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ABOUT THE ARTIST

LINDA FERRO considers herself blessed to have been raised in a very supportive musical family. Her dad was a Swing bandleader who played alto sax and clarinet, and her mom sang in community choruses and theater productions, and as a church soloist. (Childhood friends referred to her home as “the music house.”) It was no surprise that Linda ended up being on stage at her kindergarten graduation singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and playing bongos on a Calypso song! She began classical piano training at the age of 7, continued for eight years, and then began vocal training. Her first taste of a real stage to be when she sang “White Rabbit” with friends in a teen band at a school party. She was completely hooked on music from that point on.

As a young adult, Linda taught piano lessons to neighborhood children, played piano for a local ballet studio, and played, without music, all of her favorite popular songs for hours (mostly for herself!) She soon began to explore the world of legendary songwriters like Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell, and listen with amazement to jazz artists such as Dave Brubeck and Oscar Peterson, who kept her company while she studied for classes.

After graduating with Distinction (studies in Linguistics and Writing) from Sonoma State University in California, she joined the Sonoma Valley Chorale, learning about vocal harmonies (very helpful later in life when she needed to record background vocals!). During this time, Linda’s life-long love of writing songs began, and eventually, she began playing piano and singing at solo piano bar gigs and private events in the North Bay Area. This was a time for developing her original material and selecting favorite cover tunes to include in her repertoire, and to strengthen her performance skills. Later, she began her band adventures as a lead vocalist/keyboardist for local Rock and Blues bands Catalyst, My Other Car, Blue Blazes, and more recently completing a fun and rewarding three-year journey with UltraSound. She enjoys sitting in with musician colleagues (like the Blues Defenders and Gator Beat) and currently has selected guest appearances with Shed Your Blues in Sonoma County, and her brother Rob’s band, North of Disorder, in the Sacramento area.

Linda is extremely passionate about writing, singing and songwriting, and has enjoyed a broad spectrum of creative activities. Favorite projects include:

• Developing and implementing an elementary school vocal music program including community performances, as a Grant Recipient of the California Arts Council “Artist in the Schools” program;
• Planning and hosting a short special-feature program, “Songwriter’s Showcase” for local TV50 television station;
• Becoming Musical Director, pianist, and vocal coach for “The Marquee Theater” group and Camp Rose Players;
• Interviewing, singing with, and writing about multi-talented Maya Angelou;
• Performing on TV50’s live broadcast music Telethon fundraiser event;
• Composing and performing live, the complete musical score for Santa Rosa High School’s ArtQuest’s production of “Dracula;”
• Writing short special feature articles for Sonoma County’s Upbeat Times;
• Producing and performing in two unique concerts in Santa Rosa -“Top Harps,” (Blues harmonica) and “Blues Divas,” at a local performing arts center.

From February 2006 until July 2007, Linda has been enthusiastically recording, co-producing and mixing a debut solo CD, \"Remember This\" at Prairie Sun Recording Studio in Cotati, California with Producer Mark “Mooka” Rennick (scheduled for release on August 19th, 2007). This expansive project includes an eclectic body of sixteen original songs and one cover tune, focusing on Linda’s vocals, piano and synthesizer work - a multi-genre musical odyssey (Blues and Jazz-infused tunes, rockers, classy ballads, and art-pieces), with supporting performances by amazing Bay Area studio artists and fine local musicians.

At last, THE LINDA FERRO BAND is fully aged to perfection and available for booking at: linferro@sonic.net.
This new adventure allows her to focus on her original material and spread her joyous vibe.

BAND MAKEUP: Linda Ferro - songwriter/keyboards/vocals
Ken Braziel - bass/vocals
Jane Fosgreen - sax/vocals
Chris Badger - guitar
Brian Elliott - drums
Mal Tornay - congas/vocals

Linda is currently assisting a former Sonoma County Poety Laureate editing a poetry collection, and is also assisting a local junior high school program with a music project.

When not working on music projects, Linda enjoys reading, family activities, tending to plants and flowers at her home on Sonoma Mountain, and will soon resume her creative writing projects, including a children’s alphabet book, and a poetry collection.