Frank Singer
Composition and Guitar
Frank
Singer graduated magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music and
received that school’s Richard Levy Award for Composition in 1980.
He has privately studied guitar and piano with Charlie Banacos and
performed as featured soloist and sideman with Cab Calloway, Jack Jones,
Jackie Eagle, Vanessa Williams, Roger and Roger, George Schwartz (former
trumpeter with Artie Shaw), and Eddie Fischer, as well as playing with
function bands for over ten years in the Boston area. In addition to
guitar, Frank also plays bass guitar, piano, drums, voice and saxophone. A
commissioned composer, he teaches music in the Erie area and Online. Frank was
also one of three finalists (World Music Category) in the John Lennon
Songwriting Contest of 1999.
In addition to all of the Cat's A Bear Albums,
Frank plays on
One Papermoon Eve,
And To All... (JD Jazz Holiday
Album),
Live At Scullys
(Cat's A Bear plays JD Blues),
Generations Sting Quartet,
Cat Lines
and all of the
JD
and the Sons of Rhythm Albums.
[
Frank Singer Website: www.franksinger.com
]
[
Online Teaching Site:
Online Lessons With Frank.com]
Performed with Guest Artists:
Richie Cole, Larry Coryell, Tony Monaco, Claire Daly, Pete Levin, Lew Stelute, Dwight Adams, Eddie Bacchus Jr., Dave Schiavone, Bruce Johnstone, Valerie Gillespie, Bobby Miletello, Joshua Breakstone, Dominick Farinici, Carmen Initore, Cecil Ruckers, Pete Mills, Delano "Vulcano" Choy, Greg Abate, Jay Ashby, Cheryl Hodge, Frank Dibussilo
Joe Dorris
Percussion and Vocals
Joe
Dorris , Cat's a Bear's drummer, percussionist and vocalist, formed "The Dorris
Brothers Band" in 1970 and performed exclusively in the Erie
area. To pursue drum studies with Gary Chafee, he relocated to
Boston where he played with
such performers as George Schwartz, Dave Zox Trio with Ted Casher, the
renowned Senegalese band Ibrahema, and big band shows
featuring Cab Calloway, Vanessa Williams and Jackie Eagle, among others. Joe
worked in the High Society circuit throughout New England. His
recording experience includes performing and arranging for The Editors,
Billy Walsh, Willy Eger, Tony James, Sharon DiFranzo, Jake and Jean, Tito
and various commercial recording projects.
In addition to all of the Cat's A Bear Albums,
Joe plays on
And To All... (JD Jazz Holiday
Album),
Live At Scullys
(Cat's A Bear plays JD Blues),
and two of the
JD
and the Sons of Rhythm Albums,
Colors Of Tyme
and
Moving Through The Elements.
Performed with Guest Artists:
Richie Cole, Jay Ashby, Tony Monaco, Dwight Adams, Greg Abate, Claire Daly, Pete Levin, Bobby Miletello, Joshua Breakstone, Larry Coryell, Bruce Johnstone, Valerie Gillespie, Sean Jones, Steve Hobbs, John Eckert, Virginia Mayhew, Dominick Farinici, Cheryl Hodge, Frank Dibussilo, Adam Niewood, Rodger Humphries, Joe Harris, Ralph Lalama, Kenny Blake, Pete McCann, Pete Mills, Joe Grandison
Joe Frisina
Bass
Meadville
musician and Cats a Bear Bassist Joe Frisina is also known for his guitar work with
Too Big Power, an original rock band featuring Frank Singer on Bass and Jayson Hopkins on Drums.
Joe also plays with The Dave Callaghan Trio, performs guitar duets with Frank Singer,
as well as Dave Callaghan, and performs with his new classic rock cover band,
The Happy Hours. While at Penn State University Joe began his study of jazz performance
and improvisation under legendary James Brown saxophonist, Dan Yoder.
Joe owns and operates Too Big Studios where he does recordings for radio, TV and local artists.
Joe is currently studying guitar, bass and music theory with Frank Singer.
Joe plays on
Outdoor Cats 2021: 814 Day EP'
Outdoor Cats 2019,
Outdoor Cats 2013 +
and
21st Century Cats.
Joe also plays on two of the
JD
and the Sons of Rhythm Albums,
Beyond Attention
and
Crossing Oceans of Time.
[Too Big Power:
www.toobigpower.com ]
Tito
Congas and Percussion
The
mystical magical mentor, Tito (a.k.a. Nick, Knick) travels far and wide,
to and from points unknown. One day he is here, playing his music with
Cat's A Bear, and the next he is gone - captured by another vortex and
whisked away to new adventures. Is he a secret operative? Or perhaps he's
a strange kind of superhero, using his unique musical skills and other
special talents to change the world one person at a time. No one really
knows. We can only speculate, but one thing is for sure. He plays a mean
cowbell!
Tito plays on
Outdoor Cats 2013 +,
21st Century Cats,
Outdoor Cats 2007,
Takes From The Lab EP,
Live at Forward Hall,
Basil By The Bay,
90s Lives of the Cats
and
The Tito Experience.
