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 The
Band
With nearly a century of combined performing experience in venues from
Seattle to the Mexican Border, the hallmark of The Usual Suspects sound is
solid vocal harmonies, backed by tight guitar arrangements, overlaid on a
rock solid beat that keeps your feet moving. Specializing in danceable
songs, their repertoire covers the spectrum of rock, pop, funk, oldies,
disco, new wave, fusion, rockabilly, metal and Motown, and spans the
generations of rock and roll from the fifties to today. Locally, the band
has a large following and has graced many stages throughout SLO and Santa
Barbara Counties!
 Ben
Black – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmony Vocals
What do you get when you combine: an uncanny knack for remembering lyrics,
diverse musical influences ranging from Louis Armstrong and Doc Watson to
Cheap Trick and Counting Crows; and then mix in 23 years singing and
performing on the Central Coast? You wind up with Ben Black, front man
for the classic rock and roll band The Usual Suspects.
 Rob
O’Sullivan – Drums, Percussion
Rob’s
enthusiasm for drumming started with Big Band Jazz. He has played at
various jazz festivals including the Monterey and Greeley Jazz Festivals.
Rob has laid down the backbeat with various big band, jazz combos, rock &
fusion groups. He now lays down the foundation for the sound that makes
The Usual Suspects a Central Coast favorite.
 Ernie
Pezza – Bass, Piano, Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals
Ernie comes to the Central Coast by way of Philadelphia, San
Francisco and San Diego. His resume includes New Wave, Hard Rock and
Oldies bands throughout California. Also adept at keyboards and guitar,
his great musical sense, solid rhythm and outstanding vocals are the
bedrock for The Usual Suspects sound.
 Eric
Stever – Saxophone, Piano, Harmony Vocals
Eric is a
newer addition to TUS. An Arroyo Grande Local since 1972 his exploits in
the music field are wide ranging from The San Francisco Blues Festival,
The North Sea Jazz festival in Amsterdam and The Montreux Jazz festival in
Switzerland. He enjoys sitting in with his dad’s local Traditional
Jazz bands The Night Hawks and The Basin Street Regulars. His past bands
include … Run for Cover, The Back Street Blues band, The Avila Jazz
Ensemble, The Guy Bud Band, Funk:30, The William Wingfield Ensemble and
Hangtime. He currently teaches All saxes, Flute, Piano, Bass Guitar and
Guitar for the Jazz Labs in Arroyo Grande.
Justin
Payne
– Bass, Guitar
Justin has spent all of his 19 years in the beautiful central
coast discovering music in its many forms. Beginning with listening to
every genre of music imaginable, taking with him strong influences from
Classic Rock, Jazz, Classical, and Funk. He began playing music 8 years
ago, starting with the Clarinet, moving onto the Bass Guitar 4 years
later, as well as Tuba, Bass Clarinet, various percussion instruments, and
small amounts of Electric Guitar. The love of music earned him a spot in
TUS and keeps him eager to listen to and play music whenever possible.
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