THE HARMONIOUS FIVE

"Vintage R&B"

website under construction, more to come soon!

Featuring: Ed Alstrom (guitar), Dave Keyes (piano),
Mark Berger (bass) Frank Pagano (drums)
...all singing, all the time!

"I have been singing Rhythm & Blues since 1962, so I think I know a little bit about it.
When you take four of the finest musicians I know, and put them together with some of my favorite songs
from my favorite period of Rhythm &Blues music, including one of my all time favorite groups, The Five Royales,
you've got a fan in me.
Ed Alstrom, Dave Keyes, Mark Berger, and Frank Pagano are four musicians who are masters of their
instruments. And their harmonies are flawless, both live and on this recording. Rhythm & Blues has grown
and evolved so much
since the late 40s, and musicians like these have been so instrumental in helping that to happen. I, for one, am
grateful that they are keeping the music of my youth alive.
I am completely impressed." - Bettye LaVette

"WANNA HEAR YOU SAY YEAH!" has been getting substantial airplay worldwide,
and has been in the middle of the AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION charts for a few months now.

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PICK UP A COPY OF THE NEW CD
"WANNA HEAR YOU SAY YEAH!"
at CDBABY, AMAZON, or iTUNES
(click the one you want to go straight there)

... OR AT OUR UPCOMING GIG:

Wednesday, August 22, 2012
MONTVILLE AMPHITHEATER
Behind Montville Library and Montville Twp. HS, Horseneck Rd., Montville, NJ
OUTDOORS (weather permitting - if not it's inside at the High School)!
AND FREE! Bring lawn chairs, towels, whatever...

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WHO: THE HARMONIOUS FIVE play and sing "Vintage R&B" from the late 1950s-early 60s. Their specialty is unearthing little-known
treasures - fun, groovy,and irresistible music, played and recorded as authentically as possible. The members are all veterans of the NY/NJ music scene,
and have appeared with artists ranging from Bruce Springsteen to Bo Diddley to Peter Allen to Leonard Bernstein. They all also have voluminous
Broadway show experience, which probably in no way applies to the music they are playing here.

WHY: Rhythm & Blues of the 1950s-early 1960s is a world unto itself, and a seemingly inexhaustible treasure trove of music that is raw, witty,
and outright groovy. The Harmonious Five's desire is to treat this music with the love it deserves and reproduce it as faithfully as we can.
We are trying to mine a particular sub-field of group vocal harmony, but also trying to bring to light some of the wittier and more obscure material
that not many people are aware of.

WHAT: The CD includes 17 songs. In hunting for repertoire, we found ourselves organically drawn to what we've come to call 'aborted dance craze'
tunes, like the Flares' "Truck and Trailer", the Delacardos' "Thing-A-Ma-Jig", and Andre Williams' "Greasy Chicken". The '5' Royales are in their own
category as one of the greatest groups ever in any genre, and are criminally unrecognized; three of Lowman Pauling's astounding tunes are in the mix here.
Also, songs originally done by the Coasters, Contours, Falcons, Clovers, Chris Kenner, and more.

WHERE: CONTACT ED ALSTROM - edalstrom@aol.com or www.edalstrom.com

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"WANNA HEAR YOU SAY YEAH!"
TRACK LIST:

1) The Real Thing (Lowman Pauling) 2:36
2) Down in the Alley (Jesse Stone) 2:26
3) Truck & Trailer (Aaron Collins, Jr.) 3:13
4) Go Ahead and Burn (Robert 'Bob' Moore) 2:40
5) Idol With The Golden Head (J. Leiber, M. Stoller) 2:26
6) Greasy Chicken (Andre Williams) 3:03
7) Miss Sticks (Raymond Lewis, Naomi Neville) 2:57
8) Move Mr. Man (R. Nichols, B. Gordy, Jr.) 2:20
9) Johnny Little (Chris Kenner) 4:10
10) Thing-A-Ma-Jig (Christopher Harris Jr.) 2:58
11) Put A Chain On It (Andre Williams) 3:17
12) I Got To Learn To Mambo (S. Wyche, J. Bennett) 2:50
13) Miss Sticks Again (R. Lewis, N. Neville) 2:49
14) Don't Be Ashamed (Lowman Pauling) 2:52
15) Young Blood (J. Leiber, M. Stoller)
16) Thirty Second Lover (Lowman Pauling) 3:00
17) Sent Up (Lance Finnie, Mack Rice) 3:06

