ABOUT THE ARTISTS AND THEIR STUDENT BANDS
Jay Jay French
Jay Jay French is the founding member and lead guitarist for the legendary heavy metal band Twisted Sister. The group's hits include "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock", both popularized by regular airplay on MTV in the 1980s. Combined as a guitarist/manager/producer, Jay Jay has been responsible for the sale of over 12 million records worldwide and has 39 gold and platinum albums from 8 different countries, reflecting the success. 30+ years after founding Twisted Sister, he is truly a living legend. Jay Jay lives in New York City.
Jay Jay's student band, "Natural Progression", is performing "We're Not Gonna Take it" one of Twisted Sister's most famous songs. The band is composed of four students from ETM partner school St. Clare's located in the Bronx that serves over 500 children.
Sammy James, Jr.
Sammy James. Jr. is the founder and lead singer of the Mooney Suzuki. Their song "Alive and Amplified" has appeared in the Madden 2005 soundtrack and in the ATV Offroad Fury 3 soundtrack, as well as films Fun with Dick and Jane and Grandma's Boy. The band is now the signature artist for the Suzuki automobiles and an edited version of "Alive and Amplified" appears on all Suzuki commercials. The band composed, as well as providing backing guitar for, the original songs performed by Jack Black and the Kids for the film School of Rock. In April Sammy mentored a young rocker for an episode the award-winning MTV series Made.
Sammy's student band at the St. Brendan school is performing the ‘60's hit "Grazing in the Grass", which has been covered by everyone from Stevie Wonder to Willie Mitchell. St. Brendan School is located in the Norwood section of the Bronx. The school serves over 400 students in grades Pre-K - 8. 85% of the school population is ethnic minorities, and 80% are eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch, as determined by family income. The band is lead by ETM teaching artist Phil Tambakis.
Rachel Platten
Massachusetts native and Trinity College graduate Rachel Platten has performed in concert halls, festivals, and clubs alike from New York to the Caribbean (including The Cutting Room, Paradise, Rockwood, Wang Centre & Mercury Lounge); alongside artists such as Rusted Root, The Strokes, and DJ Logic. She first grabbed the spotlight at Irving Plaza during a Toots & the Maytals concert when she jumped on stage, grabbed the mic from Toots, and stunned the crowd by beat-boxing to "Monkey Man". Rachel's 2004 self-released EP rose to 9 on CD Baby's Bestseller's Chart and her song 'She Might Be' was MP3 of the day on VH1's Best Week Ever Blog, and was recently names BMI's Songwriter of the Month.
Rachel's student band features kids from PS 102 in East Harlem. The group is performing the Beatles' classic "Let it Be". PS 102 serves 350 kids in grades PreK-5th, 98% of whom are ethnic minorities and 99% of whom are eligible for the Free Lunch Program as determined by family income. As per an article in the New York Time regarding the 2005 Census, the school is located in the poorest section of New York City - over 56% of children in that area live below the poverty line, and the median income is less than $10,000 a year. The band is lead by ETM teaching artist Jennifer Greene.
Siddhartha Khosla
Siddhartha Khosla is the lead singer for the Goldspot. The band's 2007 full-length debut "Tally Of The Yes Men was recognized by the Sunday Times (UK) as one of the best albums of 2007, with Goldspot being named as the No. 4 new act of the year. Their cover of Spencer Davis's Motown classic "Keep on Running" was featured in the film "Run Fatboy Run", and their songs have been featured on the TV series "The OC" and its soundtrack. The band is currently in the studio finishing up their follow-up album. Sidd says the new album is "our best work to date."
Sidd's student band is the Honors Violin group from Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary school in East Harlem (located in the same neighborhood as PS 102). The group is performing a unique version of the P.Diddy/Faith Evans song "I'll Be Missing You". The school serves 260 children in grades Pre-K through 8th, and 100% of the school population is ethnic minorities and 100% are eligible for the Free Lunch Program, as determined by family income. The group is lead by ETM teaching artist Sharon Kim.
Sean "Hollywood" Hamilton
"Hollywood" Hamilton will be participating as MC of the Benefit. "Hollywood" is one of the most listened to radio personalities in the U.S He is the host of the Weekend Top30 Countdown heard in over 200 cities in America and throughout the world. He also can be heard weekday afternoons on WKTU in New York City. While still in high school, he decided to construct an illegal "pirate" radio station in the basement of his parents' home. After a short while, the station was pulled off the air by the FCC, but it was because of that experience that he landed his first job in commercial radio in his hometown of Reno, Nevada. In 1990, New Line Cinema released a motion picture called Pump up the Volume, starring Christian Slater, which was based on Hamilton's life.
DJ ESO
DJ ESO aka Peter Greszata is a DJ, Remixer and Producer. Born in Poland, ESO imigrated to Toronto at the age of 11, where he has been dj'ing for the past few years. Refusing to bound him self to a specific genre, ESO's dj sets are emotional and moving , his mixing skills are unique, his track selection is a great blend of all things electronica packed into a beautifully crafted 2 hour performance .ESO's Dj sets are pure ear candy for anyone that wants a good workout on the dance floor.