Tito also plays on
two of the
JD
and the Sons of Rhythm Albums,
Colors Of Tyme
and
Moving Through The Elements.
GUESTS of the CATS
The following musicians have appeared with Cat's A Bear.
Tony Stefanelli
Bass
Tony
Stefanelli, Cat's a Bear’s bass player from 1991-2011, counts
Jimmy Manucci and Basil Ronzitti among his first teachers.
He commuted to New York City for several years to pursue studies with Dave
Holland after winning a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Tony relocated to Detroit, where he performed with several bands including
Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones.
Locally, Stefanelli has performed with such bands as Wave, Angel
Fire, Quintessence, J.D. Blues and Tito.
Tony plays on
21st Century Cats,
Outdoor Cats 2007,
Takes From The Lab EP,
Live at Forward Hall,
Basil By The Bay,
Live At The Rex EP 2003,
The Cycling Troll Sessions,
Lost And Found,
Live At The Annex,
90s Lives of the Cats
and
The Tito Experience,
as well as
Live At Scullys
(Cat's A Bear plays JD Blues).
Tony also plays on
eleven of the
JD
and the Sons of Rhythm Albums,
Colors Of Tyme,
Near Journey's End,
Astral Worlds,
Beyond Attention,
Crossing Oceans Of Time,
Live At Forward Hall,
Imagination Doctors,
Smoke Shadows,
Quantum Events,
Music
From Another Planet
and
Primate Gestures.
[ World's best chocolate
www.romolochocolates.com ]
Phil Papotnik
Saxophone
Phil Papotnik played soprano and
tenor saxophone and clarinet with Cat's a Bear from 1991 to 2017 and is known as one of Erie's premier
saxophonists. He is also known as the founder of Erie’s Raven Sound.
In 1969, Phil and his brother started "Phillippe," a pop-fusion
band performing originals. He has appeared with Marty O’Connor and Dave Blates, the Erie
Philharmonic, and performed with several of the tri-state rock and jazz
bands including Quintessence, J.D. Blues and Tito. Phil has studied
with Basil Ronzitti, Carl Adams and Frank Singer.
Phil plays on
Outdoor Cats 2013 +,
21st Century Cats,
Outdoor Cats 2007,
Takes From The Lab EP,
Basil By The Bay,
Live At The Rex EP 2003,
The Cycling Troll Sessions,
Lost And Found,
Live At The Annex,
90s Lives of the Cats
and
The Tito Experience.
Phil also plays on
six of the
JD
and the Sons of Rhythm Albums,
Colors Of Tyme,
Near Journey's End,
Astral Worlds,
Moving Through The Elements,
Beyond Attention
and
Crossing Oceans Of Time.
[
Visit Phil's Raven Sound website at www.ravensound.com
]
Basil Ronzitti
Keyboard
Basil
Ronzitti was one of Erie’s most respected pianists and teachers, having
taught many musical "greats" including famous pianist and
author John Novello who has produced albums by Donna Summer and Taste of
Honey, and who currently leads the jazz fusion sensation Niacin.
As Cat's A Bear's principle
keyboard player, Ronzitti spiced their compositions with his own style.
Basil died in 2020. His incredible musicianship and humanity will be missed.
Basil is the featured pianist on
Basil By The Bay
and One Papermoon Eve.
Cheryl Hodge
Voice and Piano
Cheryl
Hodge pays an occasional visit to the Midwestern Great Lakes Region from the
west coast of B.C., Canada. Her incredible vocal stylings and her fluent
piano playing bring a unique dimension to Cat's A Bear, as do her original
compositions. Her most recent CD, "Strings, Necks and C(h)ords", features
original and eclectic jazz. Her first jazz C.D., entitled "Tonight I'm
Wearing Basic Black", still receives airplay across Canada and the U.S.. As
a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, she taught vocals to such well
known performers as Paula Cole, Lavinia Hudson, and Kyle Gordon. Since then,
she has recorded her vocals on several labels; including Warner Brothers and
Atco Records Raindogs '90 release. She has done hundreds of commercials and
several movie releases.
Anthony Stefanelli: Percussionist on The Tito Experience
Bob Dorris: Bassist on The Euphoria Sessions, Live in '85, Cats On The Radio, Cats On The Radio 2 and Cat Tracks EP.
Russ Hoffman: Keyboardist on The Euphoria Sessions, Live in '85 and Cat Tracks EP
Jim Merkin: Keyboardist on The Euphoria Sessions
David Lindsey: Composer of La Lagartija. Trombonist and Euphonium-ist on The Euphoria Sessions (Honorable Mention: Finger Snaps)
Simon Ritt: Finger Snaps on The Euphoria Sessions
Larry Maksin: Cowbell on Live in '85, Drums on Monkey Wrench, Drums and Co-Composition on Siberian Stomp, both from Cat Lines. Drummer with Player's Lounge
Irv Ziskind: Cat's A Bear's first Bass player, who also played with Player's Lounge. Bassist on Monkey Wrench from Cat Lines
Jeri DiMarco: Cat's A Bear's first Keyboard player. No current recordings available.
©2002 -
Cat's A Bear | Naked Kitty Productions |
frank@franksinger.com