Strange Brew Past Members
Dan Olender (Feb 2007 - July 2008)
Dan Olender - Bass Guitar/Vocals Dan is a cool bass player and all around nice guy. Dan will be missed, he was a great addition to the band. Dan has chosen to resrurect his old band, or at least some of it. No doubt - you'll be seeing more of Dan Olender in the near future. We wish Dan the best of luck!
Steve Hicks - Bass Guitar/Vocals (July 2008 - June 2009)
Music is Steve's sanctuary,.. He's gotta play...
He formally took up music after he got out of the army,... it became an obsession and he just had to play,..and Iaving played about everything from classical to classic rock and everything in between... Steve had the opportunity to play in a 17 piece big band right after college for about 2 years and then spent the next 2 years on the road playing Idaho and Nevada playing in clubs and polishing his craft...
Back in Kansas City where Steve was born and raised, you had to have the ability to play just about every style of music with a big emphasis on jazz and blues... so maybe that's where his "roots" are! When Steve was about 3 years old, he lived above a night club and the stage was right under his bedroom, so having a little music in his soul was an early childhood experience.
Ralph Martinez - Drums (March 2007 - July 2009)
Ralph Martinez - Drums
Ralph's well-rounded ability to keep a steady beat and timing is impeccable. Ralph began playing music when he was 10 years old helping his dad's band playing Tejano Music and Oldies. He also would go to his grandparents church and play with their church band when he was not gigging. Ralph loves all kinds of music but his love is Tejano, Country, Funk, Oldies, and Motown.
Ralph father is his biggest influence in playing music since he was one of the best musicians in his circle of style of music and people to this day tell Ralph when they find out I'm his son tell him how they admired him and his band! Love You Dad!! Other influences include Tower of Power, Lee Souza(my mentor), Ruben Ramos, Ramon Ayala, No Doubt, 311, James Brown, Rick James, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire. Seeing people enjoying themselves and dancing when I'm playing a gig.
Ralph is a family guy with a lovely wife and 2 beautiful children Brooklyn (4) & Ryan (1). Ralph loves to play softball in his spare time ans is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Amaral & Associates and Ralph runs an Online Traffic School with my wife called
www.erasemyticketquicker.com
Lee Cressio - Drums (July 2009 - Arpril 2010)
Lee "Sticks" Cressio: Drummer/Vocal
Lee comes to the band with a wealth of professional experience. Lee has been playing drums since he was 12 years old and has been fortunate to be in bands that have opened for a number of touring national acts including The Doobie Brothers, Montrose, Jefferson Starship, Huey Lewis and the News, and Blue Oyster Cult. Lee also was a member of the Pat Travers Band, a very successful '70's rocker, playing drums for him on his west coast tours. Lee has always loved the music of the '60's.