BIOS
Frank Zirone - Guitar, Vocals
Frank Zirone is the producer of ONES and a founding member of the core
YEAH YEAH YEAH band. After watching a swarm of screaming girls chase the Beatles into the train station in the first scene of the movie Hard Day's Night, "the light went on in my head". That scene immediately answered the proverbial question "what do you want to do with your life?” Decision made, music was to be Frank's lifelong partner. With a long and storied history in "the biz" he joined his first "gigging" band in 1968 at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped. Frank was involved with various cover bands until 1977 when he started writing, recording and performing his own songs. In 1979 Frank formed the band Zero-One, signed a deal with Anthem Records and recorded one album. Managed by Michael Cohl and Bill Ballard of Concert Productions International (CPI), Zero-One went on to tour with Max Webster, Loverboy, Saga and Toronto and were nominated for a Juno in 1981 for Best New Group before disbanding in 1982.
Hanover Fist was Frank's second touring act. Produced by David Bowie guitarist Stacy Heydon, the Hanover Fist Project was recorded at Pete Townshend’s Eel Pie studio in Surrey, England. The self-titled album was released in 1983 on MCA Records after Eddie Van Halen inadvertently listened to the demo tape in a borrowed car. Van Halen selected the track "Metal of the NIght" as the soundtrack for the movie he was working on entitled Wild Life. In 1985 MCA execs decided to change the name of band to Hanover and re-released the album, now named Hungry Eyes. Hanover then toured with Saxon throughout the U.S. for three months. Incidentally, Saxon were Rob Reiner's inspiration for the movie Spinal Tap. After the demise of Hanover, Frank went on to tour with The Monkees, Triumph, Gary Puckett, Herman's Hermits, Rob Grill (Grassroots) and Randy Travis. He continues to write and record in his home studio and has added authoring science fiction stories and video editing to his repertoire. Why the Beatles? "Because I believe you should leave the dance with the same girl you came in with." A continual source of inspiration, the Beatles have become Frank's muse, affecting every aspect of his musical career as both a performer and songwriter. It was back in 1986 that Frank decided he would, some day, create the ultimate Beatle's music band. In 2014 he did, and now in 2016, Frank Zirone presents ONES.
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Band
Photo: Pat Blythe
If you look up the word music in the dictionary you are sure to find Bruce Nasmith's name in the definition. Becoming skilled on a variety of instruments at a very early age, Bruce has been a full-time musician his entire life. Self-taught on the guitar, he also plays violin and recorder. His formal training in piano and classical organ have produced a long list of credentials and commendations. A graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in piano performance, piano teaching and music theory and composition, he also studied classical organ, receiving the Kathleen Stokes scholarship. He graduated from the Royal Canadian College of Organists winning both the Healey Willan scholarship and the Rollinson Prize. While residing in Australia he completed an Associateship diploma in classical guitar performance and a Licentiateship in classical organ performance, lectured at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and adjudicated the Busselton Music Festival for three years. When he returned to Canada Bruce took up the position of Music Director at Armour heights Presbyterian Church where he continues to conduct the choir and play the organ. He has released two albums, "Pleasure and Pain" and "The Twelve Months", fronted the rock band Stratosphere, performed and toured with classic rock trio Wild Blue Yonder, currently plays in the classic rock band The Petition with Frank Russell and is a also a member of The Too Drunk to Fish Band. Approached by Frank Zirone to join the YEAH YEAH YEAH band, Bruce, a lifelong lover of The Beatles music, enthusiastically accepted the invitation and also recommended Frank Russell for the project. Bruce is very much at home with all aspects of arranging and performing The Beatles music and directs the Penny Lane Strings and the Pepperland Horns for the ONES show.
Kevin Rolston - Bass, Vocals
Kevin Rolston has been plucking the strings of the bass guitar for 45 years, and during those 45 years he has performed across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. An engineer for Ontario Hydro (don't bother complaining to him about your rates, he's heard it all) Kevin also blows a sweet harmonica, backs up on guitar and sings! A few of the folks he's performed with include David Bendith (Locomotive), Dan Hill, Frank Zirone, and the John Stewart Band. An avid hockey player, Kevin participates in tournaments around the world including Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, the U.K. and the U.S. Why the Beatles? "As a musician it's the challenge of playing and singing their music 'right', plus the variety of tunes which cross all the musical genres," ensuring no one ever gets bored. There's a tune for everyone and everyone has their favourite(s). Quiet and unassuming, Kevin is quite content to remain in the background, part of the backbone of the band (along with the drums). However, he gets an immense kick out of watching people singing along, dancing, and the general delight of the audience, when the band plays Beatles tunes.
