Original Artwork by Everett Spruill
B.One
Guitar and Band Leader – Rob Goode
Keyboards – Dan Frye
Drums – Mike Logullo
Percussion – Vernon Suber
Bass – John Chacara
Saxophones – Erly Thornton
Once upon a time around 2001 I was approached by a drummer by the name of Darnell Kelly. He told me about this group that was forming that needed a sax player and was auditioning horns. I went and fell in love with the band and the music. The band had no title at the time but as we became a family we decided upon the name of B.One. Pretty self explanatory as we all performed our different instruments as one cohesive unit.
This band became the most fun piece of music I had done for a while and actually it ranks very highly as one of the best things I have been a part of. B.One released its first CD, The Good Life in 2001 before playing a single gig in public! That was very unorthodox but because of it we became an instant sensation in the Smooth Jazz community in the Central Florida area.
I remember taking practice tapes over to WLOQ Radio Personality Yvonne Coleman’s home and asking for her opinion. When she thought we were ready she got us in touch with Patricia James of the same station and we one as a 1st gig a prestigious spot for Live After 5 at the Blackfin restaurant in Winter Park an artsy suburb of Orlando. We blew the roof off the place and that was the start.
After many shows and festivals we started working on our 2nd CD and recorded it in 2003. Our CDs had the feel of a live performance and we re-recorded some of our most popular cuts from the 1st CD with the live performance tweaks we had incorporated. We also branched out and pulled in other artists for collaboration. Most notably a poet and singer named Jibreel was on one of our most daring new cuts “See Me” that was performed live at the House of Blues while opening for Spyro Gyra. Other artists were brought in by Rob Good and are on the cuts “Be With You” and “Chocolate Vanilla Swirl” and I wish I could remember there names.
In fact it sounds bad but it has been 10 years and without the sheet music, I don’t remember the names of 4 of the 14 songs on the project though I can still play them!
The band broke up before we could release the project and it has sat on our shelves for a decade being pulled out by each of us when we wanted to reminisce.
But here finally is the project. Not for sale but for listening on this web site and I am sure on the other band members pages. For the fans who first heard me as a member of this band and are still following me. This is for you. For everyone else, hang out on the music sidebar and get to know B.One!
Erly
