Sixth Street Rhythm and Blues  




See more videos of the 6th Street Rhythm and Blues Band:

Poor Man's Blues

Ain't That Just Like a Man

Crying All the Time

Train Song

Shaky Ground


 Dr. Brad Bangstad, keyboard, music arranger: 
Brad was born and raised in Buffalo Minnesota, not far from "the Cities". He started playing piano, organ and trumpet at an early age, performing in his hometown Lutheran Church (complete with church basement potluck "hotdish", lutefisk and lefse... oofda!). At an impressionable age, he toured full time with the Johnny Holm band. Brad graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead Minnesota, majoring in music and biology. After his undergraduate work, Brad received his degree in optometry from Ohio State University. While in Columbus, he was the featured organist at two churches. Brad moved to Gainesville in 1986, and practices optometry. He continues his music ministry by arranging music for the Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville, and performing organ music at the Church, including presenting the dedication concert for the Church's new organ in 2000. Brad is married to Laurel, and they have two daughters, Kelsey and Kristen.

 Bill Barnard, guitar:
Bill is a dyed-in-the-wool blues fan. He was a co-founder of, and serves as the president of the North Central Florida Blues Society. He has played guitar since the Beatles and the "British Invasion", and quickly found a love for the blues. He played through college; then put the guitar away until 1999, when he resumed playing. In 2002, Bill attended the National Guitar Workshop Blues Summit in Connecticut. Master classes were taught by noted blues guitarists Ronnie Earl and Robben Ford. Bill was a founding member of Gainesville's The Unusual Suspects Blues Band. The Suspects opened for national headliners Mem Shannon, Nick Curran and Debbie Davies. His knowledge of blues history, current blues artists, and the Gainesville music scene is unmatched. Bill's style of guitar playing is melodic, like the early Chicago R&B and blues greats, playing the notes and the spaces with texture and finesse'. Bill has authored original material for the band, including "Just Like A Man", that was featured at the IBC in Memphis.


 Professor Steve "Bing" Bingham, tenor and alto saxophones, flute,bass guitar, trumpet: 
Dr. Bing holds a doctorate in music from the University of Florida. He is the jazz band director and music professor at Santa Fe Community College, and has the unique distinction of being Bingo Bingham's older brother. Bing can read and arrange music, but that hasn't hurt him none in playing the blues. He plays a mean alto and tenor sax, a lyrical flute, and a driving bass guitar, when Brother Mike can't be located after a break. Bing owns a subtle ( think "Animal House" , "Monty Python" and Caddyshack") sense of humor, and has a stage presence somewhere between Doctor John and Doctor Phil. He instructs and tours with the Sonlight Youth Choir and band at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville.

 
Danielle "Boss Lady" DeCosmo, vocals:
Danielle is our youngest and newest band member. The sax section has socks older than Danielle. Don't let that fool you. She is small in stature, but has a big, big voice....think Susan Tedeschi. She was born way too late to be a torch singer at the Copa, but her voice will remind you of those silky 1940's vocalists. A graduate of the University of Florida and a St. Pete native, she instructs and coaches singing in Gainesville. She is also the lead singer with "Boss Lady and The Company".



 Steve Hart, tenor, alto, baritone and soprano saxophones, trombone:
Steve, a native of the Chicago area, played his first gig at age 13 and worked professionally through college. His band, Bill and the Bachelors, played 3 summer-long stints at Chicago area resorts, clubs, and special events.The Bachelors was the house band at Porky's in Fort Lauderdale Florida. Two players in the Bachelors, Curley Cooke and Tim Davis, co-founded the Steve Miller Band. Steve took time off from music to earn a law degree from the University of Florida, practice law in Wisconsin and Illinois, and raise a family. In 1998, through a project at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, a 6-piece horn-driven blues band, Code Blues, was formed; Steve joined Code Blues in 1999. Code Blues played at well-known Chicago area clubs (Cubby Bear, Chord-On-Blues, Flatlanders), corporate events ( Abbott Labs, Crate and Barrel ), high profile North Shore society civic and charitable events, and festivals. The band was featured at the United Center, playing for the Chicago Bulls.

 Michael Raftice, bass guitar, string bass and vocals: Michael, a transplanted Florida "native" since 1976, has a wide and varied background. His interest in music was kindled at age 14. Some friends formed a band for a talent contest; it was pronounced that "if he wanted to join the band he HAD to play bass." He doesn't recall if they won, but this gentle nudge from his buddies resulted in a career in music. Michael holds a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Florida. He was a student of the string bass under Kevin Cassidy of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Michael performed with the University of Florida and the Gainesville Chamber Orchestras, and the University's Jazz Band. Before joining 6th Street he played with the Mark Spede Jazz Quintet, the Richard Dickson Dinner Theater, Gainesville's Hippodrome productions, Boogie Chillin' , the Jay Willey Blues Band, and the popular jazz group Unsafe Sax. He is multi-talented. In addition to string and electric bass, he plays guitar, cello and mandolin.

John Eric "Bingo" Bingham, drums:
Bingo has been with 6th Street since early 2009. We are fortunate to have him. He keeps time like a Rolex and has a pocket deeper than a kangaroo. Dr. Steve Binghams's little brother, Bingo too is a Gainesville native. He graduated from Gainesville High School, where he performed with GHS's drumline and jazz band. After school, he really "went to school" with Glass Hammer, which became Silent Image....they were under contract to RCA Records and toured nationally for two years. Later, he co-founded Black Molly with Charlie Hargrett ( Blackfoot) and Banner Thomas ( Molly Hatchet), and again was a road warrior for two years. His education still expanding, and being tired of greezy road food and living out of a suitcase, Bingo matriculated to Memphis where he was a "first call" studio drummer. Since returning to Gainesville, Bingo has played with the Hollow Body Hellraisers ( folks, I am not making that up), several local groups ( he's like "Cheers"...everybody knows his name) and continues to be in demand for recording sessions.