Bruce Nasmith - Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
Photo: Pat Blythe
Photo: Pat Blythe
Frank “Fringo” Russell - Drums, Vocals
Frank Russell's three passions in life are drumming, his daughter and fishing... not necessarily in that order. Raised in Hamilton, Ontario, (known locally as The Hammer), he started tapping out a beat as a young boy using rolled up newspapers as drumsticks and his legs as a drum kit. Persistent and determined, he practiced constantly, on anything and anyone. Using a set of borrowed Bolero's, he played his first professional gig, finally purchasing his first set of drums, a Rogers kit, in his late teens. Today he uses his British-made, red Premiers and has been drumming professionally for almost 50 years. Frank also teaches and his expertise has been reflected in two of his students, both of whom were accepted into the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Berklee is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world and operates a second campus in Valencia, Spain. Frank has recorded with Plateau (The Subway Album), Downchild Blues Band (We Deliver) and Lee Aaron (Metal Queen). He has also added his expert metering skills to many bands including Buzzsaw, Moxy, Ten Mile Drive, The Petition and Roadhouse among others. A singer and songwriter, he composes his own material using his six- and twelve-string guitars, another skill he learned watching his father play. Joining the YEAH YEAH YEAH band in 2014, Frank considers The Beatles one of the best songwriting teams of all time and Ringo one of the most underrated drummers in the world. After hearing Frank sing, the band immediately dubbed him "Fringo". It fits....perfectly.
Photo: Pat Blythe
David Love - Guitar, Vocals
“David Love would be my first choice for super solid guitar playing and vocal back up on any rock band I put together. He's also a 'gearhead' like myself and a fount of rock and roll information. My times onstage and in the studio with him have all been memorable and tons of fun.” Randy Bachman, O.C.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, David Love is a guitarist (45 years), singer and voice-over artist. He began to play professionally in 1975 when he joined the Top 40 band Titan. In 1977 he joined Dodger and performed with them across Ontario and Northern Quebec. "Like many Canadian musicians before and since, (I) traveled across the country in a cramped van playing anywhere and everywhere." In 1979 David decided to take a break from a full-time career in music and returned to college to study logistics, eventually working with a number of transportation companies. By 1989 he was back in "the business" and formed the quartet, The Intenders. Four years later, in 1993, he joined The Carpet Frogs, a band he remained with for 18 years and who are well-known for their work with Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman. David himself has worked extensively with the two former Guess Who members having also been a 14-year member of The Burton Cummings Band and a 5-year member of The Bachman Cummings Band. From 1998 until his departure from The Carpet Frogs, David was the principal harmony singer for Cummings. In 2012 he formed his own band, The David Love Band, a power-pop trio that focuses on the music of the 60's. Think Yardbirds, Chambers Brothers, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Tremelos, and of course, The Beatles. David has recorded numerous albums with The Carpet Frogs, Burton Cummings and The Bachman Cummings Band and has criss-crossed Canada many times, performing on average 100 shows a year, including a special show for our troops at Canadian Forces Base Kandahar in Afghanistan. In 2014, David performed in the Classics Album Live tribute to The Beatles 'Let It Be' at Massey Hall. A perfect segue. As the newest member of the YEAH YEAH YEAH band and ONES, he brings us his love of The Beatles and all things 60's.
Matt Groopie - Guitar, Percussion, Guitar tech
If you looked up ROCK AND ROLL in the dictionary there would probably be a picture of Matt Groopie. A man of many talents, Matt has proven time and time again to be the ultimate soldier of rock and roll and presses on successfully both musically with bands like King Beez, Green Jelly, Stone Devil, and as a solo artist, in addition to his work behind the scenes as a booker, journalist, event producer and radio host. An unstoppable force of nature, he has been called the hardest working man in show business by his peers, and garners respect from both high industry professionals as well as local bands and promoters. Matt now adds working with The Beatles ONES show to his long list of credentials.
