The Writers:

Janet Montalbo - Janet is a vocalist with a 3 ½ Octave Range. Singing professionally since the age of 22. Classically trained at Jersey City State College Music Program, Privately coached by JEAN CAROLINE (a singer with the Metropolitan Opera). Her musical influences include a variety of styles, such as, Jazz, Classical, Country, Rock, Pop and R&B. She has opened for such acts as Ronni Specter and The Little River Band at venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD. Also performed at The Space in Westbury, NY and My Father's Place in Roslyn, NY. Janet has released 2 CDs entitled "OPEN MIND" as a soloist singer songwriter and "COLOR THIS MOMENT" as part of the singer songwriter duo "Chic n Martini". Presently performing in the NY Metropolitan area with "The Other Shoe", "FM" (Steely Dan Tribute), "The 60's Invasion" and "Chic n Martini".

Judy Stakee - Judy Stakee, though has spent much of her career guiding others, she is now bringing her own songwriting skills as a top-liner to this team. A legendary music publisher, songwriting mentor, author and speaker, she is responsible for signing and developing many of todays most acclaimed artists and songwriters: from Sheryl Crow, Katy Perry, Joy Williams and Jewel to Julian Bunetta and John Shanks.
Now, Judy uses her 40+ years industry knowledge to guide and mentor the next generation of artists and songwriters, who are early in their careers. She runs her own artist development company out of Los Angeles, and puts on transformational songwriting retreats each year to share her holistic methodology with songwriters from around the world. https://judystakee.com

Tony Montalbo - Bassist (acoustic and electric),violinist and recording engineer. He received his Music Theory and Performance degree at The Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College. He commands a wide range of playing styles including jazz, rock, country, americana, classical and r&b. He has recorded or performed with artists such as Buddy Rich, Toni Braxton, Ben E. King, Domingo Samudio (Sam The Sham), Sister Sledge, Gloria Gaynor, Bobby Rydell, Fabian, The Marvelettes, Frankie Avalon, The Tokens, The Chantels to name a few. Tony was also active in music production as a mixing and mastering engineer for AvidRecords. He is currently active in recording and live performance, working with Chic n Martini and The Other Shoe in the NYC metropolitan area.
Tony's Television and Film Appearances:
Jay Leno, "The Tonight Show", Tracy Ulman, "Takes On Manhattan", "IT Could Happen To You" with Nicholas Cage and Bridgett Fonda, Coca Cola Big T.V. "Backstage at the Super Bowl", Backstage at the World Cup" Hosted by Dennis Hopper and Pat O'Brian, "Sabrina" with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond, "The Associate" with Whoopi Goldberg, "The Mirror Has Two Faces" with Barbara Streisand and Jeff Bridges.

Phil Grande - Guitarist, Bass, Vocals, Songwriter
July 22, 1956 - April 28, 2019. Born in Brooklyn NY, Phil, a self-taught guitarist, began playing at the age of 7, and performed his first professional paid gig at age 11. A wide variety of musical influences thru his early years include, The Ventures, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the entire British Invasion, to Motown, R & B, Jazz and a little Classical. Most prevalent in his style is pure Blues, which to Phil, is the gateway and cornerstone to Rock and all other contemporary pop music styles. Phil's versatility is deeply rooted by the old blues masters, though he is a firm believer of playing outside the box. Expressive and emotional, sensitive and powerful, Phil enjoys the challenge of incorporating his many influences both in the studio and in his live performance, thus creating a style of his own. Those who know him, recognize him on records and radio.
Credits Include: NYC session guitarists hired for commercial jingles, television show themes, and can be heard on several movie soundtracks, including "Harry and the Hendersons", "The Bodyguard", "Benny & Joon", "Innocent Man", "Rocky V", "Down and Out in Beverly Hills", to name a few.
Phil has appeared numerous times on The Tonight Show (2 times with Johnny Carson, 1 time with Jay Leno) as guitarist in The Joe Cocker Band. He has performed 3 times on David Letterman with Ellen Foley and Joe Cocker, The Arsenio Hall Show, Nickelodeon (Performing a Sean Baker song) and dozens of other TV shows throughout Europe with The Joe Cocker Band.
Albums Include: 6 gold and platinum albums with Joe Cocker from 1987 thru 1992. (Capitol/EMI), Michael Monroe – 2 gold albums (Polygram/Mercury), Blue Oyster Cult – Club Ninja, Ellen Foley – Another Breath, (Cleveland International), Dan Hartman – Lost White Boy (MCA), Belinda Carlisle (Chrysalis Records), Gary US Bonds, and many more…….
Career Highlights: The concert on the day of the fall of the Berlin Wall in Berlin 1989, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards at Radio City Music Hall honoring Ray Charles (1990), The Pink Pop Festival in Rotterdam, Holland. 140,000 people. Acts included Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, Status Quo, Madison Square Garden with Joe Cocker, 1990, Power and Passion Tour with Joe Cocker and Stevie Ray Vaughan, 6 world tours with Joe Cocker
Other: Tour with Patty Smythe and Scandal (1984), Concerts with John Cafferty 2016 and D A Foster
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philguitar5

