Kate & The Crocodiles
We really don't (and probably won't) play "Crocodile Rock" but we do mix it up with jazz, blues and even a little rock. The Crocodiles come together from all over the Northwest for, as Gary so eloquently put it, "A schvingin' good time." Below is a little info about the amazing musicians Kate gets to sing with.
Peter Crawford - piano, trombone, guitar, voice, and then some...
Pete Crawford has been playing music in Walla Walla for
15 years. Before coming to Walla Walla to teach music he performed with
numerous groups throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has played with Ethel
Ennis, Lionel Hampton and his New York Big Band, Frank Sinatra Jr., The
Temptations, Dizzy Gillespie Tribute Band, Slide Hampton, The Drifters,
and many other legends of music. He has a Masters Degree in trombone performance
from the Lionel Hampton School of Music in Moscow Idaho, and continues
to teach band, music technology and jazz piano at Whitman College.
Alan Gemberling - bad-ass bass, trombone
Following a successful tour around the United States and Canada with "The Phoenix Express" and "Front Line" Alan Gemberling now resides in Moscow, ID where he serves on the faculty at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho.
He performs regularly on trombone, electric bass and string bass in groups that include: the Idaho Brass Quintet, Spokane Symphony, Washington/Idaho Symphony, Lionel Hampton New York Big Band, Robert Curnow Big Band, Jazz Co-Op Quartet, The Palouse Jazz Project and The Contenders (a classic rock ensemble). He has performed with the Dizzy Gillespie Tribute Big Band, Cab Calloway Orchestra, JZ All Star Big Band, Gene Krupa Orchestra, Frank Sinatra Jr., Lou Rawls, Jon Hendricks, Bob Newhart, The Supremes, The Temptations, Frankie Avalon, Dee Daniels, Natalie Cole, Jim Nabors, Bill Watrous and Al Grey.
The Crocs are lucky to have him in the water.
Gary Gemberling - trumpet, voice, comedy
Gary Gemberling has performed with The Russ Morgan Orchestra, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Lou Rawls, Claudio Roditi, The Temptations, Lionel Hampton New York Big Band, Frank Sinatra Jr. and toured nationally with Broadway musicals. He has performed as guest vocalist with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra and played a leading role in the Idaho Repertory Theatre production of “My Way, A Tribute To Frank Sinatra.”
Gary also spent several years performing at Walt Disney World and Busch Gardens Theme Parks. He has played the club circuit throughout the U.S. and Canada and opened for concert performances by Three Dog Night, Weird Al Yankovic, Rita Coolidge and Gary Puckett.
And by all accounts he's also very, very funny.
Phil Lynch - guitar, voice, hip shoes
Phil earned his Bachelor in Music at California State University, Long Beach, and worked as a full-time musician throughtout Southern California for many years before coming to Walla Walla to teach music at Whitman College and Walla Walla Catholic Schools in 2003. He's played in all kinds of bands, from original coffeehouse bands to rock to blues to jazz. Phil is truly a versatile musician who sings as well as he plays - and never disappoints. He especially loves American roots music, rock & roll, rockabilly, blues and swing.
Once
you hear him and see this Crocodile's chops, you're not likely to forget
this talented musician.
Spencer Martin - drums, general coolness
Spencer is Head of Percussion Studies at Whitman College in Walla Walla. Before arriving at Whitman, Spencer taught three years at the University of Idaho where he directed the Vandal Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Athletic "Pep" Bands, Percussion Techniques, Percussion Ensemble, and Dancers Drummers and Dreamers Ensemble.
On call with Crystal and Carnival Cruise Lines in Miami, Florida, Spencer has traveled to over 30 countries as a professional drummer, backing up such artists as Claudio Roditi, Donald O'Conner, John Davidson, and Maureen McGovern. He has also served as principal percussionist in both the Idaho Falls and Walla Walla Symphony Orchestras.
Spencer holds the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Idaho. He has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
He's the masterful Crocodile who keeps all the others right in time.
Interested in booking the group? The Crocodiles can be tailored to your needs - from four to seven musicians.