Carl Conge - Lead Vocals/Percussion/ BAND LEADER
Carl was born and raised in Rochester, New York, and has been interested in music ever since he can remember.
As a teenager, he would entertain the girls who lived across the street by placing speakers in his bedroom window, playing music, and mimicking the DJ chatter that he would hear between songs on the radio. A few short years later, Carl started his own Mobile DJ business, and – in the years since – has entertained thousands of people at weddings, reunions, birthday parties, and the like. In the late nineties, one of his early dreams of being on the radio was realized when Carl was selected to appear as a Guest DJ on “The Drive at Five with Mike Vickers” on WBBF-FM. Today, Carl still has his hand in the DJ business, but his real love is songwriting and performing.
Over the years, Carl has been fortunate enough to write and/or perform with some truly talented people, including multiple Grammy-nominated songwriter, musician, arranger, and producer Larry Dvoskin; Academy of Country Music Award Winner Dave Gibson (The Gibson-Miller Band); former Capital Records Recording Artist Don Mancuso (Black Sheep, The Lou Gramm Band, D Drive); and former United Artist Records Recording Artist Mason Tyler (Pookah).
Carl is a retired Army Captain, and the recipient of many awards and decorations. .
Steve Wittman - Lead Vocals/GUITAR/ Percussion
Steve was born and raised in Rochester, New York, and learned how to play the guitar from his maternal Grandfather Ralph Simeone and his Uncles Ralph and Joe when he was 10 years old. A year later, he recorded a 45 RPM record at jazz big band leader Vince Jan’s (birth name Vincent Giancursio) Fine Recording Studio (not bad for an 11 year old kid, huh?).
Like many people his age, Steve was heavily influenced by the music and fantastic vocal harmonies of the Beatles. Later in life, he became interested in country, county-rock, and southern rock music, and began playing at weddings, small clubs, parties, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities in and around the Rochester area.
He is a former member of Last Resort (a local rock group who performed hits of the seventies), founded and fronted the band Even Steven (who still plays an occasional gig), and had a backup role in country singer-songwriter Alyssa Trahan’s early band.
In addition, Steve is also a songwriter who he has collaborated with several notable local musicians, including Rochester guitar legend Don Mancuso.
ART BRAND - Lead Vocals/GUITAR/ Percussion
Art was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, and has been involved in music since grade school. Originally a drummer, he was involved in bands through high school, and later – in the mid-seventies – with the world class Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He spent four summers touring the United States competing with other high caliber organizations.
In 1979, Art moved to Canandaigua, and took a thirteen year break from live music. While on hiatus, he bought a guitar, and tried to teach himself to play it. While he did make some progress, it was slow going, and his wife suggested that he enlist the help of a professional musician to help speed things along. Enter John Corcoran – a person whose knowledge and enthusiasm for the instrument, as well as theory and history, has been one of the major forces in Art’s continuing thirst for knowledge.
Art currently manages a recording studio in Victor, New York, and is personally involved in every aspect of the operation. He is also heavily involved with live sound reinforcement.
MARK INDELICATO - LEAD GUITAR/VOCALS
Mark was born and raised in New York City. His first exposure to music was his grandfather's collection of 45’s that were taken from a jukebox in his Brooklyn bar. Original Elvis, Coasters and Bobby Darin records gave way to his eventual collection of Jethro Tull, Cream and Blue Oyster Cult records. While his first love remains the Blues, his taste in music is truly eclectic.
In college, Mark was in a rock band called Motherless Children covering Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, the B-52s, Neil Young, the Beastie Boys, Grand Funk Railroad, the Allman Brothers, and others.
After college, Mark took a 10 year hiatus from playing. When he relocated to Western New York, Pete Eckhart (former lead guitarist for Rochester's own "Download") re-ignited Mark's interest in playing guitar. Mark began playing liturgical music at church for the weekly folk Mass. Subsequently, Mark played with several bands from 2000 through 2020 covering Irish, Folk, Pop, Country, Rock and Blues. Eventually, he crossed paths with the band 47 South, and is currently looking forward to new creative experiences, having fun, learning, and performing a new set of material.
JOHN BACCOLI - BASS GUITAR
John, a Rochester native, has been playing bass for over 50 years. He enjoys, and has played, many styles of music in his career, including jazz, blues and country. He has had the privilege to have played in dozens of bands throughout New York and Florida and is excited to be a part of "47 South."
Some of John's most influential bassists include Charles Meeks, Verdine White, Jimmy Johnson and Leland Sklar. He plays Fodera and Fender basses through Ampeg and Epifani amps and cabs.
DANA GREGORY – DRUMS/VOCALS
Dana was born and raised on the island of Malta, and moved to Upstate New York when he was in his early teens. He started playing drums in and around the Rochester area in the early 1970s with the band Jaspur, and has since played with many of the area’s most popular acts.
Dana is an intuitive and inventive drummer whose style and laid back, easy-going personality is a perfect fit for our band.
ANDREW SHELTON - KEYBOARDS
Andrew was born and raised in Rochester, and has been playing piano since age 6. While attending the Hochstein School of Music for piano, he began to experiment with guitar, bass guitar and the drum set. Retaining a love for classical music, Andrew’s musical taste started to vary in artists like The White Stripes, Green Day, Dream Theater and Emerson Lake & Palmer.
After studying Music Therapy at SUNY Fredonia for 2 semesters, Andrew found his calling in the Music Recording program at Finger Lakes Community College. It was there he also fell in love with jazz, the likes of Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington and Miles Davis. After graduating with an A.S. in Music Recording Technology, Andrew has focused on writing and recording original music with his Fiancé, Thea.
Andrew currently teaches at Bach to Rock music school in Penfield, where he instructs one-on-one lessons and group classes in piano/keyboards, guitar, bass, drum set, percussion, voice, ukulele, clarinet, rock band (school of rock style), music production/recording and early childhood music education.