Photo: Pat Blythe
Sonia Klimasko - Violin
Devoting her life to performing, teaching and sharing her love and knowledge of music to audiences around the world, Sonia is also an avid blogger, an award-winning gardener and Half Ironman Triathlete. Sonia began her study of the violin at the tender age of four and her love of music has awarded her a wide and varied career. She has performed with Tony Bennett, James Brown, the Bob Hope Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic, Windsor Symphony, New Toronto Chamber Players, Kingston Symphony, Esprit, Royal Winnipeg Ballet Orchestra.....this is just the tip of the iceberg. Recently performing two seasons with the Northern Lights Music Festival in Ajijic, Mexico, Sonia is an alumnae of the National Youth Orchestra and Ontario Youth Concert Band. She has played first violin with the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra for the past 35 years. A string instructor at the Bishop Strachan School and Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, Sonia was a founding artist with the Inner City Angels. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a degree in Performance. Her awards include an RCM Provincial Medal and the Chamber of Commerce Award for Excellence in the Arts. ...and by the way, you can read her blog on the National Ballet website.
The Penny Lane Strings
Nastassia Leheniuk - Violin
Nastassia Leheniuk began her studies of the violin at the age of four. Over the years during her course of study, she won many awards, scholarships and medals. She is the co-owner of Intrada Sound, Ontario's premier booking agency for musicians.
Ms. Leheniuk has performed throughout Ontario in countless venues and for every imaginable event. Her performances range from string orchestra at Casino Niagara to solo violin recording for bands. While maintaining her busy performance schedule, Nastassia Leheniuk has recently graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University. She is now working for PepsiCo Canada living in Peterborough, ON. Nastassia is a huge country music fan with artists such as Eric Church, Dallas Smith, Thomas Rhett, Tim Hicks and Miranda Lambert topping her favourites list. In addition, being a runner is a significant part of her life and she loves to participate in races that support and create awareness for important causes.
Wendy Solomon - Cellist
To quote the LUSH website, "the cello has a real flair for reaching into your soul and pulling out deep emotions, so often underscoring intense scenes of passion." Wendy is the founder and composer/ arranger/performer with the cello quartet LUSH, a group that breaks away from classical music, bringing their own interpretations of jazz and Latin standards to the fore. Wendy is also a member of BOWFIRE, a company of virtuoso string players backed by drums, keyboards and guitars, playing a wide range of genres including Celtic, Bluegrass, jazz, rock, classical, gypsy and Texas Swing. Wendy has been a featured recitalist in North America, Asia and Europe and has played with numerous orchestras including the Columbus Symphony, the Amadeus Ensemble, the New World Trio, the Aradia Baroque Ensemble, the National Ballet Orchestra as well as in the pit orchestras of the Toronto productions of Lord of the Rings, Phantom of the Opera, Crazy for You, Lion King, Last Five Years, West Side Story and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. (deep breath) She was a featured performer with Natalie McMaster on her Live DVD Celtic Colours, and has played numerous shows featuring such artists as Bernadette Peters, Colm Wilkinson, Josh Groban, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Dionne Warwick, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Wendy enjoys freelancing with many orchestras as well as recording for feature films and commercials.
Tara Davidson - Alto & Tenor Saxophone
Tara Davidson is a Toronto-born alto and soprano saxophonist. A multi-JUNO Award nominee for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year twice she was first nominated in 2007 for her sophomore debut "Code Breaking". In 2011 Tara started The Carn Davidson 9, a collaborative project with trombonist William Carn. The nine-piece chord-less ensemble employs seven horns, anchored by bass and drums. They recorded their debut album "Nine" on Addo Records and the album was subsequently nominated for a JUNO in 2014. CD9 has been featured at Toronto's Rex Hotel Jazz Bar and the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival. Solo, Tara has recorded three albums, the most recent, "View", in 2011. Tara has performed around the world, from New York to Peru, throughout Europe and of course, in Canada. The European Broadcasting Union singled her out in April 2008 to represent Canada as the lead alto/soprano saxophonist in the European Jazz Orchestra's three-week European tour performing the music of Niels Klein. Tara is a graduate of the University of Toronto Jazz Performance Program and, as an active educator, is on the faculty at York University, the Humber College Community Music School and the National Music Camp of Canada. A special congrats goes out to Tara for her third JUNO nomination for best Solo Jazz Album of the Year for 2015!
