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!"

Dee Dee Kato

Keyboard / Vocals

DeeDee's musical journey began as a violinist in San Francisco, where she excelled at the SF Conservatory of Music and earned the coveted Concert Master position in high school. Though a computer science degree at UC Berkeley briefly diverted her path, DeeDee's passion for music rekindled with jazz piano. Years of performing in piano trios honed her skills, and now, as a top-40 dance band keyboardist, she seamlessly blends her technical computer expertise with the versatile Korg Kronos workstation. Delivering authentic sounds, infectious energy, and classic grooves, DeeDee's keyboard playing adds depth and texture to the band's dynamic performances.

Andrew Berger

Guitar

Andrew started playing guitar at the age of nine. His interest actually started from the video game, Guitar Hero. Jumping ahead to his high school days he started playing for his high school jazz band, and by the age of 17 gotten into live gig performances; performing clubs and concerts with several local bands that covered a wide variety of music genres. He is an excellent soloist and really feels the syncopated soul and funk rhythms. Recognizing and feeling his passion, he says he's home now being a part of TOC!

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.

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.

John Escalera

Trumpet

Bay Area native John Escalera has been performing music all his life. He started playing trumpet in all the school and community musical groups growing up. Over the years, he has performed and recorded extensively with many local groups covering all genres of music. These include the Pleasanton Playhouse, Contra Costa Music Theatre, Hayward Little Theatre, The Hillbarn Theatre, San Jose Children’s Music Theatre, South Bay Musical Theatre, Alameda Civic Light Opera, Peninsula Youth Theater, Livermore Valley Opera, Bay Area Classical Harmonies Orchestra, Temple Hill Symphony and the Berkeley Symphony. He has performed and recorded with a wide variety of stage bands including Paramount’s Great America bands, Millenium Funk Party (Dance hits of the 70's), Neosoreskin (ska), The Kool Katz (latin) and Casino Royale (60's pop). John Escalera’s trumpet can be heard on the PC video game World War II Fighter by Electronic Arts. He has shared the stage with several accomplished guest musicians including Pete Escovedo, Juan Escovedo, Sheila E, Louie Belson, Jackie DeShannon, Jorge Santana, Mic Gillette and Conte Condoli. John Escalera holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Cal State Hayward (1998) where he studied trumpet with Jay Rizzetto, Jazz with Dave Eshelman and conducting with Tim Smith.

Mike Mendoza

Saxophone

Mike Mendoza is a saxophonist based in San Jose, California. For over 30 years, Mike has performed for many audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as the West Coast, performing Jazz, Pop, R&B, Rock n' Roll, Soul, Funk, and Latin music. In addition, Mike has performed the National Anthem for the San Francisco Giants, San Jose Sharks, San Jose Giants and San Jose Earthquakes. Mike currently teaches private lessons in saxophone, flute, and clarinet in addition to performing at Bay Area Wineries, Restaurants, and Private Events as a solo saxophonist with his Jazz, Pop, and R&B show ‘Sax Sessions with Mike Mendoza’. Mike definitely brings a level of showmanship and excitement to the TOC band.

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.