Bios
J.D. Hill
Leader / Vocals / Timbales / Trombone
J.D. Hill is the founder and leader of The Touch Of Class Band. He is a dynamic front man with many years of experience putting together high energy show bands. J.D. has formal training in voice, percussion, and trombone. He contributes to the group's vocal and musical arrangements and is responsible for the incredible choreography. J.D. is certainly the man who puts and keeps it all together.
Tammora C. Holloway
Vocals
Tammora C. Holloway, known as Tammy, was born and raised in Oakland, CA. Singing is her passion. She was heavily influenced by her mother’s angelic voice. She started singing at a very early age. She comes from a talented family of singers and musicians. Tammy has performed in her uncles bands, and has also been in many gospel groups. She has a very wide range with alot of versatility. She can do a jazzy rendition of “Summertime”, and then bring down the house with the funky syncopated style of Mary J. Blige & Chaka Khan. Tammy’s excited about what she brings to TOC, - her voice and total dedication.
Ajuana Black
Vocals
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Ajuana is an awe-inspiring performing artist who's repertoire includes theater and television performances. Her uplifted high energy, funky soul vocals have been echoing the rootsy, soulful sounds from her infectious spirit since she can remember! She is definitely a stunning & brilliant talent to be reckoned with!
Ajuana has been perfecting her marvelous gift of inspiring soul through her uplifting lyrics & passionate stage performance! With just one listen to her soulful songs, you will become drawn to her special energy & what she has to give..."A personal representation of true lyrical & vocal inspiration!"
Jeanne Parson
Keyboard / Vocals
Jeanne Parson started playing the piano as a little girl. She holds a BA in Piano Performance and a Master’s degree in Electronic Music and Recording Media. After 4 years in college undergrad jazz band, she played in a pop music group for 12 years, touring the US and Canada. After grad school, she switched from performance to music creation, integrating music and speech into new technology as a composer and sound designer for Atari Games, Leapfrog Toys, and now for Microsoft. But she never lost the love of performing in bands, and you’ll see and hear it in every performance in every TOC performance.
Vincent Lee Lopez
Guitar
With many years of experience, Vincent has a highly developed, versatile style of playing the guitar which makes him in high demand throughout the greater Bay Area! His versatility on both Guitar and Bass allows him to play a variety of musical styles. He has worked with many local, national and international artists from all over the world. TOC is happy to add him to our Rhythm Section.
Andre Van Lewis
Bass / Vocals
Andre's musical influences started way back in the 70's with such players as Larry Graham, Stanley Clarke, Louis Johnson and Jaco Pastorius. Since then he has played with Motown's "Temptations" as well as other local greats that include Ms Taylor P. Collins, Jackie Payne, The Blues Hall of Fame entertainer Alvin Draper, J.C. Smith's Back to Back Blues Band, Billy Davis Blues Band, C.P. Love. Andre has a very smooth, funky, solid style of playing that definitely adds to the show and excitement of The Touch Of Class Band. Andre is also the leader and bassist of his own smooth jazz group "Just-AzZ"
Michael (MJ) Jackson
Percussion
Michael (MJ) Jackson is a drummer, composer, producer and vocalist. He plays with a deep groove, in-the-pocket style and has 40+ years in the music business.
MJ has shared the stage with Starpoint, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Midnight Star and The Beat Daddys. He was a promotion specialist for Windham Hill Records and producer for Prospect Studios.
This is his second time with The Touch of Class Band after a previous five-year run, and he is excited to return to the group. Michael also performs with Stratify, Cool Waterz and The Groove Foundation. MJ has published music with Tunecore and is a member of ASCAP.
Ted Henderson
Trombone / Keyboard / Vocals
Ted Henderson's played trombone since the early 70's. Born in Chicago, his early influences included trombonist Fred Wesley and bands like Earth, Wind and Fire. In 1988, Ted came to the Bay Area and established himself as a composer, performer, recording engineer and teacher specializing in electronic music. In 2002, Ted became a public school band director whose award-winning groups performed in Las Vegas, Chicago, Los Angeles and all over the Bay Area. These days, Ted serves as principal of an arts-integration elementary school. Ted holds degrees in composition, electronic music, music education and school administration.
Roger Levinson
Trumpet
Originally from Sacramento, California, Roger started musical studies by learning to play piano at age 8, trumpet at age 10, and trombone at age 12! Roger later studied with Rich Bice in Silicon Valley. After high school, Roger attended UC San Diego as a pre-med student and played in their Jazz Band directed by the great Jimmy Cheatam. A year later he returned to Northern California and attended UC Davis, where he graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) in 1986 and an MSEE in 1988.
Since moving to Silicon Valley, Roger has performed with many local groups and guest artists including Foothill College, De Anza Daddios, West Valley College (backing guest artists such as Dave Weckl, Wayne Bergeron, and Bobby Shew), the Black Tie Jazz Orchestra, the Redwood Symphony, the Peninsula Pops, Silicon Vibe, Silicon Valley Houserockers, Full Spectrum Jazz, and others.
Saxophone
Saxophone
No Bio Provided
Steven Baird
Baritone Saxophone
Inspired by his trad jazz clarinetist father, Steven started playing clarinet at 13. Switching to dad’s tenor sax in high school started Steven off on the saxes, playing soprano to baritone sax over the years in a variety of styles. Now a veteran RnB and soul player, Steven has supplied funky bari sax to several area bands including Northern Soul band the Inciters. Founding member and former band leader of the 10-piece instrumental band Pawn Shop Soul, he is well versed in groove.
John Reynolds
Sound Technician
John is a sound engineer with 15 years of experience running audio systems. His work history includes Paramounts Great America, JK Sound, and Trucco Lighting & Sound. In addition, he spent three years aboard Carnival Cruise Lines running large format audio consoles for full scale Broadway style production shows and lounge bands. While on board John was fortunate to provide audio support to some of the best musicians found around the world. In his spare time he regularly volunteers his technical expertise to a local public school district and community events.
John is thrilled to run the audio system and technical aspects for the Touch of Class band.
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