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Bios & History
HepCatz Karaoke, DJ &
Recording Bios & History
As Jeff and I
love music, we've both managed to be involved in the music industry
throughout our marriage since 1982. Jammin' Jeff
has been directly involved musically since his teen years and into the
present as a performing key boards player, multiple
saxophones player and lead vocalist.
He studied as a music major for many college
years. Jeff was also a professional
radio DJ and ran a professional recording home studio for 3 years AND a
professional recording studio with his partner for about 7 years. He has shown me the way of life in the
music industry.
We've been highly active in the karaoke industry since the early 2000’s
singing at various karaoke venues plus hosting
karaoke and DJ events at private parties, weddings and venues
throughout the east bay. We've developed a strong following fan base
through Karaoke and during the seven years we had our HepCatz
Band and karaoke adventures which continued to grow. We have made great and life-long friends
over the past several years. We're happy to say that these friends
shared our 25th wedding anniversary with us and our families...karaoke
style!
Jeff and I founded the HepCatz Motown, 60's Classic
Rock, R&B Band in 2001 and remained strong to
May 2007. Please browse below to read about the talented HepCatz musicians. We are looking forward to all of
our family and friendship relationships growing more in our years ahead.
Stay tuned!
Sincerely,
Jeff & Linda
Our Bios & History
HepCatz, Motown Classic Rock, R&B
Band
The HepCatz Band are proud members of the
Bands4Bands Support Network. We have been nominated by the Bands4Bands
Support Network in past years for the following categories via the
Bands4Bands Annual Awards Program. We consider it an honor that the
various 50 plus bands within the support network recognize many different
categories of music and talents.
2006 Awarded to Linda Rogers:
Bands4Bands Annual Achievement Award
2006 Nominated Best Backing Vocals
2006 Nominated Best Web
Site
2005 Nominated Best Backing Vocals
2005 (L. Rogers) Nominated Annual Bands4Bands Annual Achievement Award
2004 (L. Rogers) Nominated Annual Bands4Bands Annual Achievement Award
2004 Nominated Best Backing Vocals
2003 Nominated Best Band for Year
2002 Nominated Best New Band
Biography
Linda J. Rogers
1) Founder & Manager ~ HepCatz Band
Lead Vocalist, Backing Vocals, Drums, Percussion
2) Founder HepCatz DJ, Karaoke & Recording
A native to California and born in San Rafael, CA, I was raised in
northern Marin County where I spent 31 years and have resided in Pleasant
Hill, CA since 1993.
In early childhood,
tapping with hands or sticks came natural since my mother played classic rock
music frequently, and still does. Since a teen to the present, I
continue to play varieties of hand percussion instruments. Influences
are Steve Gadd of Eric Clapton's bands, Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker, Mick
Fleetwood. Rock concerts were my agenda since age 14. My
musical quest took hold with professional training in drumming and lead
vocals in the mid 1990's. My spouse and I joined a blues band prior to
our adventures with Founding the HepCatz Band in
November 2001. I’ve jammed with other musicians through my
husbands recording and rehearsal studio since 1995 and completed multiple cd recordings. While primarily a classic rock, motown, r&b band, we also
have original material inclusion. My contributions include
creating/writing backup vocals for our song arrangements, prepare song
materials for band members, coordinate events, marketing strategies and
tools, manage duplication and distribution of demo materials, prepare press
kits, manage web site, manage the HepCatz band,
play drums, sing lead and backup vocals; if not playing drums I play hand
percussion instruments of all varieties. It is my second full time
career and it is extremely gratifying.
The HepCatz band members all loved their creative side.
Special recognition goes to my husband-partner who has participated in and
supported our musical efforts selflessly. He is the true colorist of
the HepCatz band!
Although we disbanded
the HepCatz band in May of 2007, we decided
continue our coinciding second hobby of Karaoke, DJ and Recording which has
also been a huge hobby of ours. We've been highly active singing at
karaoke venues plus hosting DJ and karaoke events at venues and private
parties throughout the east bay over the past several years. We
continue to enjoy the miracles and treasures of live performance and likely
will for the remainder of our lives.
Sincerely,
Linda Rogers
Biography
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Jeffrey C. Rogers
1) Founder & Manager ~ HepCatz Band
Keyboards, Saxophones, Hand Percussion, Lead & Backing Vocals
2) Founder HepCatz
DJ, Karaoke & Recording
Born in El Paso, Texas, I grew up in the military traveling abroad and now
reside in Pleasant Hill, California since 1994.
I became interested in
music at around 8 years of age by falling in love with an international music
collection comprised of British, Italian, French and American military
marches. At age 10 I was inspired by Sergei Rachmaninov
and began piano at age 15 followed by cello and trumpet. I was in a
band called The Uniques in high school playing
current hits from the 60’s. Later on I played in a band called
Gryphon playing original songs. I’ve jammed with other musicians
and bands throughout my life since the age of 15.
I was a
music major at University of New Mexico and UCLA among business bachelor degrees
and graduated from Cal
State University.
My home recording studio from 1992-1995 grew into a studio partnership,
Belcanto Studio/Axis Audio Group of seven years
where I have completed many studio CD recordings, composing and playing all
original material and then founded the HepCatz band
with my wife, Linda up to May 2007; original material still in the works. I
have been playing keyboards and wood winds instruments for 40+ years and took
up saxophones in 2001 and enjoyed playing tenor and alto sax's to
classic rock and original music. Following founding the HepCatz Band, I began singing lead and backing vocals
which continues to be a big part of my musical interests. I assist in
managing the HepCatz band, participate in the
coordination of event planning, compose original material, classic rock
covers music composition and inject music theory, keeping our band mates on
the same page and growing together.
