VAL FUENTES - DRUMS/VOCALS

Val (Wikipedia) began his musical career playing the blues clubs around Chicago where he grew up. After making his way to the West Coast he quickly became one of the founding members of the legendary San Francisco rock band Its A Beautiful Day The band scored a gold record with their first album, due largely the popularity of the song “White Bird”. It’s A Beautiful Day toured extensively in the US and Europe including gigs at the Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall. He also has performed with Bay area groups Shadowfax, Fat Chance, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Chris Rowan (of The Rowan Brothers), and Linda Imperial Band. Val is the only surviving It's A Beautiful Day member that performed on all of the It's A Beautiful Day recordings.
 

Val's Discography

 

MIKE PRICHARD - PERCUSSION

Originally from Long Island, New York, Michael Prichard got his musical start early singing in a neighborhood Doo Woop  group, The Four Aces. He soon found his way to the trumpet and eventually his instrument of choice: the Drums. Prichard moved to Bay Area in the late Sixties, majored in Music at College of Marin and studied Drumset with local legend, Chuck Brown. He then went off to the University of West Florida to continue Music Studies. He eventually got a job as a Disc Jockey on WNVY “Progressive Country” Radio where he started meeting many touring musicians.
      It wasn’t long before he was on the road playing Drumset with various Rock and Country gigs (Johnny Paycheck, Nat Stuckey, and Gene Watson). In 1980, Prichard was invited back to California to join a band with a pending contract, and study with Tom Donlinger and Pete Magadini. He played the local club circuit and did “the road thing” throughout the 80’s and 90’s. He recently became fascinated by Afro-Cuban rhythms after hearing some old Chano Pazo, Pello el Afrokan, and Los Van Van records. He is currently working as a Percussionist with Local favorites: The Deadly Zins and Sixties icon, “It’s a Beautiful Day.” He also plays Drumset with rockers, Stagefright and Percussion in the Trio, Wall of Rhythm.

JEFF STEVENSON – PIANO & KEYBOARDS

Jeff started playing keyboards at the age of seven while living in Cape Town, South Africa and it became an immediate passion. Since then he’s played in everything from 18 piece Jazz Big Bands, Rock & Roll bands, Funk Bands and  small Jazz Trios.  He met Val Fuentes in 2006 and formed the 7 Zins band shortly after that. 

His influences include Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, John Medesky, Ivan Neville, Papa John Grows, The Meters, Booker T, Robert Walter, and several other funky players.  He carts his Leslie speaker for his organ everywhere he plays as he refuses to settle for inferior sounding retro instruments. He's also the President/CEO of Provino in Santa Rosa.

 

ROB CUNNINGHAM - GUITAR, VOCALS

Rob received his B.A. in music in 1981 from SSU; Guitarist for--The Ecclectics 1981-1983; The Simplistics, 1982-1985; Wild Life, 1985-1988; Pink Section1988-1989; Roxy, 1989-1990;Bang Theory,1990; Hidden Pictures, 1990-1992; Muddy Rivers Revue, 1998-2006; Orjasm, 2005-2007; Deadly Zins2007.  Rob has backed up for The Coasters, The Drifters, The Diamonds and Al Wilson. I have opened up for Tommy Tutone, The Tubes, Foghat, Maria Muldare and Eric Martin.  He has performed thousands of gigs from Phoenix to Oregon, and recorded for numerous jazz, blues and rock projects, including his own.  His influences range from the Beatles, Led Zepplin, Frank Zappa , Yes, And John McGlaughin to Miles Davis, John Coletrane, Wes Montgomery, Debussey, Bach, Stravinskey, Will Johnson, Dastur, etc,....too many to name.

Through good times and rough times, music pulls us through & together. Harmony, Peace and Love to all.

JIM STICE - GUITAR, VOCALS

A few chords shown to him by a sister and a 13th birthday offer of guitar lessons set Jim off on a lifelong path of musical exploration. “ it’s about making your sound, putting your stamp on it.; It’s a chase but that’s the thrill. Every time I pick up a guitar I’m looking for it”. Jim joined his first band at 15 and 38 years later is still following that muse.

Originally from Oakland , Jim moved to Sonoma County 8 years ago and hooked up with local musicians lending his guitar and vocals to many projects including the Trish Perry band, R&R Theory, Voodoo Blue, Phenix with vocalist Robin Beardini , and fiddle wiz Chris Rovetti

RON HAWKINS - ALTO SAX, TENOR SAX, VOCALS

Since studying under the late great Jim Pepper in the ‘70’s, saxophonist and wind synthesist Ron Hawkins has been a presence on the local blues and R&B scene.  It’s easy to hear the soulful influences of such sax men as Wilton Felder, Grover Washington, Jr., David Sanborn, and Richard Elliot, yet forged into a sound that is his very own.  He has performed both as a solo lead and in horn sections, with such groups as The Ed Parrish Rhythm & Blues Revue,  People Tree, The Johnsons, and Groovus.

 

MARK CHOLE - BASS