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Band and Members Biographies |
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- Rob Haley-Babson -
Larry Peterson - Sandy Pardee
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Winners of the Road
to |
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International
Blues Talent Competition Finalists, Voted one of the country’s 150 best Wedding Bands in 2005
and 2006 by Modern Bride Magazine! |
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The Delta Knights Band |
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Since our formation in 1996, the strengths of The Delta Knights Band have been diversity and the ability and willingness to adapt. We are diverse because we excel in rhythm and blues, classic rock, blues and swing and music from about 1940 to 2003! We adapt because one of our founding principles was flexibility. Our goal has always been to please our clients and our audience (and keep the dance floor full). We accomplish this feat by being flexible enough to tailor our program to suit the needs of the event (and we have played hundreds), whether it’s a wedding, anniversary, school dance, nightclub, cruise ship, swing dance... (Get the idea?). We now have a new demo to offer, featuring our 2-piece horn section, the Hard Hundred Horns. |
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For example, if you hire us for a wedding, we won’t handle this the same as a typical club date. We could do this: 1) Play instrumental jazz standards or pre-recorded music during cocktails and/or dinner. 2) Play a special song for your First Dance. 3) Play two, three or four hours of great dance music to cap off your very special day. 4) Of course, we can make introductions/announcements and play pre-recorded music on our breaks to avoid "dead time." 5) We can add saxophone or trombone (or both!) to give the band an even fuller sound. Thus, The Delta Knights trio can become a quintet. You choose! |
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Whatever the event, The Delta Knights Band will strive to make your event as memorable and personal as you want to make it! |
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The Delta
Knights are comprised of some of
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Rob Haley-Babson is the founder / bandleader / front-person / M.C. of the Delta Knights. He is also the band's lead vocalist, lead guitarist and arranger. Rob is always honing his chops and vocal repertoire, ever eager to please his audience. Although swing, rhythm and blues, blues, and classic rock are his preferences, Rob never rules out anything if it's good. |
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Rob has been in show
business since elementary school. As a musician, he has performed throughout |
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Rob has performed at local and international competitions, swing dances, fairs, festivals, weddings, anniversaries, retirement parties, corporate functions, resorts, barbecues, camps, a military base, gospel revivals, on cruise boats, churches, as host of open mics, as opener for a national act, and at dozens of lounges, clubs and taverns. He has even performed in orchestras for Broadway Shows. |
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Rob has studied guitar privately with Mike Silvestri, Gary Richardson, and Tony Gabourey. He has studied voice with David Goulet and Debbie Scannell. |
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With more than forty years behind the kit and in his tenth year with The Delta Knights Band - drummer and vocalist Larry Peterson is truly a walking (and drumming) textbook of how it's supposed to be done. Few who meet Larry or hear him play forget the experience. He is, simply, one of the most accomplished drummers in the state. Groove is Larry's forte, making the band's engine fire on all cylinders. Over the past four or five years, Larry has begun to come into his own as a singer with the band as well. One listen to Larry's renditions of "What A Wonderful World," "Soul Man," "Dock Of The Bay," or "Summertime" will make you a believer! |
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Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, Larry played in touring show bands and circuses and Broadway shows before he was twenty. He moved to Maine in the '70s, quickly immersing himself in the music scene. |
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Larry continues to be an
in-demand session and freelance drummer. He has played with some of
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Bassist & Vocalist / M.C. Sandy Pardee, now in his ninth year with the band, was the missing link of The Delta Knights. Along with his talent, he brings a healthy sense of fun, diversity, professionalism and an effective stage wit. In 2000, Sandy came into his own as a "Knight," not only in his great strides as a musician, but by becoming a true team player. He has helped the band immensely by contributing time and skills in helping the business side of the band grow by helping redesign promo materials, photos and generating an e-mail list. The band owes Sandy a debt of gratitude. The band would not be what it is today without his contributions. |
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Before moving to Maine in the early '90s, Sandy played in several bands throughout the northeast, and among other accomplishments, released one of the area’s first independent CDs with his Boston band, The Gordons. He also expanded his varied skills by touring the country with national recording act Sonic Joyride as media specialist and videographer. In 2001, Sandy contributed to the "Box of Chocolates" CD by local recording artist John Stivers (released in 2002). Sandy's latest "non-Knight" project was part of a volunteer CD project with the Maine Youth Center (released in '04), in which he co-wrote, played, arranged and recorded songs. |
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Saxophonist Darren Whitney has been playing on and off with The Delta Knights since 1999. It is always exciting when Mr. Whitney is on the gig! Since an early age, Darren has been inspired by numerous styles of music. Growing up and listening to the recordings of many musical greats such as Marvin Gaye, Charlie Parker, Poncho Sanchez and Sting, inspired Darren to start playing the saxophone. He discovered that the saxophone could be a vehicle to expressing the emotions inspired by these great artists. Because of his diverse taste in music he participated in every musical situation available to him, from top 40 bands and reggae to jazz and funk. |
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After high school, Darren had the opportunity to play in the world-renowned college big bands of North Texas State before returning to Maine to receive his BA in English Literature from the University of Southern Maine. In 1997 he had the pleasure of playing on Motor Booty Affair’s CD, “Can You Feel the Love,” which received airplay on MTV’s hit series Road Rules and Real World. Darren is on a constant mission to create music in any genre with exciting passionate musicians and always trying to deliver performances filled with the exuberance and warmth audiences and concert promoters expect. Darren has studied saxophone and music
theory with a wellspring of music educators, including Bill Street, Dan
Haerle, Scott Reeves, Bob Thompson, Joe Laflamme, Janet Reeves, Alex Johns,
James Riggs, George Garzone and Tim Sessions.
The recently 'Knighted' Jeff Marsanskis
adds his trombone sound and horn arrangements to make the Delta Knights a
quintet. Jeff was born in Jeff was classically trained in Says Jeff, "It is close to being
sinful! Getting together with the gentlemen of the Delta Knights, playing
some great music, seeing people have a great time and dance and then ending
up with a paycheck - Life is Good." |
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The Delta Knights |
Website Design: TJ Babson/Rob
Haley-Babson
Logo Design: Jason Eckhardt/Sandy Pardee
© 2008 The Delta Knights Band