Meet the Band |
Kenny Byars - They say "you can't go home again." This isn't true for Bay Area singer/songwriter Ken Byars. Ken has been writing and performing music for over 20 years in the Bay Area and Los Angeles . And now music seems to have come full circle with his joining MamaLuke! Nation.
When asked how long he's been singing Ken replies "I can't remember when I wasn't". Ken grew up in Nashville and Virginia in houses filled with music. Back then he was singing to the radio with Sly Stone and James Brown or Motown and Stax.
Ken moved to California when he was 11 and soon befriended his current band mates (Ron Cataldo and Chris Rossi). This is when he got a crash course in "Rock 101". Ken was taken by the infectious guitar lines and beats of groups like Def Leopard, AC/DC, and Y&T. He dove into the genre and with Chris Rossi formed the high school super-group "Trinity". Ken cut his teeth in Trinity, performing all around the S.F. Bay Area and recording with industry heavy weights such as Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More and The Replacements). After a time the group disbanded and Ken concentrated on writing and producing in the studio.
Now he's back where he began making music with his friends. "I was with these guys when I first picked up a microphone", Ken says. Now he's back with a renewed passion for this music and his craft. Ken brings an uplifting voice to MamaLuke! with the knowledge that you can go home again.
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Ron Cataldo - Inspired by Van Halen, KISS and UFO, Ron picked up a guitar at age 13. He played through high school and in college performed in several bands that set sales records at local clubs in the San Luis Obispo area in the late 80s. Graduating from Cal Poly SLO into the recession of the early 90's, becoming a rock star appeared easier than finding a "real" job.
Having auditioned and received offers from several bands in the Bay Area, he settled on one called "Dream Thief". Dream Thief wrote and recorded their own music and worked with infamous music attorney Brian Rohan (best known for punching out David Geffen and getting Aerosmith signed for their comeback in the late 80s). After playing successful gigs at The Stone in San Francisco, opening for national headliners, egos set in and the band disintegrated. Ron's playing benefited greatly from working with some exceptional musicians during this time. He had also been refining his playing under the direction of Steve Sage, Stef Burns (Alice Cooper, Y&T, Huey Lewis) and Doug Doppler.
Ultimately, becoming a rock star was not so easy in the "new" grunge scene. The time to get that "real" job had come. Fortunately, with their casual, but professional approach, MamaLuke! gives Ron a perfect place to continue to enjoy and play music.
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 David Kanel - David's musical background has truly been a "Long and Winding Road." David grew up in a small town with nothing much to do but make music. While honing his skills on guitar and piano, David managed to fit in an enormous amount of time obsessing about everything Beatle (a habit he hasn't managed to break to this day).
When he left home for school in the big city, David slid over to lead vocals for a few classic rock bands whose names were too vulgar to mention here. After focusing on a real career for several years, David realized he needed music back in his life. So, he co-founded "House of Cards," a trio of longtime friends who spent the next 6 years writing, performing and recording original pop and rock tunes. David was "forced" to take up the bass guitar, because no one else in the band would do it. As luck would have it, bass became David's musical passion. Just after "House of Cards" finally released a full-length CD of original music, the drummer moved to Fresno (slightly better than spontaneous combustion!), which toppled the House of Cards.
For the next few years, David put in some serious work on the bass while playing the blues and R&B with an ever-changing line-up of musicians based near his home in Danville. Now, as a member of MamaLuke!, David is putting his bass skills to good use, while getting back to his roots in classic rock.
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Bill Leach - Also known as BLEACH, Bill is the newest member of MamaLuke! and has been playing drums in various bands throughout California since the mid-seventies. Leach is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area. He was born in Hayward, and has also lived in Fremont, Concord, Pittsburg and now resides with his family in Oakley, California (the far, far East Bay).
When Bill’s family moved north to Clearlake, he found himself playing the Lake County music circuit with local bands such as PROCYON, LOOSE GRAVEL, DOUBLE FEATURE, SOUTHERN COMFORT, THREE WAY SPLIT, SWEETWATER and even a short stint with TOMMY TUTONE in the mid-eighties. It was also at this time that he created a series of Regional Comic Books for Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. These comics caught the eye of KTVU Channel 2 and he was invited to be a special guest on CREATURE FEATURES. The success of this appearance opened the door to a five year stint on ROMPER ROOM as “Our artist friend MR. BILL”. It was this experience that pushed Bill to become an art teacher.
After parting with Tutone, Bill moved back to the Bay Area to continue his education and begin his career as a school teacher. He is currently head of the Visual & Performing Arts Department at Deer Valley High School in Antioch and a professor of Visual Arts at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, California. He was honored in 2007 with the TEACHER OF THE YEAR award.
Once back in the Bay Area, Bill joined LITTLE DADDY a sixties cover band which evolved into JUKEBOX HEROES. After 15 years with this group, Bill decided to leave in order to pursue an education in Recording Arts. In 2008, Bill joined THE CLARENCES, an original pop band. When this gig ended, he discovered MAMALUKE! and the rest is yet to be written!
Visit BLEACH at: http://www.myspace.com/bleach_studios
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 Chris Rossi - Chris started playing guitar at a young age and never really looked back. The instrument and desire to entertain with it has never left Chris' spirit. Having played since 1981 in several high energy Bay Area bands (Trinity and the Freeway Surfers), and recording his first songs at 16, some of which received radio play, Chris always brings a strong rhythm, lead, and live performance energy to the shows. During college (San Diego) weekends, in San Felipe Mexico, Chris found time to perform between Coronas and fish tacos in college pick up bands. Later in life, as a U.S. Naval Officer, Chris founded the USS California's "ship's band" and actually performed a gig in Manilla, Philippines. "Practice for that gig was done some 100 feet high in the top of the ship's mast!" So, from the high seas of the Pacific, to the low shores of Baja, the music and passion to play has never stopped.
Always practicing, and for the love of playing, Chris continues to be influenced both by rock bands and guitarists from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and today. With a blues/rock style of playing, most of Chris' influences have been of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and Eddie Money variety. Being in the solid MamaLuke! line up that includes old school brethren like Ken Byars and Ron Cataldo only means the future of providing fun, energy, and success will continue well into the future.
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