Bios for Mike LeVasseur and Rob Tenney - New York Jazz Cats
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Mike LeVasseur - Keyboards, hammered dulcimer, melodica & theremin
Born in New York City but now living and playing in Woodstock GA. Piano, Hammond organ, synthesizers, vocals, hammered dulcimer and some guitar and bass thrown in for good measure. A native of New York City, Mike has a degree in piano performance from CCNY and has performed at many major venues in New York including the Playboy Club, Dangerfield's, The Village Gate, The Vanguard, and Gerde's Folk City. While in New York, he was the musical director with several off-Broadway productions, cabarets and worked at numerous piano bars. In 1976, Mike performed excerpts of one production at the White House for the annual Pageant of Peace. He also toured the country and overseas with Grammy award winner Kirby Stone (Bauble, Bangles and Beads) and with other acts and has performed at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium for a Falcons halftime show. Since moving to Atlanta in the early 80’s he has entertained as a solo pianist and with many bands for private parties and corporate events. Mike truly enjoys being a
New York Jazz Cat!
Rob Tenney - Bass, guitar, trumpet, drum programming, percussion and engineer
Rob is a formally trained classical and jazz trumpet player and studied at The High School of Music and Art in NYC (the Fame High School). He was drawn to the bass guitar and the great popular music of the late 60's. Moving to Woodstock, NY in 1973 at the height of the post festival music scene, he honed his bass skills playing clubs in the Tri-State area. Rob played with many of the local Woodstock celebs, including members of Janis Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band, Bob Dylan, Todd Rundgren's Utopia and many others. Re-locating to Atlanta in 1977, Rob soon became a staple of the Atlanta music scene. He toured Europe in 1979 and then joined Wild Cherry (Play That Funky Music) for their national tour. Rob appeared the next 17 years with "Rob Tenney and The Rock*its", one of the Southeast's most popular party bands. He has also performed at the Main Stage in Stone Mountain on July 4th for over 30,000 people and at Game 5 of the World Series at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Rob is also owner operator of TenneyTunes Studio in Marietta, GA and his productions have been featured on both radio and TV.