The Pepperland Horns
Anita McAlister - Trumpet
Anita McAlister has an extended list of accomplishments and an extremely busy life. As a soloist, at the age of 18, Anita won the National Competitive Festival of Music. As a student, she studied with the Canadian Brass in Banff and went on to be a member of the Great Lakes Brass Quintet, the Composers Brass, and for many years performed with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Brass Quintet. Anita has taught at a number of music camps including Interprovincial Music Camp, the Scarborough Board of Education Music Camp and the Mount Allison Summer Music Program and is currently on the faculty of the National Music Camp of Canada. Dedicated to the development of brass education, Anita is the Director of the Hannaford Youth Program and conducts the Junior, Community and Youth Bands. She is an active freelancer, performing with the Toronto Symphony, National Ballet Orchestra and Canadian Opera Company and (deep breath) is a member of Esprit Orchestra, ARRAYMJSIC Ensemble and the Hannaford Street Silver Band. Anita holds a BMUS in Performance from the University of Toronto and a MMus in Solo Performance and Literature from the University Western Ontario. She is presently on Faculty at the University of Toronto teaching trumpet, music education and coaching chamber music.
Narrator
Al Joynes - Narrator
Al Joynes wears many hats. He has been a fixture at Q107 Radio in Toronto for close to 28 years working as an On-Air Personality and Radio Announcer. In addition he is recognized for his work as a freelance voice over artist for a variety of movie trailers, music videos and other productions. From 2003 to 2005, he also worked as the Morning Show Host, Music Director and assistant Program Director for Durham Radio Inc. Al combines his live long love of all things Beatles with his whimsical sense of humour and his gifted vocal talents, to impart the ONES show with a truly entertaining narrative.
Jain McMillan - Graphic Designer, Multi-Media Show Specialist
Jain McMillian has been a graphic designer for 35 years and is considered the sixth member of the YEAH YEAH YEAH band albeit behind the scenes.(remember George Martin) Jain has been working closely with Frank Zirone for the past four years, focusing on the YEAH YEAH YEAH Duo and the five-piece YEAH YEAH YEAH band. Her deep passion for music and her love of the Beatles shine through in her beautifully crafted multi-media shows for both the YEAH YEAH YEAH band and now ONES. Her love of Beatles history is apparent and comes to the fore with each song. Jain has studied both piano and clarinet in her youth and although she has never performed professionally, she continues to play the piano at home in her spare time, finding it both cathartic and liberating. According to Jain, she is forever learning new and exciting things about the songs of the Beatles. She is particularly impressed with how their special, creative dynamic impacted people and how their music ricocheted around the world, and continues to every day. "I will never forget back in the mid 90’s while on a trip to Brazil, being at a friend’s family farm and hearing someone with a guitar singing Yesterday. No hydro or running water for miles and miles but somehow the music got through. All the locals, many of which spoke little or no English, knew every word and sang along as if it was a sacred hymn in church. The Beatles are a touchstone, a constant reminder that great music will always be an integral part of my life." Jain's mission is to visually transport the audience into the "Beatles Zone" during the ONES show, and she accomplishes this with aplomb.
The Crew
Jeff Wiggins - Sound
Try and get a straight answer from a "sound guy" when you ask him about his life in the music business. According to Jeff it's all Bruce's (Nasmith) fault! If Bruce hadn't had the Rice Krispies camel train running on his desk in home room on their first day of junior high "I might not have thought, oh, here's an interesting fellow. I rather imagine we could become pals and do fun things together for many years to come." Jeff subsequently learned to translate his 'intrinsic nerdiness' and love of music into something fun and exciting - sound engineering. In the intervening 43 years since meeting Bruce, Jeff has mixed professionally for about six of thoses years. He doesn't play any instruments....at least, according to Jeff, "not so you'd notice." He enjoys the challenge of refurbishing old audio gear with his business card clearly stating, "If I can't fix it, it probably can't be fixed." A Beatles fan since the Help album in 1965, Jeff considers them the forerunners of "prog rock". Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant and Pink Floyd were all influenced by the writings of John and George. You'll find Jeff sitting quietly at his sound board, unperturbed by the commotion around him, ears tuned to the nuances of the sounds emanating from the musicians on stage.