I love playing the music and
the camaraderie of the HepCatz band. The challenge
is to develop an individualistic approach to playing classic rock and blues.
Sincerely,
Jeff Rogers
SHORT BIOS
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Linda J. Rogers
HepCatz Band-Founder & Manager
HepCatz DJ, Karaoke & Recording-Founder
Role: Manage HepCatz Band, prepared marketing
tools, event coordinator, manages web site. HepCatz
Band drummer, lead & backup vocals, hand percussion, song arrangements,
writes backup vocals for HepCatz cover songs,
sound engineer for HepCatz Band.
Experience:
Lead vocalist, backing vocalist, 1999 to present, professionally trained
Drums 10 years, professionally trained
Hand Percussion instruments 30+ years
Sound engineer for HepCatz Band, 7 years
Jammed and performed with other musicians over past several years, multiple
studio cd recordings, played drums and sang lead
vocals in a blues band prior to becoming Founder of HepCatz
Band November 2001 wherein I’ve been playing drums, singing lead and
backing vocals in the HepCatz Band.
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Jeffrey C. Rogers
HepCatz Band-Founder & Manager
HepCatz DJ, Karaoke & Recording-Founder
Role: Manage HepCatz Band, Plays Keyboards,
Saxophones, sings Lead & Backup Vocals, composition of song
arrangements,
Experience: Keyboards & woodwinds 45+ years plus Saxophones
Music major-many years, 10 years of recording studio business and multiple cd recordings, original material artist, jammed plus
performed with multiple rock and roll, r&b
bands throughout life, including a blues band prior to founding HepCatz Band November 2001 and prepares song
arrangements. Jeff’s knowledge in all aspects of music and
performance creates the HepCatz!
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David Beiser
Lead Vocalist - HepCatz
Experience: Performed with bay area bands and has been singing since
a young child. Studied and received professional vocal training. Enjoys classic rock and soulful, motown
r&b.
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Ernie
Zepeda
Lead Guitar - HepCatz
Experience: Blues, rock and roll, folk, classic rock lead guitarist
40 + yrs., Played with multiple blues, rock and roll and classic rock bands
throughout the bay area. Ernie was formerly the second lead
guitarist for Merle Haggard’s band and toured the U.S. for 2
years with Merle Haggard. The
‘rock edge’ style of Ernie’s gave
the HepCatz Band the thriving music drive and
carried us far. After 2 years with
us, Ernie suffered a massive heart attack.
He is now recovered and playing music again…happily enjoying
his retirement in Clear lake.
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Brent
Kernan
Lead Guitar - HepCatz
Experience: Blues and classic rock lead guitarist 27+ yrs., Stage
name known as Trick.
Former celtic fiddler.
Played with numerous blues & rock bands around the bay area and has
played in nearly every venue in San
Francisco that utilizes live Entertainment.
Trick’s enthusiastic and unique lead style creates a fabulous HepCatz Band sound different from all other
bands. He charts songs and assists with song arrangements.
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David Poffenbarger
Rhythm Guitarist and Bass Guitarist - HepCatz
Experience:
Performed with many bay area bands throughout his life and has played
everything from heavy metal, folk, alternative rock, classic rock and r&b. Currently plays bass guitar for the HepCatz Band which followed playing rhythm guitar when
he joined us. Assists with song arrangements.
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Fabian Baez
Hand Percussionist- HepCatz
Experience:
Has been playing hand percussion instruments for about 25 years. Has
worked with a variety of bands from Latin jazz to salsa throughout his life
and continues to play many different music genres with multiple bands.
Experience also includes Bob Soule Ensemble, Pete Escovedo
salsa band, Alma & The Blue wave jazz band, Dame Tiempo
salsa band and joined the HepCatz in September of
2005. He also has a strong background in acapela.
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Tom Peplinski
Drums - HepCatz
Experience: Grew up playing drums and stage name known as Pep.
Pep has played many genres of music and continues today to play as many
genres as possible including jazz. He has played with many bay area
bands and still does. He plays with high energy, finesse and is a large contributer to the classic rock style of the HepCatz music.
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APPRECIATION
AND RECOGNITION TO HEPCATZ BAND MUSICIANS FROM 2001 TO MAY 2007 INCLUDE:
Jeff & Linda
Rogers, Fabian Baez, David Beiser, David Poffenbarger, Brent Kernan,
Tom Peplinski, Matt Kerby,
Sammy Lee, AJ Rocans, David & Kathy
Collodel,
Chris Beacham, Paula Hobson-Chord, Chuck Booth,
Mimi Ford, Isa Baca,
Jason McVay, Ernie Zepeda, Scott Byll, Patricia King-Noble, Chandra Baird,
Kevin Simmons, Daniel Roberge, Michael Benedict
With
great fondness and in memory of two very good friends and HepCatz
musicians:
Scott Byll, deceased April 2005
Chris Beacham, deceased April 2006
Music Producers & Engineers
Jeff
Rogers & Michael Witwer, Belcanto
Studio 1995 ~ 2003
Michael Witwer, Axis Audio Studio, 2003 ~ 2006
Executive Producers
Jeff & Linda Rogers
Roadies!
Chris Beacham-Sound Works
Randy Cabral and Lawrence
Joe Steiger-Drum and Percussion Instructor,
equipment engineer
A FEW DEMO
CD SAMPLES-PRODUCED BY MICHAEL WITWER, AXIS AUDIO
CLICK "UNDERLINED" MP3 AUDIO SAMPLES BELOW
Tequila
Peggy Sue
Money
Little Sister
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Hey Joe
The Thrill Is Gone
Midnight Hour
House of the Rising Sun
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