Hubert Emerson & The GroWiser Band

Hubert Emerson has been moving and grooving audiences for 15 years with his soulful voice and seductive instrumentation. What’s more, Emerson touches people. With passion and intensity, the singer/keyboardist sings of love, desire, and human connection. “His music is honest and moving,” noted the San Francisco Observer. Sometimes after shows, people even come up crying as they buy one of his CDs.

A recurring favorite at such Bay Area festivals as Mountain View, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, and Boogie on the Bayou, Emerson consistently draws enthusiastic crowd reactions. No matter what age, you’ll find people bouncing along to his catchy afro-beats. Emerson plays regularly as a duet with Sahar Miller on sax, or with the full GroWiser band—a name inspired by his core belief to help people “grow wiser” every day.

His soul-touching tunes have also graced the airwaves of KPOO, KPFA, and KGLH. Emerson recently released his 5th studio album, Old School Soul. A fan-inspired release, the record captures 10 of his unique cover songs that listeners have been asking to bring home for years. “I think I’m like a preacher,” Emerson says of his music. “I’m trying to instill love and understanding. That’s what the world needs.”

Sahar Miller began playing saxophone at 14 in her high school band. She continued during her 4 years of college in New York.

Following her graduation from Barnard College in 2001, Sahar returned to the Bay Area. Since then she has honed her skills by playing with local bands. She has taught music in schools and privately for 8 years. Sahar began playing with the GroWiser Band in 2003. She is currently on 5 of the 6 albums released.

Bennie recorded the History of Our Future (Rykodisc) with the band Blakasauraus Mex for the Black Rock Collision. (Founder Vernon Reid, Living Color).

Bennie has worked with Sandy Pearlman (Producer Blue Oster Cult). He worked with legendary guitarist Harvey Mandel, completing his latest CD Planetary Warrior (Viceroy Music). Bennie co-wrote several of the title songs on that CD.

Toured with European RCA artist Fania. His proficient drum tracks were telecast on the television show Nash Bridges and on the Dimitrios Mitchell Documentary the Hook.

He toured with Singer/Songwriter Josh Joplin. Formally played drums for RAZ-B from B2K. Drummer for Andy Allo.

Received the 2010 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding World Music Album "Black President" by Sila and the Afrofunk Experience. Applying his creative writing and procducing skills to composing commerical jingles and movie soundtracks.

Willie Riser, one of the unsung heroes in America's Music History, has been a full time, professional musician since 1973. He is proud to say, he has only lived in two places in his life, both of them important centers of American Music. Born in the musical hub of Chicago, Illinois, Willie is now a long time, loyal resident of Oakland, California and is a highly respected member of the Bay Area Music Scene.

The countless singers & performers who have sought out his superb supportive playing include: Otis Clay, Memphis R&B Singer, Carla Thomas, Lady Bianca, Frank Biner & The Night Shift, Jules Broussard, Jackie Paynes, & Ernie Johnson - and the list goes on. He has over 9,000 live gigs in his career so far and is still counting...

A seasoned pro, Joe Lococo, is a highly respected, sought after Bay Area sideman and bandleader. He currently plays in a number of bands, including (for over 15 years) with world reknowned, Jazz Saxaphonist, Jules Broussard. Joe Lococo is the leader of the popular San Francisco Funk Band, Rhythm City, and has performed for years at San Francisco's oldest Bar, The Saloon, as lead guitarist with thier house Blues Band, Lucky Strike. last but not least he has been playing in a 3 piece power tro called Throwingroses, a Rockin dance trio.

Originally from Buffalo, New York, Joe Lococo has been a full time professional musician all his life, and has the chops to show it. From Country to Rock to Blues, he is one of the most knowledgeable players around.

Learn more:www.lococojoe.com or email lococojowee@aol.com

Allen Fredrick is a dynamic vocalist, as well as guitarist, keyboardist and harmonica player whose style is rooted in Blues, Rock, Jazz and R&B. 

He was keyboardist and singer in The Hoodoo Rhythm Devils (Fantasy Records) for two years where he played many showcase clubs and concerts in the San Francisco Bay area. He then joined Maria Muldaur as musical director, keyboardist, singer and harmonica player. He performed with Maria for five years touring throughout Europe, the U.S. and Canada. He was Harmonica player for famed bluesmen Yank Rachel (She Caught the KATY) and Sleepy John Estes (Diving Duck Blues). He has also performed with Paul Butterfield, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitte, Elvin Bishop, Dan Hicks, The Shirelles, and The Drifters. He has extensive live performance experience, having played internationally for large concerts, showcase clubs and television, including the David Letterman show.

Allen holds a Bachelor Degree from Indiana University where he studied Jazz improvisation from renowned trombonist David Baker and composition from composers John Eaton and Iannis Xenakis. While living in Indiana he received formal voice training from Helen Tyner and guitar from now deceased jazz guitarist Maestro Paolo.

Upon relocating to California he studied piano from Duke Ellington arranger William Mathieu and from jazz pianist Si Perkoff. He took on a faculty position at Family Light Music School in Sausalito where he taught seminars and workshops in addition to classes and private lessons in music theory, improvisation and keyboard technique.

He recently returned from Central America where he worked in a world class recording studio as a producer, engineer, singer and voice-over artist for television and radio commercials. While in Central America, he was the featured artist for Rock concerts as well as musical engagements at hotels and tourist resorts. At present, he resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where he plays at all the top hotels for corporate special events and for the major cruise line whose yachts tour the Bay.

In addition, Allen is a composer and has recently completed a choral work in SATB with keyboard accompaniment. He is also a songwriter and his first CD entitled “Cover All The Angles” (dognpony Records) is comprised of original songs with a Rock/R&B flavor. A new CD entitled “Between the Lines” is now available at CD Baby as well as digitally downloadable at iTunes, Rhapsody and Amazon Mp3 and includes more original compositions in the Alternative Rock vein. He is currently recording tracks for a new CD of original Spanish tunes in the latino styles of Cumbia, Regueton, Bachata, Merengue and Bolero where Allen’s fluency in Spanish comes into play.

Learn More at www.allenfredrick.com or contact allenfredrick1@yahoo.com