Mark Rivera and Friends - the force behind Billy Joel, Ringo Starr and more

Mark Rivera and friends, an evening with the force behind Billy Joel, Ringo Starr, Hall and Oates, Foreigner, and John Lennon. His All Star band includes - Jon Cobert - Keys, Denny McDermott - Drums - Ira Siegel - Guitar Lincoln Schleifer - Bass Guitar, Sherryl Marshall - Vocals

About the band -

MARK RIVERA: Billy Joel’s saxophonist for the last 36 years, Rivera has performed before millions of fans with a ‘who’s who’ of music’s elite, including John Lennon, Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Don Henley, Tony Bennett, Rivera worked with Robert John “Mutt” Lange, who produced the classic Foreigner 4 and introduced Mark to Mick Jones and Lou Gramm who brought him into the band.

He has worked with Hall & Oates and Peter Gabriel on the classic track Sledgehammer. As Ringo Starr’s Musical Director for the last 24 years he’s worked with such music legends as Jack Bruce (Cream), Peter Frampton, Billy Preston, John Entwisted (The Who), Gary Brooker (Procom Harem), Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Colin Hay (Men At Work), Simon Kirke (Free), Rod Argent (The Zombies) Greg Lake (E.L.P), Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople), Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Greg Rolie (Santana), Todd Rundgren and Steve Lukather (Toto). In 2010, longtime friend Joe Walsh asked Mark to put a band together in celebration of Ringo Starr’s 70th Birthday at Radio City Music Hall — a band featuring one Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, was joined at the finale by a second, Ringo himself, as Mark put it, “It was like watching the dream come full circle.” In 2007, Mark was asked to lead a fantastic line-up of guests gathered at the Roundhouse in London to pay tribute to the late Jim Capaldi of Traffic and to raise money for his children’s charity The Landmark Trust. “It was a Joy working with Traffic colleague Steve Winwood, Pete Townshend of The Who, Jon Lord of Deep Purple and many more of my British Idols.” As well as being passionate about his music, Mark cares deeply about giving back. He takes great pride being on the Board of Directors for Give An Hour (helping returning veterans with PTSD) as well as joining Scott Shannon CBSFM at The Blytehdale Children’s Hospital and most recently working with The Summit Speech School . It’s just his way of “never forgetting where you come from.” 

JON COBERT: Jon is a studio musician, composer, arranger, songwriter, vocalist, and producer. He plays piano, organ, accordion, bass, guitar, and drums. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, got his music degree from N.Y.U., and now lives in Westchester. In 1975, he recorded with John Lennon, and his band, BOMF, was Lennon's back-up band on several TV shows and music videos. Jon can be seen in the movie “Imagine” as well as the John Lennon video collection on DVD. He also recorded and toured with Klaus Nomi, Laura Branigan, John Denver, Harry Chapin, Phyllis Hyman, Dion, Loudon Wainwright III, Chubby Checker, Linda Eder, Henry Gross, and others. Jon has been writing, recording, and touring with Tom Chapin since 1988, and has thus far received 5 Grammy nominations for producing his family recordings. Jon has also been writing for TV and radio, and his compositions include the ESPN Baseball Tonight theme, ESPN College Football Gameday theme, and many commercials, including Budweiser, Rolling Rock, Capital One, Pepperidge Farm, Wendy’s, Burger King, Dr. Pepper, and Entresto. His latest CD is entitled “He Had A Hat”.

DENNY MCDERMOTT: is a veteran drummer that has been on the NYC music scene for over 35 years. Denny has recorded and toured worldwide with artists such as Donald Fagen, Marc Cohn, Rosanne Cash, David Johansen and Graham Parker. Denny has recently had the honor of performing with the late great Levon Helm’s Ramble Band including Larry Campbell, and also performing with The Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams project.

IRA SIEGEL:  has been playing guitar professionally for over 45 years. The path has led down Broadway, the recording studio, the concert stage, and more. Ira has recorded with Whitney Houston, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Steve Winwood, Vanessa Williams, Madonna, the Bacon Brothers, Luther Vandross, Michael Bolton, Anita Baker, Ziggy Marley, Faith Hill, Judy Collins, Laura Nyro, and many more. Currently subbing on Broadway at Kinky Boots, Pippin and Beautiful, on tour with the Bacon Brothers band, and doing recording work in the studio and at the home studio via Pro Tools.

LINCOLN SCHLEIFER : Someme of the artists Lincoln Schleifer has recorded and performed with are: Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Phoebe Snow, Charles Brown, Warren Haynes, Shawn Colvin, Rosanne Cash, Levon Helm, Jorma Kaukonen, David Bromberg, David Johansen, Buddy Miller, Kinky Friedman, and Clarence Fountain, among others.

SHERRYL MARSHALL: is a New York singer who has worn many musical hats in her career. She has recorded or performed live with everyone from Gloria Gaynor, Leslie Gore, Darlene Love, Chubby Checker, to Peter Wolf, Southside Johnny, Johnny Rivers Lou Gramm of Foreigner to Black 47, Ru Paul, Al Kooper, Albert Collins to Joni Mitchell, Jane Siberry, Valerie Simpson, Ashford & Simpson, the Klezmatics and a host of others. She was a regular member of the Buster Poindexter show for ten years. She has been heard and seen on national television in Jingles and live broadcasts such as Conan O’Brien, Saturday Night Live, and the Today Show. She has done film voice overs (looping) on major motion pictures, including "Bonfire of the Vanities and "Mambo Kings". She has sung her original compositions with many different N. Y. bands over the years and her show "The life and times of Sherita Marshone the Argentine Bombshelter" was performed at the famous Bottom Line and the fabulous BAM cafe. She is presently working with Denis Leary as one of his 12 Steppers singing back up in his back up band The Enablers.