Kinfolk: The Band

James Aaron - Composer, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Harmonica
"Much More Soul Than Ever Before"
A boy child was born with a song on his heart and a beat in his feet. The waters of the Louisiana Bayou and the San Francisco Bay combined to create the first rhythms he felt. His grandad "Papoo" played trumpet with the legendary Louis Armstrong and taught the youngster to play and love the instrument.

By the time James was thirteen he had taught himself the piano, the congas and he loved to sing. An early talent show at the American Theatre on Fillmore, which he won, featured a $30 first prize and an introduction to the one and only James Brown. Aaron says he will never forget James Browns' advice to "sing from the heart".

James Aaron never looked back; he sang in the bathroom at school, in talent shows, church choirs and then at sold-out Bay Area venues: Little Bo Peep's, The Ghetto Club, Bimbo's, St. Francis Hotel, Masonic Temple. Today, his musical discoveries include blues harmonica, keyboards and of course, the bass guitar. He opened his early shows with a promise to the crowd, that they would experience "much more soul than ever before". It's still there.

Thomas "Tasche" Cryer II - Keyboards
Performing since age 6. Graduate Grove School of Music, 1991 (keyboard instruction). Graduated with sociology degree from Cal. Los Angeles studio work as arranger / keyboardist / vocalist for Toni Tony Tone 1999 World Tour. Performed with jazz artists The Braxton Brothers and Kenny Lattimore.

Kevin Edwards - Percussion
Berkeley, CA native. Student of Bunkey Green at Chicago State University. Performed with San Jose Ambassador of Music, Charles Williams; Bay Area vocalist Alvon Johnson and jazz artists Jon "Tomo" Day and Gilbert Baskerville.

Robert Emerson - Guitar and Vocals
Robert's mentor, Journey's Neil Schon, taught him to play the blues. Working with Albert King and Buddy Miles refined his technique and deepened his love of the genre. Performed with Curtis Mayfield; gospel great, James Cleveland; David Ruffin and the San Francisco TKO's.

James Johnson - Rap Lyrics and Vocals

Julius Johnson - Rap Lyrics and Vocals

Manny Melchor - Tenor/Alto/Soprano Sax
A 22 year professional. Opened shows for Stanley Clarke, Tom Grant and Michael Walden. Local radio play for 1986 album JIGSAW (KEZR, KBLX, KSJS) also San Jose vocalist Charles Williams. Venues include Fairmont Hotel - Penthouse Room SF, Claremont Hotel, Koln Mansion in Burlingame, Fairmont Hotel San Jose, DoubleTree Hotel San Jose, Club Max and Sly McFly's. Music lessons with classical sax instructor Kurt Heisig, jazz/blues guitarist John Garcia.

Preston Pinkney (aka "The Wizard") - Producer, Engineer, Writer, Rapper
This Gemini has been in the game more than ten years and built his first studio at Contra Costa College. He found time to assist the instructor and tutor students in studio applications and midi sequencing. He loves music, talented musicians and artists and feels blessed to have had the opportunity to work with some of the best in the Bay Area.

Preston built his own studio in El Cerrito, CA and is the Head Engineer and Lead Producer at PLP Productions. He has engineered for The Jacka (Mob Figgaz) Erk the Jerk, Dap Daniels, LockSmith, Balance and gets co-production credit for J-Jingles, Kali-Fam, Spice-1 and James Aaron of Kinfolk.

He defines his style as different but fun: a dance groove with a movie sound track behind it. Groove oriented drumline, nice melody, funky bass and guitar and patented synth lines.

He promises, "hard-core fanatics...I got the heat for the streets". Favorite artists: TuPac, Snoop Dogg, Spice 1, DMX, B-Legit, San Quinn, Yuk Mouth, Toni-Tony-Tone. Favorite unsigned artists: Gritsitory, Kali-Fam, James Aaron, Calla-Calla.

Foster Valrey - Keyboards and Vocals
New Orleans native. Recorded with Bobby Womack, Joe Simon, Archie Bell and the Drells, Junior Walker and Hank Crawford.


