The Greatest Hits of California Rock from Joshua Tree to Laurel Canyon!

July 17, 2021 @ 7pm

presents

SoundTracks of a Generation presents an homage to those who, in the late 60’s & early 70’s, pioneered a whole new genre of American music fusing Folk, Rock & Country. They’ve compiled music from the most successful singer/songwriters who brought a fresh new sound heard on radio and home turntables all across America and beyond. Music from Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, The Byrds, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Poco, Buffalo Springfield, Gram Parsons & Emmy Lou Harris, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Loggins & Messina and more!

DESERT ROCK JULY 17, 2021

Pat Brennan (keyboard) is a recording studio owner and audio engineer and one of the best keyboardists in the Chicagoland area. He started and ran Hubbard Street Studios for almost 4 decades. He is the King of “Name that tune”. His contribution to SoundTracks Of A Generation is legendary with an amazing display of showmanship at the 2019 Naper Nights when he performed with The Woodstock Era. His Garth Hudson like Organ solos on music by The Band as well as boogie woogie piano is still talked about today. He joins our merry band of country, folk rockers in The Desert Rock Band with the same energy and enthusiasm of a man half his age!  The Professor’ is a certified author and expert on the Civil War. He has two novels on the subject, Secessionville; Assualt on Charleston Gettysburg and Hues of Blue & Gray.

Glenn DeMichelle makes his debut performance with SoundTracks Of A Generation. He grew up in the Chicago area and started playing bass at 15. He taught bass and cut his teeth on jazz after college for two years in Cedar Rapids IA. He moved to Cocoa Beach FL area where he played in beach bars and jazz clubs in Orlando. He returned to Chicago in 1980 to become a fixture on the flourishing Chicago scene. He played bass at parties, weddings and in the studio for movie soundtracks and record projects of Chicago musicians. Glenn has played steel on the road with Robbie Fulks, is active in three traditional Chicago area country bands, played on one movie soundtrack, and continues to try his best to sound like his steel guitar heroes. He is very excited about his involvement in Desert Rock, where he is challenged to capture the mood and sound of the great players on the original records.

Fred Brennan has had the great fortune to enjoy a career in Music and Live Entertainment for over 40 years. It began as a buyer for two different record stores when he was a junior in high school and then transitioned to a 20-year adventure in the radio industry. Since 2001, Fred’s third act has enjoyed work as a freelance line producer working with clients of his own or for agencies and their accounts. This has found Fred engaged on everything from large-scale Festivals, Conventions, & Conferences to outdoor concerts, custom experiential events, even a bit of tour management. During his time in live music, Fred has booked, produced and introduced thousands of acts on stage including: David Crosby, Little Feat, Dickey Betts, Los Lobos, Blondie... so Fred finds it an honor to inhabit the character of Doug Weston, who was also fond of introducing the bands he supported during Rock’s formative days at his L.A. club, The Troubadour.

Rick Demski (bass, vocals) sings Jackson Browne among many many others in the Desert Rock Show. Plus his bass playing is superb. The Swiss Army knife of SoundTracks show he also plays Deco Cuff the oft times irritating lead vocalist in the film ’The Commitments'. He earned his nickname “The Blueeyed Soul Man” and has been singing and playing in and around Chicago for nearly 4 decades. He’s also an integral part of SoundTracks Of A Generation singing and playing in The Woodstock Era, Summer of Love 1967 & The Joe Cocker/Aretha Franklin Tribute Show. He also performs with Tanqueray Mist, Lexi Zeppelin and Sonny & The Combovers. Rick’s passion is Rock and Blues and he would like to thank his wife and 2 adult children for putting up with all this rock n’ roll craziness!

Doug James (Narrator, vocals, keyboards) is the Founder and Executive Producer of Sound Tracks Of A Generation. In Desert Rock he narrates the storyline and sings in The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Eagles and back up for Linda Ronstadt. Doug writes the shows and selects much of the music, although he always collaborates with his musicians and singers.  A professional career starting as a Radio host including Chicago, he’s an Emcee, Singer, VoiceOver Actor and Film, TV & Theater Actor. Film credits include Widows, The Express & Grace Is Gone. TV series include, Chicago Fire, Cupid, ER, Prison Break, Boss and Chicago PD. He first put together the Joe Cocker Mad Dogs & Englishmen Concert Tour Tribute in 2010, The Soul Commitments tribute to THE COMMITMENTS, The Last Waltz a tribute to the Martin Scorcese Rockumentary of The Band, The Woodstock Era in (2016), Summer Of Love 1967 (2017), 70’s FM RADIO ROCK (2018) and Aretha Franklin (2019). His latest project in 2021 is Good Kisser (A Lake Street Dive Undercover Band).

Brooke Fauver (vocals) becomes Linda Ronstadt with a soulful voice and the demure presence just like the icon she adores! She is our Georgia peach hailing from Atlanta, with a U. of Georgia music degree. Her soulful and soothing voice is a professionally trained instrument, which is why she not only sings on a regular basis but does Voice overs as well. Brooke is an invaluable part of the SoundTracks Of A Generation family who also sings with the Joe Cocker Tribute Band, SoulBliss the (Aretha Tribute show) and she’s 1/3 of the musical trio PB&J of The Soul Commitments.