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BAND BIOS:

ED ALSTROM (guitar/vocals) has had a long and mildly illustrious career as a very versatile musician on the NY-NJ scene. He is primarily
a keyboard player, and has performed with Bette Midler, Chuck Berry, Leonard Bernstein, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Fisher, Odetta, Dion,
Larry Coryell, Darlene Love, LaLa Brooks, Ronnie Spector, Odetta, Lou Rawls, Zubin Mehta, Donald Fagan, John Sebastian, Hubert Sumlin,
Uncle Floyd, Al Kooper, Stanley Jordan, Steven Van Zandt, Ben E. King, Brenard Pudie, Cornell Dupree, Hubert Sumlin, Cissy Houston,
John Lloyd Young (star of 'Jersey Boys' on Broadway), and many other notables.
In recent years, he has subbed the keyboard chair at times with the current incarnation of BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS.

Ed has been serving as Associate Music Director at radio station WFDU (www.wfdu.fm), co-hosting the "BIG APPLE COUNTRY" program on Tuesday from 9a-1p EST, filling in for various show hosts, reviewing incoming material, logging spins, and assisting Music Director Mike Stokes for the Music America segments.His

Broadway experience includes a 3-month stint as Interim Associate Conductor on 'Hairspray'; (where he subbed the Key 2 chair regularly),
as well as 'Leader Of The Pack (The Ellie Greenwich Musical), Catch Me If You Can, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Taboo, Brooklyn, and Hot Feet;.
Off-Broadway, he has been Musical Director for Give A Man A Mask at the York Theatre in NYC in November of 2011,
Once Around The Sun at the Zipper Theater in 2005; Dream A Little Dream (The Mamas & Papas Musical), which ran from May-August 2003;
and played the Piano/Keyboard chair for Caroline, or Change, the Tony Kushner-Jeanine Tesori musical that ran at the Public Theater in NYC in 2004.

Ed also attacked the NYC cabaret circuit in 2003 with his group, ACID CABARET, who played a bewlidering variety of styles in a piano trio format.
He garnered a BACKSTAGE BISTRO award for his efforts, as well as a MAC Award nomination and an ASCAP SINGER/SONGWRITER award.
This period is documented on his "Acid Cabaret' CD, available atCDBABY.COM.

Ed attended Westminster Choir College, graduating Cium Laude with a degree in Organ Performance (which admittedly has nothing whatsoever to do
with the H5, except for maybe arranging the volcals). He is still very active in liturgical music, serving as Organist/Music Director at Church of the
Redeemer in Morristown, NJ, and Accompanist/Choir Director at Temple New Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ.

Ed realized a childhood dream in 2004 when he was asked to be the weekend (Sat/Sun) Organist at YANKEE STADIUM, where he filled the seat
at the mighty Hammond Colonnade formerly occupied by the great Eddie Layton, who retired after a 37-year stint. Ed start his 9th year at the
Stadium in 2012.

Ed has released 3 CDs under his own name, the most recent ('Gettin' Organ-ized') featuring him on B-3.
www.edalstrom.com

DAVE KEYES (piano/vocals) Dave has been a mainstay on the New York music scene for over 20 years, playing with some of the most
important figures of blues, roots and folk music. This varied musical journey started in the spiritual Southern sounds of blues, soul and classic
boogie-woogie, and continues through Dave's recent CD's and his vibrant soulful live shows.

