Nora Cruz Band
Rockin' Rhythm and Blues Dance Party!
BAND BIOGRAPHY
Rockin' Rhythm and Blues Dance Party!
BAND BIOGRAPHY
Powerhouse vocalist NORA CRUZ is an experienced and seasoned performer. Nora has shared the stage with Los Lobos, The Tubes, Jeff Healey, Buckwheat Zydeco, Al Kooper, Lydia Pense and many other national acts. Songbird NORA CRUZ has a captivating stage presence and an undeniable high energy show. Nora and her band are sure to pack the house and the dance floor performing a tasteful evening of Rhythm and Blues, Rock, and Soul music that is both energetic and heartfelt.
Nora's band includes the double threat rhythm and lead guitar work of Billy Edgell 'The Edge'; guitar slinger and vocalist, Rich Cowan; the tantalizing tasteful sound of Tommy 'Tuesday' Maitland on the trumpet, the powerful and solid bass of Keith Milne and the consistent infamous drummer, Eric Gunn. These handpicked veterans round out the NORA CRUZ BAND and provide the vehicle for Nora's eloquent vocal prowess.
Nora and her band are sure to pack the house and the dance floor performing a tasteful evening of Rockin', Rhythm and Blues and Soul music that is both energetic and heartfelt.
The band ...
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Nora Cruz - Powerhouse Songbird
Nora has been performing throughout the Bay area since 1986 and is known as a Santa Cruzan local vocalist favorite. Nora won a scholarship to the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music where she studied Opera vocal performance, a true testament to the power behind her voice. Her influences are Etta James, Ruth Brown, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn, Buddy Guy, T-Bone Walker and the one and only Opera vocalist Maria Callas. Nora is an experienced and seasoned performer. Nora has shared the stage with Los Lobos, The Tubes, Jeff Healey, Buckwheat Zydeco, Al Kooper, Lydia Pense, and many other national acts. The diversity of the band suits Cruz just fine. "That's who I am," she says. "I don't like sticking to one style". "Swing,Jump,Blues,Jazz, Nora does it all with style." |
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Billy Edgell - Rhythm & Lead Guitar  Billy Edgell's influences are Steve Cropper, Bobby Womack and Buck Owens. Billy has been lending his solid rhythm guitar expertise to many local professional bands such as Mutha Ship, House Rockers, West Coast Playboys and the Rhythm Kings. He was raised in the Bay area and began his professional career in music in the early 80's. Billy is well known as an accomplished rhythm guitar player in the Santa Cruz community and holds a strong reputation for his undeniably compassionate character. Billy is responsible for forming the Nora Cruz Band. |
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Tommy "Tuesday" Maitland - Trumpet
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Eric Gunn - Drums and Vocals
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Rich Cowan - Lead Guitar & Vocals
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Keith Milne - Bass Guitar
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Tommy "Tuesday" Maitland on trumpet is the latest addition to the band. Tommy is a master of many musical genres from Ragtime to Reggae, Classical to Polka, Funk to Blues, and some not invented yet. The nickname "Tommy Tuesday" came from his tenure as DJ on KFJC at Foothill College in Los Altos back in the late '70's (guess what day of the week the show was). At the same time he was playing in both Jazz bands at Foothill. During the '80s he was a member of the funk band "O Mighty Isis" but switched to playing reggae in the '90s with Bammie award winners INKA INKA. More recently Tommy played in Dub F/X and the JC Smith blues band. His influences are Miles Davis, Al Hirt, Lee Morgan, the Crusaders among many others. "Playing music is what keeps me sane"...
Eric's ability to "Play for the Song" has kept him busy in the Bay Area for a long time. He has played with acts as diverse as Joe Luis Walker and It's a Beautiful Day. "The Nora Cruz Band provides me with the challenges of playing the slow torch songs of Billy Holiday to the Rock n Roll intensity of Chrisy Hind or Pat Benatar. I'm lovin every minute of it!". Eric has recorded or performed with members of The David Nelson Band, Charmain Scott, The Trailerpark Troubadours, Terry Hiatt, Ken Arconte, Lil John Chrisly, The Soul Drivers, The Linkhorns, The Substitutes, Rusty Zinn, Paul Durcette, Mic Overman and many other successful artists.
Rich Cowan is a guitar slinger and vocalist supplying his soulful, bluesy lead and slide guitar to the Nora Cruz Band. Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker, Gatemouth Brown and the three Kings (Freddie, Albert and BB) all figure into his funky mix of guitar playing. He's a major fan of the music of New Orleans and also loves to tear it up on slide guitar. Rich has previously played with 'Jewl's Blues', 'Homebrood', 'The Young Dreads', 'The Directors', 'Shake' and numerous other popular local bands. Rich co-wrote the songs on the 'Jewl's Blues' CD "Harp in Heaven", and always has a gaggle of original tunes for the band to choose from.
Originally from Philadelphia, Keith is a veteran of the bay area blues community. Shortly after moving to San Jose in 1973, he became a member of the King Bee band that backed Charlie Musslewhite for two years. Along with guitarist, Bruce Ferrell, he founded the Soul Proprietors and both musicians went on to become the backbone of the Kaye Bohler band for eight years. While he has broad musical interests, his style is deeply rooted in traditional blues, R&B and Philly soul.