Chris Forte (Producer/Music Director/Guitar) earned a degree in music from Columbia College where now he teaches music! Chris is Music Director for The Desert Rock Show and also for SoulBliss The Aretha Tribute as well as guitarist in The Soul Commitments and plays the part of Robbie Robertson in the SoundTracks Of A Generation show The Last Waltz!  A Bandleader in his own right, Chris has played professionally for over 20 years. He performed in Tony & Tina’s Wedding as well as in episodes of the Jenny Jones Show. Armed with a music degree from Columbia College where he now teaches, he has toured and played with legends BB King, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks & Duke Robillard. In 2000 he was presented with the Albert King Music Award at the International Blues Festival in Memphis, Tn.

Dave Harris (drums, percussion) is referred to as ‘The Bus Driver’, because he consistently brings the zeal and fortitude needed to carry the beat of the Desert Rock Show in perfect time start to finish.  A lifetime of playing and teaching drums & percussion, Dave studied percussion at Southern Illinois and at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. His eclectic mix of genres allows him to perform with other STOAG shows ie, The Soul Commitments, Joe Cocker Tribute, SoulBliss (Aretha Franklin) & The Woodstock Era. Blues with The Nightcrawlers, Classic Rock with The Younger Bros. and Dr Bombay. His band Off The Wagon covers Texas Swing and Brazilian Jazz. Still, he finds the time to teach students of percussion and if anything, that is testament to his organizational skills! We’re always honored to have Dave driving the bus for all of our SoundTracks Of A Generation shows! 

Julie Miller (vocals) when you are asked to cover the music of Joni Mitchell, you’re required to have an amazing vocal range with the control of a tight rope juggler! Fortunately for us, Julie’s determined, attentive & focused demeanor comes from being a classically trained vocalist and a Graduate of the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. A diverse 25 year career, she’s appeared with Three Dog night, The Outlaws, Starship, Pat Travers, and Trent Carlini. Her vocal range varies from Joni’s pinpoint mezzo soprano to having the soulful edge and emotion of Ann Wilson. Her studio recordings for local artists and producers in Chicago adds a whole new dimension to both classic and contemporary material. Another prominent member of the SOUNDTRACK’s family, she is the ‘J’ in the Soul Commitments & Irish HeartBeat back up singing group ‘PB&J’!

Louie Zagoras is the founder, lead singer/Guitarist and primary Songwriter for the band ROLLOVER. The Band toured the States back and fourth in the 90’s when ROLLOVER’s first record broke on Chicago’s 93.1 WXRT FM radio. Their song “Shipwreck” was the break-out single. Over the years Louie and ROLLOVER have toured with and supported Top Rock acts like The Allman Brothers Band, Joe Satriani, Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler, The Neville Brothers, Dave Mason, Los Lobos, and many others. Louie’s songs have been used for TV shows (The Rachael Ray Show, Nash Bridges, Spelling Productions etc…) and Movies (Lost and Confused). Louie is a multi-instrumentalist who plays Drums, Sitar, Bass, Harmonica, Piano, Hammond B-3, Pedal steel Guitar, Mandolin, Ukele, Percussion and many other instruments. After 3 Nationally distributed CD’s and countless tours with ROLLOVER, Louie recently released his first solo CD called “Twenty Fingers”, produced by Louie and The Herron Brothers.

Kirk Moore (A/V specialist) is an associate producer for the Soundtracks of a Generation’s Music Bin video series.  He’s also the executive director of the St. Paul’s UCC Sunday morning online worship service, where he’s also the pastor.  Kirk studied Radio and Television production at Northern Illinois University in the 80s, and during the pandemic all that college education finally came in handy.  He also is the only tiktok famous person associated with Desert Rock.  Look for him at @toooldforthisshtiktok. Kirk and family reside in Lake in the Hills.

Raue Center Board of Directors

Tim Paul, board president

John Jacobsen, vice president

Chuck Stevens, treasurer

Luanne Flavin, secretary

Chris Gray John Green Mike H. Johnson Richard Kuranda Stacey McInerney

Jack Minsley Rich Naponelli Michelle Nowland Sandra Pierce

Richard Kuranda, chief executive officer

Jarrod Bainter, director of production

Kyle Schneider, producing & operations manager

James Knight, economic development manager

Michele V. Knight, marketing manager

Billy Seger, institutional advancement associate 

Maribeth Ling, institutional advancement assistant

Part-Time Staff: Amanda Flahive, sage studio program manager

Box Office Staff; Maribeth Ling

Raue Center Staff

Raue Center For The Arts 26 N Williams Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 Box Office Hours: Tues- Fri, 2-4p | Sat 12-4p | Closed Sat, Sun & Mon

815.356.9212 | rauecenter.org

Ravelle Scherer William Schmiel Steve Szalaj