Photo: Pat Blythe
Peter Genrick - Lighting Director
From Hamilton Ontario, Peter Genrick has been in the thick of the entertainment industry for over 35 years. Launching his career in the world of rock 'n roll with the band Vehicle, he worked as a "light man" for many rock groups from the 1970's to the 1990's including the infamous Teenage Head, local act Steve Madden and his band Reckless, and western bands Trooper and Headpins. The early 90's found Peter working on the set of the Canadian/German soap opera Family Passions by day....by night you would find him at the popular Toronto nightclub Berlin as their in-house lighting tech. It was here he met Walter Zwol (Brutus), who had formed an all-star band for the nightclub that included Peter Meuller (Tom Cochrane), Rick Grattan (Rough Trade), Asher Horowitz (Lisa Dalbello band) and Bobby Economou (Blood, Sweat and Tears). Peter arranged with Berlin's owners to shoot a rock video of the band's performance, one of his first forays into video production. In 1999 Peter was working on the biopic The Jesse Ventura Story when he was asked to be a stunt driver for the scene of Ventura riding his Harley with his "new bride". Thankfully the scene was completed in two takes with no wipeouts. Peter developed extensive knowledge in the field of lighting for both large and small venues including bars, theatres and large concert/sound stages. His hands-on experience was valuable to Humber College where he was invited to teach, lecturing on the various aspects of theatre lighting. Today Peter is a "gaffer", (which in layman's terms is head lighting technician), in the film, television and new media industries. One memorable project was working director Roland Joffe, shooting a feature film in Moscow, for the better part of a year. Peter also produces and directs live videos for a number of performers including the David Barrett Trio. If you're wandering the streets of Toronto and notice the distinctive orange cones taking up all the parking spots, keep your eyes peeled for Peter, chances are you'll run into him working on another one of his many shoots.
(Beatles connection: During the 1980's Peter, for the first and last time, was hired to do sound for Richie Walker and Hotel Street Band. After heading to Hawaii for a gig, Walker took Peter to the local Hare Krisha compound to meet Cat Stevens. As the room filled up people, Peter found himself standing next to George Harrison)
Photo: Paul Whitely
Pat Blythe - Writer, Photographer, Publicity
Hailing from London, Ontario, Pat Blythe has been involved in the entertainment business in one capacity or another for almost 40 years. Writer, publicity, public relations, photographer, Pat has worn many caps. Landing in Toronto in 1979, initial employment included record store Circle of Sound on Yonge St., two Toronto booking agencies, an artist management agency (The Kings), and her own small publicity company (Panthyr Productions). She finally segued into a full time position at Burson-Marsteller, which at that time was the world's largest public relations firm. Somehow, in the ensuing years public relations became telecommunications. Having now spent 32 years as a consultant and design specialist in the telecom industry (in which she still works) Pat continued to dangle her toes in the ever changing musical pond. She now writes a weekly music column for the blog site Don't Believe A Word I Say (DBAWIS) sharing her passion and deep love of music, continuing her commitment to support the local Indie artists by sharing their stories. Photographing most of the events and shows she attends as Girl With A Camera, "The Picture Taker", Pat is once again immersing herself in the local entertainment scene, discovering the richly profuse talent the city produces. Attending CMW, NXNE, TURF both jazz festivals and Indie Week last year she adds the SING Toronto Festival and ONES to her repertoire for 2016. Frequenting the GTA clubs, concerts and theatres throughout the year keeps Pat on the run, camera at the ready. After working alongside her late husband, writer and photographer Christopher Blythe, for 34 years, her busy schedule includes a very special project.... reviewing and archiving Chris's 40-year photographic narration depicting the history, through his eyes, of the local music scene from 1975 to the mid 1990s. Oh.....and she loves to dance.
Tara Scott - Social Media
Tara Scott is "The Media Girl". Tara manages her own public relations and media company located in London, Ontario. A photographer for over 20 years she has managed to turn the two loves of her life, music and photography, into a lucrative business . Tara's client
list includes London's own Dustbin Flowers, winners of the Original Favourite Jack Richardson 2015 Music Award, and Sarah Smith Music. Smith is an international award-winning performer and is known as "the hardest working person" in the business. Constantly touring across Canada and Europe, Smith one of the best live shows you will ever see. Tara's work is featured on Smith's new DVD Plugged and Unplugged. Tara's debut as a videographer was with Dustbin Flowers Newest single "My Little World"
co-created with Dave Gervais.
Tara and Jeffy Bialkowski (Dustbin Flowers) co-host the weekly Indie Music event at Fitzrays Restaurant and Lounge in London. Focusing on original material, the event offers young, up-and-coming artists "professional video, live photos and social media promotions. This opportunity now includes Fitzrays' YouTube channel where the live footage of their performance can be shared with the public."
Tara is a committee member for Jack Richardson London Music Awards (JRLMA) for Folk/Roots, Country as well as Singer, Songwriter. She co-produced the London Music Awards with Scene Magazine London and has been nominated for Best Media, Radio and Print for two-years running. Always enjoying what she does, wherever she is, continually full of positive energy, immersing herself in the project at hand. Her passion for her work is evident....and yes, Tara also loves to dance.
Janine Fawcett - Marketing Consultant J9 Communications
