television work has also appeared on A&E, MTV, ESPN, E!, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, PBS, Japanese television and many other outlets.

His most recent project has blended his music and film worlds. He recently composed the score to "A View From Below" - a riveting documentary about a single-minded explorer who has built his own submarine and taken it to staggering depths no non-commercial sub has gone before. The film will hit the festival circuit in 2008.

His latest record, "Home Bittersweet Home" was recorded in Nashville, TN with producer-on-the-rise Neilson Hubbard (Garrison Starr, Strays Don't Sleep, Glen Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket). With a top notch batch of songs and an intimate soulful croon, the record is a lush and spacious journey, weaving moody pop textures & sultry grooves with classic Americana and R&B instrumentation, drawing comparisons to Joe Henry, Daniel Lanois and Los Lobos.

Lee Haberman

By day, husband, father, son and ad agency president.

At night, Lee works on new material while secretly hoping that someone other than himself realizes that only Robert Plant can wail the last stanza's lyrics to'Stairway to Heaven' better than him.

Lee is a regular performer in his living room despite the fact that his own family retreats to the den to watch, ironically, The Biggest Loser.

Lee is the Parents Who Rock official emcee.

Lauren Kaiser

Art Director/Graphic Designer

As one of those people who is lucky enough to love their work, Lauren has established herself as a freelance designer in the New Jersey/New York area, with seventeen years of award-winning experience in the design industry. Lucky also to have a fabulous and funny husband, she hit the freelance road when her first child was born, and has picked up the pace since her second one started school. Portfolio includes marketing and promotional print design, corporate identity, brochures, newsletters, packaging, direct mail, advertising and invitations.

She is the designer of the Parents Who Rock "Go Play Outside" cd. Lauren can be contacted at laurenmkaiser@aol.com.

Zoë Lou

Zoë Lou was thrilled to design the logo for "Parents Who Rock."

Zoë Lou's playful designs for babies and kids are handmade by native New York City gal, Zoë Louise Schneider. Zoë began making clothes in elementary school, and as a teenager perused NYC's garment district in search of interesting and unusual fabrics to make her own threads; she wanted unique clothes that told a story. With 12 nieces and nephews, a new daughter, and countless friends popping out little ones, Zoë miniaturized her ideas and began making one-of-a-kind baby gifts using her collection of vintage fabrics and her love of NYC. A published historian, Zoë incorporates bygone NYC into many of her garments, adding fascinating lore to the tags to create pieces of wearable history. Her creations are jolly and sweet. Her philosophy is that kids be cute, not cutesy. Zoë Lou designs are printed and stitched on comfy, superior quality American made (and sweatshop free) cotton garments, and packaged in a beautiful and reusable organza bag.

And here's some other stuff about her:
Zoë is a published travel writer and New York City historian, former Alaskan archaeologist, television writer, and Central Park ranger. She lives in NYC with her husband and daughter.

Zoë Lou is dedicated to NYC and education. A portion of the proceeds from Zoë Lou's sales will go towards arts education programs in NYC public schools.

Visit Zoë Lou at www.zoelou.com