	The Musicians/Performers James Aaron - Composer, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Harmonica "Much More Soul Than Ever Before" A boy child was born with a song on his heart and a beat in his feet. The waters of the Louisiana Bayou and the San Francisco Bay combined to create the first rhythms he felt. His grandad "Papoo" played trumpet with the legendary Louis Armstrong and taught the youngster to play and love the instrument. By the time James was thirteen he had taught himself the piano, the congas and he loved to sing. An early talent show at the American Theatre on Fillmore, which he won, featured a $30 first prize and an introduction to the one and only James Brown. Aaron says he will never forget James Browns' advice to "sing from the heart". James Aaron never looked back; he sang in the bathroom at school, in talent shows, church choirs and then at sold-out Bay Area venues: Little Bo Peep's, The Ghetto Club, Bimbo's, St. Francis Hotel, Masonic Temple. Today, his musical discoveries include blues harmonica, keyboards and of course, the bass guitar. He opened his early shows with a promise to the crowd, that they would experience "much more soul than ever before". It's still there. Thomas "Tasche" Cryer II - Keyboards Performing since age 6. Graduate Grove School of Music, 1991 (keyboard instruction). Graduated with sociology degree from Cal. Los Angeles studio work as arranger / keyboardist / vocalist for Toni Tony Tone 1999 World Tour. Performed with jazz artists The Braxton Brothers and Kenny Lattimore. Kevin Edwards - Percussion Berkeley, CA native. Student of Bunkey Green at Chicago State University. Performed with San Jose Ambassador of Music, Charles Williams; Bay Area vocalist Alvon Johnson and jazz artists Jon "Tomo" Day and Gilbert Baskerville. Robert Emerson - Guitar and Vocals Robert's mentor, Journey's Neil Schon, taught him to play the blues. Working with Albert King and Buddy Miles refined his technique and deepened his love of the genre. Performed with Curtis Mayfield; gospel great, James Cleveland; David Ruffin and the San Francisco TKO's. James Johnson - Rap Lyrics and Vocals Julius Johnson - Rap Lyrics and Vocals Manny Melchor - Tenor/Alto/Soprano Sax A 22 year professional. Opened shows for Stanley Clarke, Tom Grant and Michael Walden. Local radio play for 1986 album JIGSAW (KEZR, KBLX, KSJS) also San Jose vocalist Charles Williams. Venues include Fairmont Hotel - Penthouse Room SF, Claremont Hotel, Koln Mansion in Burlingame, Fairmont Hotel San Jose, DoubleTree Hotel San Jose, Club Max and Sly McFly's. Music lessons with classical sax instructor Kurt Heisig, jazz/blues guitarist John Garcia. Preston Pinkney (aka "The Wizard") - Producer, Engineer, Writer, Rapper This Gemini has been in the game more than ten years and built his first studio at Contra Costa College. He found time to assist the instructor and tutor students in studio applications and midi sequencing. He loves music, talented musicians and artists and feels blessed to have had the opportunity to work with some of the best in the Bay Area. Preston built his own studio in El Cerrito, CA and is the Head Engineer and Lead Producer at PLP Productions. He has engineered for The Jacka (Mob Figgaz) Erk the Jerk, Dap Daniels, LockSmith, Balance and gets co-production credit for J-Jingles, Kali-Fam, Spice-1 and James Aaron of Kinfolk. He defines his style as different but fun: a dance groove with a movie sound track behind it. Groove oriented drumline, nice melody, funky bass and guitar and patented synth lines. He promises, "hard-core fanatics...I got the heat for the streets". Favorite artists: TuPac, Snoop Dogg, Spice 1, DMX, B-Legit, San Quinn, Yuk Mouth, Toni-Tony-Tone. Favorite unsigned artists: Gritsitory, Kali-Fam, James Aaron, Calla-Calla. Foster Valrey - Keyboards and Vocals New Orleans native. Recorded with Bobby Womack, Joe Simon, Archie Bell and the Drells, Junior Walker and Hank Crawford.