Meet the band

     Tom is the band's banker by day but in his off hours can be found in various churches, banquet rooms, bars and parks around Chicago, often with his trombone in hand.  As a youngster, he was fascinated with the drums, but in third grade he picked up the trombone and has never looked back.  

He has played with a number of concert and jazz bands during his school years and beyond.  For many years he was a member of wedding and rock bands with the occasional brass ensemble mixed in.   As a horn player growing up in Chicago during the 70's, bringing you the music of Chicago is tantamount to throwing a block for Walter Payton or playing shortstop next to Ron Santo.  He hopes you enjoy listening to Chicago's music as much as he enjoys playing it!

Paul was born in Chicago and began studying classical piano at age eight before taking up percussion at age twelve.  Paul played his first professional gig at fifteen.  From there, he's participated in virtually every style of music: rock; jazz; symphonic; theater; ethnic; funk; rhythm and blues. 

 Paul has been a member of several notable bands on the Chicago circuit, including: arena; Farewell; Deja Groove; Battlefield; Take 5; and the Stanley Paul Band.  Paul's musical heroes include: Chick Corea; Keith Emerson; Stevie Wonder; Frank Zappa; Tony Williams and Buddy Rich.  

Terry has played keyboards professional late for the last 20 years in a myriad of bands/genres, from jazz, to pop, to classic/progressive rock, to funk/R&B, and has composed many original works in the same genres.

Terry is also an accomplished saxophonist and flautist who studied under Bill Sears, Shelley Yoelen, and Jim Massoth and was the recipient of the 1988 Elmhurst College Jazz Festival's "Best Saxophonist" award, given  by judges and jazz greats Clark Terry. Pat LaBarbera and Ed Soph. 

Paul Mabin is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan but has lived in Chicago for over 25 years. He began singing professionally in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 12 yrs old while singing on several song demos in the late 1970s for a record deal under the vocal coaching/mentoring of legendary R&B singer Ron Banks of The Dramatics.

He then continued performing with several local bands and then went on to study vocal music performance at Western Michigan University after receiving a vocal performance scholarship under their vocal jazz studies program.

After graduating, he made his move to Chicago where he formed an a cappella group called The Sound opening for artists including: The Beach Boys, Chubby Checker, Al Green, All 4 One, Mark Lindsey of Paul Revere and the Raiders, Dion and the Belmonts and many more.

Paul Mabin then toured as one of two background vocalist with the four-time Grammy Award winning artist Seal throughout Europe and the U.S. while also making appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brian, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Motown Live and many others.

As a background vocalist, Paul's voice can also be heard on several hit songs by Grammy Award winning artist R. Kelly. You can also see him singing on Fox Television's hit TV show "Empire" as part of a 6 piece vocal ensemble in their second series season finale performing live with renowned actor/singer Jussie Smollett.

Paul is currently a SAG/AFTRA professional vocalist/arranger/songwriter.
You may have also heard his voice on several national radio and TV commercials including Kmart, JC Penny, McDonald's, Subway, Celebrex, SC Johnson, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Bob Evans and several others.

Paul currently leads his own society band The Paul Mabin Band performing locally and nationally. He is also contracted as a freelance singer and drummer working for other Chicago area society bands and tribute bands.

Paul Mabin currently continues to write, arrange and produce his own original material while being contracted to sing lead and background vocals for commercials, albums and many other projects.

Prior to arriving in Chicago, Chuck toured as the lead player with Ray Charles, Mel Torme and the Woody Herman Orchestra.  Since 1992 he has been an active freelance player at area theaters, performing with artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder to Tony Bennett, Marie Osmond to Aretha Franklin, the Illinois Philharmonic to the New York Ballet Theatre Orchestra.  He enjoyed a seven year association with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, led by the lat Bill Russo, playing either the lead trumpet or the Cat Anderson/Maynard Ferguson books. 

 In addition to performing, he is active as a teacher and clinician, currently on staff as trumpet instructor at Glenbrook South High School, the 2008 National Grammy Signature School Gold Meal Winner, and several inner city schools.  Chuck was recently on a panel with Marcus Belgrave, Dr. Mabel Johns, Stanley Crouch and others as the Genius Without Borders: A Symposium in Honor of the Genius of Ray Charles, held at The Center for Black Music Research at Cllumbia College.  He has a Masters in Jazz Trumpet Performance from DePaul University and is co-lead trumpet player with the legendary rock band, Chase.  

Reed has played guitar and bass in and around the Chicago area for the past 30 plus years.  Some of the bands he has played with are: Legacy; Take 5; Fanfare; and The Four Man Acoustical Band.  Reed  loves cheeseburgers and is willing to play for them.   

Dan Peters’ roots-rock power trio, The West Side Winders, has two critically acclaimed, AMA charting, independant albums, “Come and Get It” and “Snaken Not Stirred.” They have toured the U.S. & Europe and supported the likes of Bon Jovi, Sammy Hagar and many other big name acts.

Dan starred in the debut run of Dee Snider’s Rock n Roll Xmas Tale in Chicago, played lead guitar on Broadway in the hit rock musical Rock of Ages (as well as productions in Texas & Illinois) and starred in Blue Man Group Productions’ “EMO” project workshop in NYC.

His performance credits also include work with PBS concert acts Under The Streetlamp & Rocktopia Live, singer/actress Kristin Chenoweth, keyboardist Jools Holland of Squeeze, blues legend Otis Rush, Andy Kirk of Bad Company, a TV pilot with actor/comedian Joe Piscopo, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, the touring production of Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues, ABC’s “Cupid” with Jeremy Piven, the Chicago Children’s Choir, the Steppenwolf Theater Co. and a performance with Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider of the Star Spangled Banner & Oh Canada in 2014 at United Center for the Chicago Bulls.

His playing is featured on several video games from Zynga and Incredible Technologies (including the popular arcade game “Golden Tee”) as well as various jingles including work for The Travel Channel, Warren Miller, Chevy and Special Olympics.

In addition to live performance and recording sessions, Dan is also a private guitar instructor.

Dan is an honors graduate of Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA.

John began his formal study of instrumental music in 1970 and has played woodwinds and piano/keyboard for rock, jazz, and classical ensembles including: Park Avenue; Take 5; The Dana Legg Big Band; Fox Valley Concert Band.  He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in music education and has been a high school band director for the past 32 years.  In this capacity he is active as composer, clinician, and adjudicator.