His 3rd CD, COVERED IN BLUE. which received 3 1/2 stars from Downbeat magazine, is a rambunctious set of mostly original material that
ranges from New Orleans second line funk to slow, sensual blues and swaggering shuffles.

Dave's masterful rapport with his audience has become a distinctive element for Dave and his band, with their performances earning them many kudos
including winning the Blues Foundation's International Blues Competition. Their many festival appearances include King Biscuit Blues Festival,
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, and annual appearances at Lugano Switzerlands's Blues to Bop Festival among many others.

Over the last 10 years, Dave worked with the late great Odetta and played on many of her last shows most notably the 50th Anniversary
McCabes concert at UCLA, in Oct. '08 and her appearance before tens of thousands at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest in Golden Gate Park.
Dave also is currently working with gospel great Marie Knight, and performed in '08 with her at the Chicago Blues Fest and France's legendary
Cognac Blues Fest, where Dave has also been featured as a solo performer.

Dave has also worked as sideman for a who's who of roots music masters, such as Bo Diddley, Sleepy La Beef, Big Jay McNeely, Eddy Clearwater,
Tracy Nelson, Wayne and Ronnie Baker Brooks, and the late Ruth Brown, in addition to accompanying such diverse artists as Gladys Knight,
Pam Tillis, David Johansen, Darlene Love and Lou Rawls. He currently appears frequently with bluesman Popa Chubby.

Over the last decade Dave has worked in many roles as a band leader and Conductor for both Broadway shows and TV, most notably
conducting over 600 performances during the six year run of the Grammy winning Broadway musical smash SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE.
Since then, he's conducted and performed in the orchestras of Broadway musicals LENNON, URBAN COWBOY and the
Earth Wind & Fire inspired HOT FEET.

Dave served as the musical director and band leader for the nationally syndicated NBC TV morning variety show, The Ainsley Harriott Show.
and also writes music for televison and the media. With saxophonist Chris Eminizer, their company Crave Music creates underscoring and songs
that have appeared in numerous TV and films.Their work runs the gamut from emotional underscore, to vintage R&R, to contemporary Alternative
and Indie Rock.
www.davekeyes.com

MARK BERGER (bass/vocals/engineering/mastering): Mark has toured with many acts such as Bernadette Peters, Blood, Sweat and Tears,
Phoebe Snow, the Radio City Rockettes, the Big Apple Circus, and Peter Allen. He was Mr. Allen's Bassist for nine years, during which time he
traveled extensively, including four Australian tours. Mark has also performed with Andy Williams, Burt Bacharach, Sammy Davis Jr., Roberta Flack,
Rita Coolidge, and Marvin Hamlisch. He presently serves as Darlene Love's bassist. Mark's recording credits include work with Mr. Allen,
Karla DeVito, Rex Smith, and the original cast recording of Legs Diamond.

Additionally, Mark is an experienced recording engineer. He has recorded numerous television themes and jingles, as well having served as composer,
producer, bassist and vocalist on some of them. Currently Mark is one of the leading transfer engineers in the metropolitan area. He heads the transfer
services division at Dreamhire.

FRANK PAGANO (drums/vocals): Frank's professional playing experience includes, recorded and/or performed with: Blondie, Donovan,
Lesley Gore, Al Green, Levon Helm, Doctor John, Darlene Love, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Laura Nyro, Gladys Knight, Al Kooper,
Smashing Pumpkins, Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals, Lou Rawls, Renaissance, Phoebe Snow and Bruce Springsteen,
just to name a few.

He has also performed in numerous Broadway shows including the Grammy award winning Smokey Joe's Cafe, Tommy, Saturday Night Fever,
Fosse, Big River, Hairspray, Good Vibrations, The Pirate Queen, the John Waters musical Cry Baby, and Billy Elliot.

All photos and CD art design by Ula Hedwig

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CONTACT: edalstrom@aol.com

updated 7.6.12

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