Now celebrating its 10th
anniversary, The Roadhouse Band is
a Long Island based "hot country" band, playing everything from the
country classics to today's modern country hits, from Patsy Cline ballads to
Gretchen Wilson blues, it's live country music at it's very
best. They play throughout the Tri-State area, at venues, indoors and out, as
small as libraries and as large as baseball fields.
Roadhouse represents the merger of five diverse musicians with varied
backgrounds.
Lead
vocalist, Cindy is a life-long resident of Long Island where she is involved with song
writing, recording, and performing with her local church ensemble when she's not out rockin' with band. She
also sings rock, funk, pop and blues as well as belting out
country tunes. Cindy has a powerful voice and can easily match the range of such singers
as Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood. Cindy plays a mean harmonica, and when the boys
stretch into a blues number, shes right in there with them. She also plays
guitar and percussion. She also sings with the oldies group "Time
Was." She had the lead role in the production of "Guys & Dolls" a the
Creative Ministries performing Arts Center in Oakdale, during February of 2004.
Steve, a graphic artist from East Meadow, is a highly experienced lead
guitarist and the groups virtual encyclopedia of 70s rock, country rock, and
heavy metal. You cant stump him. His guitar style derives from rock, country and
blues. He has played in many rock groups, but decided to Go country
after hooking up with the other members of Roadhouse. Steve's artistic talents also come
in handy --- he designed the groups' logo. His country licks will make you feel like
you're in Nashville. He's called on to sit in with many local 70's rock
bands as well as other country groups.
Two of the members Vic (on
bass) and Mike (on keyboards) have played in bands together since 1963 when they were in high
school. In the late 60's and early seventies they fronted the popular local top
40 show group "August,” playing everything from Doo Wop to Disco to Heavy Metal,
as well as Beatles, Beach Boys, Stones, Four Seasons and Four Tops, Yes, and
everything in between.
Vic, the bassist, has been a
die-hard country fan for
years. Trouble was, he couldn’t find anyone else who wanted to play country
music and put the same level of effort into it. In the early 70’s he was the
lead guitarist and vocalist for the popular duo Frankie and Johnny, a party band
very popular in the Hamptons, Jersey Shore and Hunter Mountain. (He was
Frankie!) They included a good deal of country music in their sets. Vic
has been
a die-hard country fan since childhood. These days,. when he is not up on stage, he is out there boot scootin' with the line-dancers. He also hosts Long Island's only country music
radio show "Country
Music in Exile" on WGBB
AM 1240 (Saturdays at 9:00 PM).
Several years ago he and his
longtime buddy Mike regrouped to form a new R & B Band, and somewhere along the
way decided to go country instead.
Mike,
the keyboardist, has been playing in bands since he was 13. He played in many of
the same Floral Park bands as Vic, including the “Spectras” as well as “August.”
Mike is an avid fan of the great jazz-rock groups like Blood, Sweat and Tears
and Chicago as well as groups like Vanilla Fudge, the Rascals, and Yes. Although
his wife, Carol, has always enjoyed country music, he admits “going country” was
a big step in a different direction for him. Now he would never turn back.
Drummer Todd Shusterman
is a new face with Roadhouse, but certainly no stranger to the Long Island
Country music scene. Todd is not only a well known professional musician, well versed in
all types of music, but he plays many different
instruments and
indeed, is a music teacher and band instructor in the Rockville Centre School
District. Todd has played with other country bands such as Southern Grace" (for
several years) and later with "Slick
City." He's been a reliable fill in drummer for many other Long Island club
date and country
bands (including Roadhouse) over the years. We are delighted to add him to our
roster. Oh, did we mention he also handles the PA system duties!
All
of the members of the group sing and write.
At present, their stage act is limited to covers of popular country tunes. Vic,
the bassist and self confessed country-music addict, observes that country music
fans come primarily to dance. "I decided to form a country group because I
myself love country dancing and go as often as I can. Many of the songs we play have
specific dance steps that go with them. We are first trying to cover all of the
dances, before we start to integrate our own material. While we each are very
proud of our originals, our first job is to please the people who come to dance,
and they like to dance to the music with which they are most familiar."
The group has a serious
commitment to public service. In addition to their very successful
Island Harvest Benefit
(raising $7000 in November 2000) they've played benefits for
UCP
and
Cystic Fibrosis,
the
Lupus Alliance
of LI/Queens, The Long Island Heart Association, The World Trade Center Victims
and the Vietnam Veterans, and The New York Metro Country Music Associations
2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 St.
Jude's Children's
Hospital Fundraisers. Each time over $5000 was raised . In 2004 they also helped
raise over $40,000 for a severely injured American Soldier. In 2005, along with
Lake Grove Cares, Roadhouse and several other local acts including Kerry Kearney
and My Favorite Mistake raised thousands of
dollars for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Of course they play
clubs and private functions all over the metropolitan area and New Jersey. Check
out the coming events section of this website for their public performances
and fundraising events.
"Roadhouse is a highly energetic and extremely talented band that will
keep you on the dance floor and smiling all night long. All of the members of
this band really love the country music that they are playing and put 1500% into
every performance. Roadhouse has a very large repertoire of country songs, and
can customize their performance to the requirements of your group. They are a
definitely a crowd pleaser and your event will be a guaranteed success with
these entertainers on the stage. Country Music needs more dedicated performers
like Roadhouse!"
Lucille Koch, Past-President,
NY Metro Country Music Association
Read More about Roadhouse!
Click Here
Contacts:
Cindy's
ROADHOUSE HOTLINE:
24 hours 516-733-0819
Hear a Message with our
latest appearances and/or
you can leave us a
recorded message.
We will return your call
ASAP!
Bookings:
Vic:
Cell: 516-967- 4760
Weekdays: 516-941-4406
home: 631-580-3563
email: rdhousband@aol.com
or: vicfusco@aol.com
fax: 631-580-2049
Cindy:
Singer2828@aol.com
Cell: 516-635-6065
Todd:
CntryDrmmr@aol.com
Cell: 516 902 2231
Eves: 516 668 3615
Mike:
Mpangalos@aol.com
Home: 718-835-8040
Cell: 646 872-3799
Steve:
Stannenbaum@LE-Intl.com