CBO - Casablanca Orchestra

Name: Dick Whitbeck
Music Producer, Composer, Arranger, Conductor, and Trumpet Player - Synergy

Dick Whitbeck's versatility as a musical director was developed through vast experience as a music producer, composer, arranger, conductor, and trumpet player working in theater, nightclubs, the concert stage, recording studios and on the "corporate entertainment scene." Dick became Musical Director for the world renowned Guthrie Theater at age 24, and served as the Guthrie’s musical directory for 12 years, during which time he composed original scores for over 25 productions from "King Lear" to "A Streetcar Named Desire". Dick has also composed, arranged, and produced music for television and radio commercials. His credits include Betty Crocker, Dinty Moore, Old Dutch Potato Chips, Pillsbury, Levi's, Northwest Airlines and many more.
http://www.synergy-dwmusic.com

Name: Mick Sterling
Vocals, Composer, Writer, Producer, Founder – Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers

Mick Sterling started playing in the Twin Cities back in the early 80's in a big horn band called Heat Treatment. He then moved to St. Louis to play in a full time, traveling band for about 3 years, during which time he learned how to write songs and get the chops to sing 25-28 nights a month, set up and tear down sound systems, backline, etc., every night. He came back to Minneapolis in 1987 and formed a group called The Nightburners. Around that time he was also approached by his old Heat Treatment band members to start a big 10 piece band. They called it Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers. Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers started to play around the cities on the weekends with limited success until Mick approached Bunkers to arrange a weekly Sunday night performance. In about 5 months, Bunkers was wall to wall. “I truly believe that our Sunday night gigs have meant a lot to people. I have heard many stories of people saying that our Sunday night gig was their first date, and now they're married and have children, stuff like that. It's cool that this band is special to people. It makes me feel good."
http://www.micksterling.com
http://www.myspace.com/micksterling

Name: Joe Schmit
Former KSTP-TV Sports and News Anchor

Joe Schmit spent 21 years at KSTP-TV. He is a well known celebrity in the Twin Cities market not only from his broadcasting career but along with his strong community role in charitable giving, with particular long-term partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Currently, Joe brings enthusiasm, integrity, and creativity to his work at Petters Group Worldwide.
http://www.pettersgroup.com/en/default.html

Name: Deborah Joan Lysholm
Owner/Director - Heartbeat Studios in Apple Valley, MN

Deborah Lysholm has trained extensively in Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Musical Theater dance since childhood. Her professional training includes ongoing private study with world renowned choreographers and traveling to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and overseas for intensive study programs. Deborah’s personal and professional mission is to share the passion of dance with students of all ages and skill levels, to continually create innovative choreography and produce professional concerts that incorporate multiple performing arts disciplines, to share the healing aspects of dance with the community at large, and to connect with dancers locally and overseas for mutual respect and appreciation of dance as a universal language.
http://www.heartbeat-studios.com/index.html

Name: Brian Leighton
Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Founder – GB Leighton

GB Leighton is the Midwest’s premier roots-rock band, playing more than 200 gigs each year and attracting hundreds of new fans with each performance. GB Leighton is the creation of Brian Leighton Glodek, a native of Shoreview, Minnesota. His first release in 1994 was One Time ... One Life, followed by four other albums, including the 2001 CD It’s All Good, a 12-song disc representing GB Leighton’s honest, soulful, rock ‘n’ roll style. With hits such as “Most Important Night,” “Fly My Plane,” and “Country Road,” the style of It’s All Good has been compared to the likes of John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen. The new album, This Life, on the Liquid 8 Records label marks a new path in GB Leighton’s career, with high-energy original songs and a rousing new version of the hit song “Come and Get Your Love.”
http://www.gbleighton.com/

Name: Rich Farris
Keyboardist; CEO - CustomFit Computer, Inc.

Rich Farris began playing piano at age five. Rich relocated from Wisconsin to Minnesota in 1991 to pursue a career in music. From 1993-1995, he was CBO’s keyboardist. In addition to working with CBO, Rich has also been a member of several other Minnesota bands (Austin Healy, Tim Mahoney) during which time he also owned a recording studio where he produced, engineered, and mixed a variety of music and commercial projects. In 1999, Rich founded CustomFit Computer, Inc., and currently owns and operates this company, specializing in working with small and medium-sized businesses to ensure the performance and effectiveness of their computer systems and applications. CustomFit Computer, Inc. proudly develops and manages CBO’s Web site – CBOMusic.com.
http://www.customfitcomputer.com/

Name: Steve Daly
Lead Guitar and Vocals - High & Mighty

Steve Daly, a Twin Cities native, embraced music at an early age as an "escape" from the daily grind of junior high and high school... and he hasn't stopped making great music since. He credits Jeff Beck, Prince, James Brown, Al Green and The Smiths among his early influences...and continues to find inspiration in order to write his own music. His guitar and raw vocals have been a part of the Twin Cities music scene for two decades, including stints with Joe Juliano, Power of Ten, and Critical Mass. Daly's original work will comprise a great deal of The High and Mighty's first CD, soon to be released. Steve is a founding member of the High & Mighty and is currently working on a book entitled, “Bandmembers Who Care Too Much.”
http://www.High-Mighty.com