Paul Errico - Performer, Piano, Keyboards, Accordion, Sessions Player
He began playing accordion at the age of 9 and in three years’ time was playing alongside his music teacher at private events. His natural passion for music was unstoppable and continued his music studies with various private teachers. In the mid-sixties he started playing organ and piano and by age 16 was an accomplished player in local pop/rock bands and solo performances earning money playing private events.
As a junior in high school he was the solo pianist/arranger/producer for the senior production of “Damn Yankees” enhancing his musical skills. When he was 18 years old, he moved to Verona, Italy with his parents and re-discovered his Italian heritage and to further his music studies. He attended the conservatory of Parma for one year studying music theory with renowned professors. In between studies he hooked up with local musicians playing clubs in the resort Lake Garda region outside Verona earning some cash. That Italian experience fulfilled his musical and cultural appetite but realized that back in the USA was the place where he would be most happy playing and performing with musicians he was familiar with.
-From 1979-2015 he performed, toured and recorded numerous albums with singer songwriter Steve Forbert. They headlined and opened for The Kinks, Heart, Nicolette Larson, Little Feet, Kenny Loggins, Pure Prairie League, David Byrne, Roger McGuinn, NRBQ, Joan Armatrading, Richie Havens, Crystal Gale.
-Appeared in British TV show “Old Grey Whistle Test”, French, German TV specials.
-Performed in the TV show “Fridays”
-Performed numerus concerts with Laverne Baker, Linda Hopkins, Ruth Brown, Savion Glover, Jimmy Scott
-Appeared in MTV videos, Midnight Special, Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert
-Played accordion as character “Lawrence” in the comedy TV show “Kate and Allie”
-Appeared in “Meet the Parents”, “Mickey Blue Eyes”
-Performed for Queen Elizabeth’s 60th birthday bash, Prince Edward’s 21st birthday, Prince Philip’s birthday and Andy and Fergie’s wedding.
-Presently plays and records with numerous rock, jazz, folk, ethnic bands.

Sean Baker - Guitarist, Vocals, Songwriter
One evening in the early 1980's, songwriter Sean Baker walked into a club on New York's Upper East Side. He was looking for a group of musicians to work with on his tunes and playing that night were both Phil Grande and Tony Montalbo. Both Phil and Tony were making their living as sought after session musicians in NYC. From this chance encounter a long time friendship and songwriting partnership was formed between Phil and Sean.
Phil Grande went on the road for years with Joe Cocker but when he returned to NYC, Sean and Phil would write. Both had business outside of their songwriting partnership so they simply stored their material for a future project.
In 2004 Phil and Sean started meeting every Monday night at the studio of their good friend Bill Firehock. They started to record their tunes and bring into the studio some of the finest musicians in New York. They brought in Grammy Award winners Shawn Murray and Bob Stander. Tony Montalbo brought in his wife Janet to sing. Janet Montalbo brought Maag Stanley to share vocals. Phil called up his old bandmates Tru Doty and Matt Miller for recording. And best of all, Phil and Sean wrote a tune that had a section for a young rapper to contribute to. They were blessed to be introduced to Queens' native, Dani Blair. Dani has been a writing partner since being introduced to the group.
Baker8 was born from these weekly recording sessions. All members of the band are songwriters and it is our pleasure and joy to be able to reproduce our tunes for you with such an incredible group of musicians.